Deborah L. Harris is the CEO of Brand N Stone, Inc. She is a five-time author, publisher, screenwriter and Autism Advocate. She recently embarked in her passion to become a Filmmaker by directing and producing her debut short film titled, “Checkmate for Life.”
Tell us about your experience at the Hip Hop Film Festival. My experience at the Hip Hop Film Festival was a great one because I saw so much love for the art of storytelling. It started from the moment of notification that my film, “Checkmate for Life” had been selected to be a part of the program. The professionalism and information received to make the festival a success was phenomenal.
Why are “stories from the culture” worthy of a platform? I believe the stories from the culture represent an avenue to keep our voices and vision alive. The reward of seeing stories told that magnify our experiences and struggles in the world gives filmmakers, like me, extreme gratification.
Why do you think the Harlem Film House and Hip Hop Film Festival are important? The Harlem Film House and Hip Hop Film Festival is a platform that allows filmmakers to move forward in their careers. The level of difficulty to get in
such a competitive industry can sometimes be discouraging, but with these
avenues it provides a spark of hope and tools to continue in the craft of
storytelling.
What projects are you working on now? I am currently completing the feature script for my short film titled, “Checkmate for Life.” In addition, I am looking to gain resources for my completed Christmas Feature and Drama Feature. I continue to work in publishing and Autism Advocacy.