Meet T’nia Harris of Red 2 Green Light Production in Buckeye

Today we’d like to introduce you to T’nia Harris.

Thanks for sharing your story with us T’nia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Well, I’ve always loved movies. I started out wanting to be an actress. Steven Spielberg‘s Indiana Jones and the Temple of doom did that for me. That was the first movie I ever saw that within a cartoon. I had to be all of five or six at the time. My mom was not up yet and the Saturday morning cartoons had just ended. And there it was that Paramount logo! I had never seen that before. And Around this age, my mother was only letting me watch cartoons And Mr. Rogers. But I hated watching him because he would always put me to sleep. So it really meant naptime when he came on. So I cannot stand Mr. Rogers. His puppet… nope! Wasn’t about that life with him.

 Anywho… Back to the movie.

Scene: It comes on, all these women flood across my screen. My eyes widen with pure Curiosity, confusion, (pretty sure that scene helped me become a lesbian and attracted to white women….But I digress) also a hint forbidden fruit. Because I wasn’t allowed.

The musical number its self kept me engaged. And to show my age, because I gotta use a statement that in all my days, never thought I’d have to use…………………………… Back in those days. (👊ouch) but, OMG I have to say it again.

But back in those days, we didn’t have a remote, we had those big… Look like electrical panels with the big white buttons you push down to change the channel. And if you’re under 30 reading this googling what I’m talking about…… Shut up. Don’t ask nobody else older than you if they know what I’m talking about. You didn’t have to show their age like that! Rude!

 Again, back to the movie.

So there I am with the Electric panel with the big white buttons you push down to change a channel. With the cord stretched all the way out so I can see when my mother coming down the hallway, so I can hurry up and push a button. You know, living life dangerous. And yes you infant! The remote had a core! We weren’t all about that Bluetooth life! Let me stop hating. Stupid 80’s, they were great.

Indiana Jones comes on at this time. The suspenseful scene is occurring, gunshots, action, running, screaming! It was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

I immediately resent my mother for not exposing this to me sooner. Like Bitch!! You got me watching Mr. Rogers! And this Exist! I was furious at her. I’m in Indiana Jones picked up a skewer and threw it at another man’s chest. And that guy, was putting on sweaters, and throwing shoes around, and talking to weird puppy people. 😾 Rogers could suck it.

So as I watch them look for the Diamond, and the antidote. Leap from a window. (Seriously Mr. Rogers). And land in the back of a car. Emerges my muse Short Round.

First: I calm down since there was a child in the movie I can watch it a movie. Second: inspiration! I have loved and wanted to be apart of the movie and entertainment business since that moment. It’s funny how in even writing this I’m finding my passion for it back again. Not to say that I ever lost it. But I have felt like it’s been dormant, resting, or just sleep. Yes, I’m aware they all mean the same. But alas they all give me a different feeling.

 So yeah I’m out here in AZ trying to be the best storyteller I can be. looking for people to play with, as I see if I can’t myself inspire some baby, using his fingers to go on YouTube or whatever! See my logo, pause on my stuff and have there mind blown.

 I’m 36 by the way. I just want someone to tell me I’m young.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

So much struggle, maybe not at all. Looking at my life, the film has always been around me. Being an actress was my first introduction into film. But I had dyslexia, not really being diagnosed until I got to high school. Developing a reading problem, then discovering actresses have to do a lot of reading, well that just all but killed that first dream. I went through, what I thought at the time was lot of hardships with reading. I used to get teased and yelled at for not reading right. Kids would make fun of me calling me slow cuz I had to read slower then them.

The teacher would yell at me cuz they thought I was not paying attention, and or not trying hard enough. Which left me feeling very dumb stupid and the slow kid in class. So I grow to despise the written word. So imagine the devastation, being in second grade realizing in order to become an actress I have to do a lot of reading out loud. Nope! I told myself then I could never do it. Seven years old making a life decision over reading.

Now I have to find a new outlet. Great part about the school that I did go to, they had a lot of classes in the entertainment arts. By the time I got the high school, I was introduced to photography. Fell in love behind the camera. Capturing feelings emotions, I could not stand doing landscape photography when I was in high school. I always want someone in front of it and it didn’t matter who. Then I discover creative writing. Who knew I could enjoy the English language. I shine very brightly in that class. Then my school had what they called PI TV. Huge enthesis on TV. This class I fell in love with, camera, editing, behind the scenes. It’s there I learned there was so much more going on behind the scenes. I never thought about any of those jobs before. Like being an editor, I sounded you engineer. And boom, my way back into Hollywood was born.

