Today we’d like to introduce you to Tempestt Harris.
Tempestt, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have been an artist since I was 5 years old. I did not grow up with a silver spoon. I have always been quiet but art has always been a gift to me as I discovered I was naturally good at anything involving it and it became the way I expressed myself and made money for myself. I was always the class artist. I sold my first oil pastel painting in 7th grade at auction and it was one of my favorite life moments. It felt good for someone to buy my artwork. I studied theater, music, and art throughout high school. In 2006 I studied for 2 years at The Art Institute of Charlotte in graphic design and animation. There I fell in love with magazines. A team of students and I started a publication with my direction called ” The Movement Magazine” We were the first hiphop magazine in Charlotte and got our first cover star lil Chuckee from “Cash Money” ( rapper Lil Waynes label. ) after they reached out to us. I was hooked on media and magazines after that experience. I later realized “hip hop” wasn’t my love and fashion and design had always been ingrained in me. I was blessed to launch and hire a team of writers and graphic artists and started the fashion and entertainment magazine ” Level21″ shortly after “The movement magazine” ended in 2012. My love for acting and theater created the film and media side of Level21 Media which became extremely popular around 2015. We interviewed and filmed so many stars including Jamie Foxx, Megan Good, Nick Kosir, and the late Cheslie Kryst. We also started a fashion production in called “The Fashion Excursion” in 2017 and this show became our stepping stone for “The Carolina Fashion Awards” which launched in 2019 with our first brunch for nominees. This show is produced by us at Level21 Media but maintains a fashion industry of professional board members from all over the Carolinas and we honor NC and SC fashion creatives. The shows have always been given to our chosen charity of the year which included “St. Judes, “Lupus foundation” and “The Brain Tumor society “We have had several guests from Americas next top model and High profile local socialites who hand our winners awards each year. Personally, I am a wife to Thomas Harris and a new mother of a 7-week-old baby boy named Levi. After 10 years of infertility, Levi came naturally clean out of nowhere. He is my greatest joy at the moment, my greatest production.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Absolutely not a smooth road but an adventurous one. Like climbing a bigger and bigger mountain. So many pitfalls in-between but I hardly notice them due to the goals being so enormous. I feel like I have faced every “ism” racism, sexism, color-ism and been underestimated many times but I couldn’t pinpoint what I was dealing with every time because I am very black and white to sum it up in my head it was just wrong and it was just hate so it’s dealt with and ignored immediately. Also being a producer and director, we are almost always never doing this type of work for the money. Funding my own films I always find raising money for projects a challenge, however, we make it through by God’s grace every year and have done extraordinary work. I love a new challenge and the pressures of this business. I am currently working on bigger budget movies and sitcoms to pitch to major networks and that is super challenging but it has truly been a fun ride so far. I want to make a home for NC and SC artist so New York and LA comes to us to find talent in the future.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am known as a showrunner, a director and Producer for TV and film. I am more widely known as the founder & creative director for Level21 Media.
I am most proud that I am able to maintain my value and self-worth in such a tough business. I believe in God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob and that I have been led to do this so that others can shine and have opportunities doing what they love. I truly get so much joy from it. God wants to see us all successful.
My website is www.bytempestt.com and it has all my celebrity, film and creative work there. I also have a poetry book published with Amazon & Barns & Noble located there as well.
Something little known is that I am a part-time art teacher for students ages 3 years to 12 years old. I also do private lessons. I have always loved Children.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
So many people played a role. The Level21 Team and board most definitely are the rock stars of my life. My cameraman Emmanuel Toussiant who became a co-producer was there when we started with nothing and although our company has grown, he will always be a star player. Joshua Anglero and Juliana Gutierrez who kept our website top-notch and had my back when times where tough in the past. They were also on the reality tv ” To have and to hold Charlotte” and it didn’t change their heart. They are generous and I will never forget what they did. I would do the same for them. My Paster Threatt who kept me spiritually grounded and my mother Modestine Mungo who is there for me when I need her most. I especially thank my husband Thomas because he has invested so much and he and his crew build our stages for shows.
Pricing:
- $19.99 per magazine
- $500-5,000 director services
- $5,000-20,000 for producer & director services
- movie production $50k and above
- tv show production $20k and above
Contact Info:
- Website: www.level21mag.com www.bytempestt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/level21mag/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCarolinaFashionAwards
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@level21magazine97
- Other: https://www.bytempestt.com/
Image Credits
Main photo by Laurence Logan @iamziyah
