BHL: The Casting Call -- In this episode Black Hollywood Live hosts Tony Moore, Lina Green and Chloe Onyx interview Phaedra Harris. Born in Detroit Michigan and raised in the San Fernando Valley of California, Phaedra Harris has over twenty-five years experience in feature film and television casting. Harris has been involved in the casting of well over 50 films ranging in budgets from the two million dollar independent tele-feature BUTTER starring Terrence Howard, Ernie Hudson, Shemar Moore and Nia Long to the eighty million dollar studio blockbuster THE FIFTH ELEMENT starring Bruce Willis and Chris Tucker. She has also worked on many top rated television series including THE JOHN LARROQUETTE SHOW and WHERE I LIVE. Harris recently fulfilled a lifetime dream of working with her idol, legendary TV producer/writer Ed. Weinberger, creator of THE COSBY SHOW, TAXI and THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW casting his new sitcom BELLE'S for TV-One. Having begun her professional career at the ripe old age of 16 in the theaters of Hollywood, Harris did any and all jobs, from working the lights to selling tickets at the box office. While working with Chip & Kim Fields and Al & Jr. Fann, Harris fell in love with the theater and the thrill of working in front of a live audience. Unfortunately, Hollywood in the late 70's, offered few theater opportunities. After working on several plays, Harris was lured away by the excitement of film sets and the call of Lights, Camera, Action! Getting her foot in the door as a casting intern with such notable casting directors as Rhonda Young (BEVERLY HILLS COP, ROCKY III, BENSON and IT'S A LIVING) and Barbara Claman (IRON EAGLE, BULLETPROOF and TOUR OF DUTY) would be the first step. Once in the door, Harris learned the ropes quickly and was soon working as a Casting Associate alongside top casting directors. This invaluable training has afforded Harris the opportunity to develop strong working relationships with A-List agents and manager as well as a reputation for identifying new talent. Some of Harris' casting projects include: • PREACHER'S KID (LeToya Luckett, Clifton Powell, Tank, Essence Atkins, Ella Joyce) • DYSFUNCTIONAL FRIENDS ( Megan Good, Stacey Dash, Stacy Keibler, Hosea Chanchez) • KINGS OF THE EVENING (Tyson Beckford, Glynn Turman, Lynn Whitfield) • TARA (Isaiah Washington, Guy Torry, AJ Johnson, Miguel Nunez, Ice T) • WHAT'S LOVE GOTTA DO WITH IT (Angela Basset and Laurence Fishburne) • COOL RUNNING (John Candy, Malik Yoba, Leon and Doug E. Doug) • JUDGMENT DAY (Mario Van Peeples, Ice T and Suzy Amis) • BEETHOVEN'S SECOND (Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt and Chris Penn) • CHAIN OF COMMAND (Roy Scheider, Michael Beihn and Maria Conchita Alonzo) • THE MILITA (Dean Cain, Frederick Forrest, Stacy Keach and Jennifer Beals) Over the years Harris has packaged talent for numerous HBO & SHOWTIME productions. Each cast has helped Harris become recognized as one of the top independent films casting director amongst her peers in the industry. These diverse and bankable casts have also earned her Producer credits on several films This interview was recorded March 21st, 2014.

• published: 22 Mar 2014
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