Rising Stars: Meet Clyde C. Harris

Today we’d like to introduce you to Clyde C. Harris. 

Hi Clyde, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started out as a Ballroom Dance Instructor for National Dance Clubs in 2001. After a few years, I became one of the top Teachers and Salesman in the country. I traveled to Europe, South America, and even Cuba with my clients. In 2008 I felt that I needed more growth and also to share my business development knowledge with a company called Dance With Me USA. This company was started by Valentin and Maksim Chmerkovskiy from Dancing With the Stars. The company had only two locations and were looking to expand. I helped them create a system that helped them build now more than 17 locations across the globe. I returned to Tennessee in 2013 to dance with Summer Black Elkin and started winning championships the first year we competed together. We went on to win World, National, and Continental championships. In 2017 we were invited to represent the USA at the British Exhibition Championships as a finalist in Blackpool, England. We retired in 2018 on a high and I went on to pursue work in TV and Film landing my first commercial as a hand model for Hardee’s. I began working on the sets of various TV shows and Movies in Nashville and in GA. I started working Background, Production Assistant, Featured Acting roles, and roles as a dancer. While on set I noticed how much downtime there was so I began asking every crew member questions about their job. Literally every single person, even the Director, Assistant director, prop guys, set design, lighting, and grip, and sometimes other Actors were more than happy to answer any question I asked. They were experts!! This led me to work on 25 TV shows and 4 major films within a 2-year period. I started making connections to producers, financiers, and other industry professionals when I realized that I really wanted to be more involved. I worked on a show in GA and on my break, I made a phone call to a mentor of mine. Penny Styles. I asked her who came up with some of the content for the projects I was working on and she said, “Better question, who gets them greenlit?” A light bulb went off. With all of the connections, I began making I had realized a new dream. I wanted to make broadcast-quality projects for underrepresented and independent filmmakers. I even produced a short film called “The Perfect Love” with Tik Tok star Jack Andrade, which has won 2 awards for best LGBTQ short film and Best Special FXI in a short film at a few film festivals in 2020. I started learning more of the finance side of the industry and figured out that there were many problems connecting projects to funding. Initially, I started my company to find investors for particular projects they may be interested in. Also difficult. I have been signed on to help produce 10 projects looking for funding. I have also created 3 of those. I learned that there are many different ways to approach film funding through Private investors, and leveraging tax incentives. Still proving difficult to get projects fully funded. In 2022, I have a new goal to create a film fund and raise the necessary monies needed to cover the cost of production while leveraging my Banking Relationships for underwriting and utilizing the tax credits available to help underfunded independent filmmakers for years to come. Tennessee passed an important tax incentive for companies that have a major footprint in Tennessee like Dollar General and Amazon that pay franchise and Excise Tax and have created jobs here. The reduction in their tax liability would occur when they partner with production companies like mine to produce TV and Film projects in Tennessee, driving more major Film projects to our state and our already ever-growing city of Nashville. I saw this coming which is why I wanted to move my production company to Nashville. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I presented some of the challenges in the previous message. Some additional challenges were; I have always been told that I am an outside-of-the-box thinker. This wasn’t always welcomed when you work for other companies. The moment I decided to work for myself, I realized that there is no box. I just merely had to think and create and feel free to produce anything I wished with no ceiling. I’ve always felt that I could see trends and potential ways to make money more efficiently with projects without compromising the quality. I also am very passionate which has become very polarizing when people above you think you are trying to “steal their job”. My only path after 20 years in one industry is to move out on my own and choose to succeed. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Black American filmmaker, writer, choreographer, and producer. I had the opportunity to choreograph and Dance for TV Shows like “Tell me A Story” (the Cinderella scene)., and dancer for American Soul on BET. My background is in Ballroom and Latin partnership dancing. I am most proud of being the first Black Ballroom Exhibition Dancer to be Invited to the Open British Exhibition Championship finals in over 20 years in 2017. This was something I didn’t even think about until I returned from England and someone asked me in an interview. I am definitely known for connecting people without expecting anything from them in return and it is paying dividends on its own by building trust. I believe that great business relationships start with great people who want to make the biggest impact and help others. 

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Having the ability to give opportunities to others makes me happy. The smile on someone’s face when they take knowledge you gave them or even a small gesture makes me feel that working so hard is worth it. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Nativesoulpictures.tv
• Instagram: @nativesoulpictures

Image Credits
Stephen Marino