Meet Laurel Harris

Today we’re excited to be connecting with Laurel Harris again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Laurel, always such a pleasure connecting with you and thank you for sharing your stories, insights and inspiring messages with our community. We’re looking forward to getting the download and what you have been up to since our last interview, but first can you briefly introduce yourself to folks who might have missed the prior conversation.
Sure thing! I’ve been a working actor-producer for decades and super thankful to have enjoyed some amazing experiences along the way; like performing on all of the major networks and alongside some of the top names in the industry. Even though it can sound trite, I’m deeply humbled and grateful for it all; not taking any of it for granted. I’ve felt compelled to follow this dream for as long as I can remember, and can’t imagine anything I’d rather do!

Since our last interview, however, things have shifted somewhat and I’ve stepped more into my role as a producer. The unexpected quiet of Covid and the strikes motivated me to follow a long-held vision I’ve had of starting my own production company, Laurel Leaf Productions, or “LLP” for short. It’s been a wild ride and every day brings about challenges I never anticipated, such as the constant hunt for funding, or feeling like my creative juices take a back seat to the endless logistics that need to be addressed. Regardless though, I’m loving the clearer focus this time has given me. I feel more certain about my life’s path than maybe ever before, and it’s a thrill to be designing my future in a stronger way. Acting is still in the plans, but for now, the company is taking center stage.

To give you a little more on Laurel Leaf Productions, our motto is to “Create, Inspire, and Empower,” with a mission to highlight the voices of the underserved. Right now, that means we’re focusing on films with strong female-identifying characters and stories; creating new and exciting art that reflects the world we all inhabit.

I suppose one of the things that sets our company apart is the way we work with people. I see our relationships as more collaborative than traditional. In fact, one of my highlights on this journey has been partnering with artists whose work I really respect and admire, and to give them as much support as I possibly could. There are so many of them who I feel deserve more, and if I can help them in any way, that feeds my soul.

I’m proud to say that we now have a veteran, award-winning collective that brings over 70 years of combined entertainment experience to the table. Our credits include major Hollywood films and wins for “best feature,” as well as multiple “best script” properties in our slate.

Alright, so our main goal today is to give our audience an update on what you have been up to since our last conversation. We’d love to hear how things are going and what you are most looking forward to or excited about these days.
Absolutely. This is the extra fun part!

We launched LLP with a short film called, “47,” about a driven, 40-something professional woman who is confronting her earlier life choice to not have children, and then the unexpected infertility she faces later. The stigmas around being a childless woman in today’s society are also powerfully present for her, as she’s forced to decide what’s most important in her life.

I’m so thrilled to have had a stellar cast and crew involved in this. Personally, it was a dream come true to play opposite Dan Lauria, a veteran TV, film and Broadway actor, perhaps best known for playing the dad on the original TV show, “The Wonder Years.” He played my father in this film and raised the bar for my performance in every scene we had together. Always ready and willing to step aside and break down a scene, or simply run lines, he brought such wisdom to the set and script.

On that note, I have to give props as well to our writer, Laurie Clemens. She was so flexible and open to script changes as a result of all the spontaneous ideas and suggestions being thrown her way. It’s not always easy for artists to give up control like that and I loved the collaborative energy that she and the team continuously brought to set.

Our plan with this film was to make a splash on the festival circuit, and I’m really happy to say it has! We premiered at the LA Shorts International Film Festival to an incredibly supportive crowd; many of whom flew in from across the US to celebrate with us. Since then, we’ve garnered over a dozen nominations and awards, and have our sights set on finishing the year strong. So many stepped in to support us along the way, whether with their talents or funds, and I’m proud to say that “47” now holds potential for a feature or series.

One of our next projects on the docket is a feature film called, PINK BOA, which highlights a young girl’s journey as she’s ensnared by her so-called “boyfriend,” a brutal pimp, and forced into the seedy world of sex trafficking. Yeah…It’s not easy subject matter, but we don’t want to shy away from stories that need to be told, and I personally feel compelled to step up and raise awareness around this critical topic.

Years ago I had such a powerful and realistic dream about helping young women who were enslaved, that I woke up shaking from it. I wrote about it in a diary, and interestingly, we signed the development agreement for PINK BOA seven years later, to the day, that I had that dream! Now, as I’ve been doing more research on this topic, it’s evident that our story is not only relevant, with both parents and young girls sharing similar experiences to what we’ve scripted, but many folks are completely unaware that this is taking place ‘in our own back yards.’

PINK BOA has garnered numerous screenwriting awards already, and we’re currently completing development to secure funding, with the goal of starting production later this year. It’s a dynamic time.

We also want to give folks a chance to get to know you a bit better so we’ve prepared a fun lightning round of questions. Ready?

Favorite Movie: “The Princess Bride.” Hands down.

Favorite Book: “The Fourteen Bears, Summer and Winter” (A Golden Book) by Evelyn Scott. Turns out it’s not just my most cherished children’s book, but my nephews ask for it every time they come to visit. They marvel at the worn pages from my childhood, and I smile; about it all.

Favorite TV Show: “Only Murders in the Building.” Brilliant.

Favorite Band or Artist: So many! In the way back machine? U2. Fast forward to Billie Eilish… to start.

Sweet or Savory: Savory.

Mountains or Beach: YES.

Favorite Sport (to watch): Hockey.

Favorite Sport (to play): Dance! I know… I was never a sports person. The arts have always been my jam.

Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): Soccer. (For a minute.) When I scored the winning goal for the opposing team by accidentally kicking the ball into the wrong net, I knew I needed a different calling.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: A Prima Ballerina for the New York City Ballet or ABT.

French Fries or Onion Rings: Definitely French Fries.

Favorite Cartoon growing up: The Far Side.

Favorite Childhood movie: Bambi… until I found out that my dad was a hunter. I cried for days!

Favorite Breakfast Food: Stuffed French Toast with a tart and mildly sweet fresh raspberry filling, sprinkled lightly with powdered sugar and drizzled with REAL Vermont maple syrup. Yeah. I’m definitely NOT making that at home, by the way!

What would the perfect day look like for you? Please give us as many details as possible.
SLEEEEP until I wake up naturally, pretty please? I think this has been number one in my “ideal day’” for as long as I can remember. Anyone who feels sleep deprived wanna shout out with me here? If I’m honest, I dream of never having to wake up to an alarm ever again. I’ll keep dreaming on that one…

Then, I think enjoying the day with someone dear; friend or partner, Maybe we savor a fab breakfast, (around noon,) and take the day leisurely as it comes? There would definitely be lots of nature involved, (elephant seals to watch for the win,) or a hike, or skiing could be grand too. Preferably we’d have just enough people around to possibly enjoy a brief interaction with. Then, maybe we sing and shout our hearts out together with some of those said folks at a concert of our choosing, only to finish the night with some seriously amazing dark chocolate. Oh, and sleeping in the next day until I wake up!

Website: https://laurelharris.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurelharrisactor/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurelharrisactor/

Youtube: @laurelharrisactor

Other: https://laurelleafproductions.com/

Image Credits
Photographer: Don Jones of Don Jones Photography.
Hair and Make-Up: Jenece Amella of Styles by Jenece