Meet Raven Keiara

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Raven Keiara a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Raven, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

Having worked in the entertainment and media industry since I was five, I would say my work ethic has kind of naturally progressed over the years. There have been so many milestones in my life, and I have learned so much about myself from each and every one of them. From being the youngest producer at Tavis Smiley’s Talk Radio Station to honing my skills in musical theatre, becoming an ambassador at Amazing Grace Conservatory working as a protege under Wendy Raquel Robinson. There are so many more experiences that I can attribute to growing my professionalism. Whenever I am on a set, in a studio, or at an event, I always like to converse with industry leaders, ask questions, and shadow whoever, using that as an opportunity to learn. I will say some key tips I’ve learned from working in this industry include always having a positive attitude, showing up prepared, and ready to do the work.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am an actress, reporter, dancer, and activist. I founded a media channel when I was eight called “PopSourceTV” that reports on what’s the latest in Hollywood, having interviewed dozens of celebrities, such as the late Bob Barker, Diahann Carroll, Joe Mantenga, Marsai Martin, Skai Jackson, Jussie Smollett, and more. I have also worked alongside GRAMMY award-winning artists such as Stevie Wonder, Take 6, Lalah Hathaway, Brian McKnight, and others. I’ve worked in numerous productions for Disney and been featured in commercials for LA Galaxy, and City National Bank. I have learned a lot working with veteran actors in film/TV, like NAACP winner Dawnn Lewis, Emmy-nominated Kelly Jenrette, Billboard Awards winner Alexis Fields, and others. My training at the NAACP-honored Theatre Company “Amazing Grace Conservatory” has instilled in me a love for musical theatre and dance and through their program I have been fortunate enough to perform at various events and venues around Los Angeles including but not limited to Disneyland, The Museum of Motion Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and The Beverly Hilton. I have also performed in five Broadway-style productions with the company. Currently, I am performing in a musical production at The University of Southern California working under the directorial leadership of Anita Dashiell Sparks, a veteran Broadway performer. With a knack for directing, I was tapped for a 1st AD position on a short film being executively produced by Wendy Raquel Robinson. Aside from my passion for film and performing, I am deeply rooted in social activism and community service. Through my initiative “Show Up and Step Up” I have been able to engage other Gen Z creatives in experiences uplifting the community and impacting change. In recent weeks I exercised my right to vote for the very first time paying homage to all of those who advocated for minorities to have that opportunity. This summer, I was able to contribute to bringing the national holiday Juneteenth to the City of Manhattan Beach alongside other student leaders from Mira Costa High School. In addition to having been recognized by the City of Manhattan Beach and Mayor Joe Franklin, my social justice efforts have been acknowledged by Supervisor Holly Mitchell, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler, and my Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Definitely adaptability as a starting point. In this business, there are a lot of things that can go wrong, and trust me, they do. The most important thing is keeping your composure and seeing how you can adjust to the situation in the most time-efficient way. I remember we were coming close to the end of a shoot day, and we still had a whole other scene to get through; we ended up fitting that scene into another day and focusing on the scene we had at hand because of its significance to the story and because of the amount of time it would take to set up lighting and camera in a new room. These are decisions you have to make/adjust to last minute because you just never know what could go wrong. The second quality I will say you need is patience, especially as a talent, 90% of your job is waiting around for lighting and camera set up for different shots, and then you shoot for maybe five minutes. It’s important you keep a positive attitude the whole time and stay in character. The last thing I will say is how crucial showing up prepared and knowing your lines is. It’s a collaborative effort to produce creative projects, and having been both a talent and 1st AD, my experience is proficiency makes sure things run smoothly. Having to keep cutting and redoing the scene because someone messed up their lines wastes a lot of time that productions do not have.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I like to reflect on everything I have done and accomplished so far. First of all, it helps me keep my successes in perspective and often motivates me to keep going. The next thing I like to do is make a list and physically check off those things that are within my control. Oftentimes, when I feel like I’ve satisfied my tasks, I will reward myself in small ways, such as treating myself to a movie just to unwind and get rejuvenated. A small bowl of Sherbert can be great, too. Lastly, I feel compelled to make a difference. It has been my experience that when you take the time to help others, a boomerang of good karma comes right back. I believe mentoring other youth and volunteering helps me stay balanced. I see it as a form of social good that allows positive shifts, which is my overall advice for becoming less overwhelmed.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravenkeiara/