An actor, model, writer, producer, dancer, and DJ, Keilani Elizabeth Rose has kept herself busy in what has otherwise been a year like no other.
Born and raised in the northern capital, Rose is a member of the L’heidli T’enneh nation currently splitting her time between Vancouver and Los Angeles.
In addition to being named Miss Asia in 2016, Rose has been featured on shows like Once Upon a Time, Lucifer, Six, A Series of Unfortunate Events & The Magicians.
The renaissance woman produced and starred in ‘Flimsy,’Â a comedy filmed entirely in isolation during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It started as a ZOOM conferencing project between friends looking to stay connected during the lockdown.
It quickly blossomed into a 13 episode miniseries, featuring 13 actors in five different countries.
“It was a huge learning curve, first of all,” Rose told MyPGNow, “As an actor, and a storyteller, such a huge part of the work and the craft is connection. You want to build that connection with your castmates, with your scene partner, and beyond that, with your audience.”
“To have to create this, without having another human in the same room as you, it’s an energy that can never be replaced.”
Monkey Beach star and Prince George local Grace Dove also made an appearance in the series alongside Rose.
Despite hailing from the same city, the two didn’t meet until they were living in Vancouver.
“She’s such a badass. I am really grateful for this relationship and friendship that she and I have fallen into because we are exploring a lot of similar things with our Indigeneity. It’s nice to have a sister to walk beside, and find our voices together.”
The Duchess Park grad also has an upcoming film project called ‘Breathe,’ which includes a mentorship program for Indigenous youth interested in film.
The issue of proper representation in media is not a new one, and with the help of the workshop, Rose is aiming to foster connections at all levels of production, not just in front of the camera.
“I know casting itself is trying to do a better job at making sure that these opportunities, when the script calls for someone Indigenous and of a certain band, tribe or nation, that they do require that paperwork to make sure that it is authentic. The tricky part with that is, and this is part of the systemic issue, is that it is so hard to get the paperwork,” said Rose.
“I am so proud of Grace and Monkey Beach, because we never had that when I was growing up. I never would have looked on the big screen and seen someone who looks like us. I didn’t really know that existed,” she added.
While she currently lives in the Lower Mainland, Rose says her Prince George roots have played a big role in where she finds herself today.
The oldest of three sisters, Rose and her mother cleaned the dance studio where she took her classes in order to pay for lessons.
A special assistance fund was also created by the owners of the enchainment studio, Bunny Murray and Judy Russell, to help performers go to dance festivals.
“I feel like every step along the way, every time I turn the page, walk into a new invitation, or offering, it’s always with the respect for these wonderful humans who have sacrificed so much for me, and made space for me.”
“The feeling of people believing in you so strongly, really pushes you to make it count.”