Meet Jelani Khalfani “KHVLFVNI”

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jelani Khalfani “KHVLFVNI.”

Jelani, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
How I got started in this film world… My cousin Ramone is like a born producer, he put together our first student film called “Dark Liquor” which I directed and starred in alongside my god brother Maylay Dre. From there I went on to act mostly, but one day a casting agent tried to force a role on me that I didn’t want. So I said “forget that, I ‘ma take matters into my own hands,” thats when the “behind the camera life” started to unfold. KJLH 102.3 was actually my first internship, I was driving an hour and a half to get to that office, and they let me produce two events on Melrose with The Originators, which is why I have such a love for Fairfax and Melrose, they also let me film a DJ Quik interview. At first, I was only doing photography and lied to them saying I did know how to edit videos but I really didn’t, did the edit for that video with my friends Mac in his garage all night, which led to me getting an internship with Times 10 media, shoutout to Ben Times Ten the CEO. That office had creative magic, working with places like Fat Sal’s and Popular Demand. Rest in Peace to one of my Co Workers, Johnny Reazon, that guy was one of the most talented people I have ever seen on a computer with making designs. That office gave me the opportunity to travel with music artist “Deez0” to South By South West in Austin Texas for the first time. We handed out sandwiches from Fat Sal’s at a party hosted by @yesjulz and Made In Tokyo performed off the loft of a mansion. Fast forward, I was filming at Vestal Village next to Coachella and met somebody from COMPLEX MAGAZINE, a place where I would be working with people like Tamara Dhia covering the release of “Pablo” March by Kanye West. And finally, last year I landed a dope ass internship with BLAVITY, overlooking all of Downtown LA. Shoutout to my film squad over there! And Christian Jones for believing in me and bringing me on the team! Now I’m working on my latest project which I can’t say too much about but it is a documentary.

Has it been a smooth road?
I had to pause before I even typed anything… Someone who I would call like my cousin was stabbed just last week… The week after I came back from my second trip to SXSW in 2017, I had my first daughter, and my homie got shot in front of his mom doorstep. In short, no it hasn’t been a smooth road. And I have plenty more to speak about one day just not on this platform. But I truly believe in the saying “the bigger the struggle, the bigger the blessing,”

Tell us more about the business.
KHVLFVNI is not just a director, I am a movement in itself, I am a walking factory. With the help of my associates, I create lifestyles behind the camera and through events thrown independently in LA. I even helped start one of the most well known Cannabis events in LA and did the recap videos! (If you watch the videos you’ll see why that blew up).

What sets me apart from others is that I have a drive, a flame inside of me that doesn’t ever burn out. For some reason I have this vision of me living in a mansion and I won’t give up until that dream literally comes true.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see the film/entertainment industry turning into a place where everyone damn near looks and sounds the same, even down to the TV shows and movies now having certain stories pushed makes me happy as hell. Because now when I release all of my projects I have on the shelf, people are going to be shocked to see how different all of my stories are. ALL based on true events.