For those who haven’t heard of Keilani Elizabeth Rose, they soon will. With a bunch of projects on the table, this talented actress is making a name for herself in Hollywood and Renee Porsia, of Nerd Alert News, was lucky enough to spend some time with her. Viewers have certainly seen her on “Once Upon a Time,” “Lucifer,” “Six,” “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” and “The Magicians.”A modern-day renaissance girl, she loves to tell a good story. Originally from Prince George, BC, Canada, she was crowned Miss Asia in 2016, and lends support to helping Indigenous Youth. Get to know Keilani better.
Renee Porsia: Hello Keilani. I’m Renee Porsia with Nerd Alert News. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today.
Keilanie Elizabeth Rose: Hi Renee! My pleasure 🙂 … let’s jam!
RP: You are building quite an impressive resume. Who were some of your influences growing up?
KER: My Mama has been my biggest influence from the beginning. Everything I’ve learned about the origins of story-telling, dance, and music come from her and her vibrant teachings about our mixed heritage. She has nurtured my siblings and I to be the artists, healers, and change-makers we are today. I would also say that Beyonce has a special place in my heart. She is the ultimate package as a performer; I love how limitless her expression is through any medium. And of course, The Greats … Maya Angelou, Dr. Martin Luther King, Audrey Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, … I always loved a little bit of everything from the intersections of inspirational writing, great leaders, activists, and strong female creatives.
RP: What’s something you can tell your fans about you that they wouldn’t find online that might satisfy their curiosity about you?
KER: I workout to Disney music (primarily, “Pocahontas,” “Moana” and “Mulan”) … my chef skills are a “work in progress” … and I can’t wink to save my life.
RP: This is a crazy time with the pandemic. How have you been dealing with it and have you learned anything about yourself during lockdown that maybe you didn’t know before?
KER: The best medicine for me during this turbulent time has been creativity. No matter the isolation, distance, or lockdown … we can always create. And it is so healing. I’ve learned so much about adaptation and self-sufficiency during the pandemic. When all plans for 2020 got thrown out the window, it was a gift to be able to turn inwards and take a beat to really be mindful about the way we get to move forward through this time and beyond it. It had me reflecting a lot about what I want to share with the world, and how to do that impactfully, respectfully, and sustainably.
RP: Everyone is coming up with creative outlets during the pandemic. You created Flimsy. Can you tell me how “Flimsy” was born, what we can expect, and how it went at the Female Filmmakers Fuse Festival?
KER: “Flimsy” was born because we desperately needed some light and laughter to take our minds off of the heavy time the world was in. We found an innovative way to bring our community together (across borders and countries despite the lockdown) and make some art. It did the trick 🙂 It kept our minds distracted, our hearts hopeful, and the frequency positive.
The story is a quirky light-hearted dramedy about two best friends who are struggling artists chasing their dreams. Cadence wants to become a world-class DJ while Phina is hustling to become an actor. Life is chaotic. Unexpected. The journey is a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences full of heartbreak, love, success, and defeat. However, if in the chaos we’re lucky enough to have a dream, and we’re bold enough to chase it, it makes the chaos worthwhile and the journey, the true gift of life. Through short vignettes, we follow Cadence and Phina as they pursue their dreams while navigating their personal lives. “Flimsy” is a touching story that explores relationships, passion, and what it means to face life head-on despite the obstacles that may appear … in a major way it translates to the state of suspension the world is in right now … and how we’re all just doing our best to keep swimming.
It went smashingly at the Female Filmmakers Fuse Film Festival, and we’ve been invited to screen at four more festivals in the USA, Brazil, and Africa since then. It’s great to see the series receiving such international acclaim and award-winning recognition.
RP: Your bio says “an advocate for Mother Nature” I’m curious … Can you elaborate a bit more about this?
KER: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono (the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness). It’s one of the most famous Hawai’ian proverbs. This value of respect for Mother Nature is at the root of all the work I do. When I walk through life, whether it’s on a film set, or at a live DJ performance, and especially when traveling for shows and productions … It’s so important to me to make sure we are aware of the footprint we are leaving and make it as small as possible. This means implementing GREEN practices and Land Acknowledgements in honor of the Indigenous Peoples whose land we are on – because they are the original stewards and their cultural values of care for the Earth are the example of practices that need to be honored more than ever now.
RP: I am a big fan of “Lucifer” and I see that you were on the show back in 2013. What was that like?
KER: So much fun … I kissed the devil, what more can I say 😉
RP: You are working on a few different projects…can you tell us a bit more about those and when we can expect to see them?
KER: “Breathe,” a film written and directed by Cody Kearsley (The CW Riverdale) will go to principal camera in the new year. This piece will speak to the generational effects of colonization on Indigenous Peoples and explore the over-representation of this community when it comes to statistics regarding the battle with addiction and alcoholism. It’s important to me that we offer truth to these issues but also honor a tone of resilience. We will be taking the opportunity to incorporate a youth mentorship program with this production where we will invite Indigenous youth to shadow our crew members and get an introduction to the film industry. I always want my work to elevate and support marginalized communities. I hope this program will promote access and inspire the next generation of Native youth to share their stories with the world.
“The Color Rose” (aka “The Sinners”) is being released in Canada and the USA on Feb. 19/2021 and I’m so excited for the world to meet Katie Hamilton! ( – my character in the film). It’s a thriller about a cult of girls who represent the seven deadly sins … and that’s all I will say for now 😉
My very own first feature film is underway … The working title is, “Sunflower” and I hope to bring this one to film in my hometown in spring/summer of 2021. It’s a heartwarming story about a young Native girl who finds her way back to her family and culture after she survives the foster care system. This is going to be an amazing collaboration because I will have my younger sister, KeAloha on the team for the soundtrack, and my big cousin, Joshua Seymour is helping me bring the language and story of my people to life!
RP: You dance, act, write, and produce. If you had to pick just one, which would you choose and why?
KER: I could never! … They are all so deeply a part of me and each outlet elevates the next. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to express myself at the intersection of all of these languages.
RP: How about some quick rapid-fire questions:
RP: Favorite coffee place
KER: Anywhere with a patch of sunshine 🙂
RP: Favorite color
KER: Depends on my mood … usually yellow because I’m a sun child.
RP: Morning or night person
KER: Night … but I adore the dawn.
RP: Dog or cat person
KER: Dog
RP: Favorite word
KER: Aloha (in Hawai’ian, Ha is the breath of life – so to say Aloha means sharing love, sharing connection, and sharing the breath of life which feels so powerful)
RP: Favorite quote
KER: “Dream with ambition. Lead with conviction.” – Kamala Harris, the first FEMALE POC VP.
“Ohana means family … family means nobody gets left behind, or forgotten.RP: Last show you binged
KER: EUPHORIA … ugh. Zendaya is everything.
RP: Song you are currently obsessed with
KER: The new (unreleased) Parker Lane album – Kaleidoscope
RP: Current obsession
KER: Self-discovery … personal growth … enlightenment … my personal renaissance
RP: Keilani, it’s been so much fun chatting with you today. Thanks so much and I am looking forward to seeing all of your projects and talking to you again.
KER: Thank YOU! My pleasure, Treasure 🙂 All the best until next time. xx
Written by Renee Porsia