I was going to go to film school, but could ever forward it. Then I went to broadcasting school. Got a certificate from the Ohio Center for broadcast. A little while later move to LA to get my foot into Hollywood. And gave myself goals and everything. I was making moves. Then life hit me. ‘Being an adult was hard. Bills are stupid!’ 19year old me saying. I was hit my goals career-wise. But I felt like my life sucked.

When I was living in my car still trying to make it in Hollywood trying to get to the big money jobs. With my family now encouraging me to come to Arizona. Stay with some family. And try again. So reluctant, ashamed, and embarrassed. I left LA and came to Arizona. That was the first time I was introduced to Phoenix.

When I left LA, I was done with Film. I lost. Become a truck driver. Saw… America…s….. highways. And made some money.

One day after hanging with my family in Cincinnati, I have a load that is going to somewhere in Kentucky. I see my cousin Brandon. Shout out to my cuz Brandon Andra. He hitting me up, saying he’s sorry he misses me and that he had a show to do. I’m like ‘a show’ what kind of show. He does music. ‘What’!?!? When you start doing music? I want to hear. He sends me his song ‘Bad Habits…’ AMAZING!!

First, didn’t know he could sing. Second, Inspiration!!!! I listen to that song over and over again. Making his music video in my head. Boom I’m a Director Bitch! Hello Hollywood old friend. Welcome back in my life. I called him the next day told him I’m directing your music video. And I started buying equipment.

I’ll end it there. For in that moment with that song I found my love for Film again.

Tell us more about your work.
As of right now, I am still learning that myself. For the longest, it was in front of the camera. Then it was behind the camera. Then the ultimate power directing. But as I’ve gotten older and experience more, I find that writing and being a storyteller is emerging fully. The struggles I’m having with now. Eight-year-old me still doesn’t enjoy reading. I’m trying to write my own script and movies.

And as and adult trying to get over childhood decisions I made. Discovering the art of teaching myself to read and write better. All while getting over a fear I’ve possessed since I was eight.

See I have movies I’m dying to see. Well, I take that back. I have movies, that only I can see. The rest of the world I feel like that want to see it. Because I have never seen it.

So learning how to extract The stories I possess in my head. These television series, these deep films I stay watching on repeat. Are going to waste because Of fear.

What sets me apart… I KNoW I can succeed! I can promote! Arizona will be my own personal Hollywood. As sooon as I stop tripping about reading my excepting speech at the Academy Awards. ( yes that is a thing I’m actually scared of) Reading when you present awards. Reading in front of my cast. Reading my own words and stuttering…. 😔 I feel like that eight years old slow, dump, stupid girl all over again.

When I love and cherish that like girl. I will be unstoppable.

Seriously how much therapy?

Do you feel luck has played a role in your life?
I use to do security for movies and television when I lived in LA. I feel like that was the first job I looked into that got my foot in the door into Hollywood. It was so random. I was Looking for a job to move from Ontario into LA. I was working at the improv comedy club in Ontario. I then move to Hawthorne. But before a move, I had to find a job because I was still working at The improv in Ontario. So for my Arizona people. It’s like my situation now. I live in Buckeye and needing to go to the airport. It was a 40 min drive with no traffic. But this is LA…. two hrs there only a one hour if no accident. That was my commute.

So yeah, I was looking for a job. The ad said on-site security. At this time my job at the improv was security. I thought cool this is one of those jobs where I’m sitting in a booth or something. Call the ad. Talk to the owner! Said oh no they ain’t got no money. ( 19 didn’t know about entrepreneurs)

I called to him, and he told me what he did. He does security for movies and television when they shoot outside of the studio. 😱😳😱😨🤯 My head exploded. Boom!! Had to get this job.

Got the job, my 1st set is for Medium starring Patricia Arquette.

Next one, I was a 2nd ad on a very low budget horror film. I was enjoying that job in the beginning. For I had my first great moment and worst all in one.

Great moment, The director asked me to direct a scene that we were shooting and he left. First of all, I had no clue what the thing was about. Second of all, he did it out of nowhere. And it threw me off. But in that moment I gave him three different shots, using his format and through in one for myself. But boom! I got to say the words I really wanted to say.

Action!

That was very short-lived. I felt like the director had a chip on her shoulder about me. And believe me, everyone else noticed it too. We’re done filming and coming down the stairs, he decides to reprimand me because we took so long. (10mins tops we were up there. And nobody really knew what he wanted) so yes I was both very excited and feeling a little defeated all in one.

But that 1st action… I even watched the movie all the way through just to see my 2sec. Of directing. It was Awesome!

Contact Info:

• Email: red2greenlight@gmail.com
• Instagram: Red2greenlightproduction
• Facebook: @Red2greenlight
• Twitter: Red2greenpro

Image Credit:
I took all with my iPhone6 and or canon 60d

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