Today we’d like to introduce you to Raven Keiara.
Hi Raven, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My parents put me in commercials when I was around seven and I remember loving the whole vibe of being on commercial sets. I was featured in commercials for LA Galaxy, City National Bank, and Citroen, I starred in commercials for Disneyland, Disney Firsts, Walt Disney World, Disney Destinations, and had many incredible opportunities to go to all the Disney parks, I even had the chance to shoot a commercial in Hawaii at Disney’s Aulani Resort. I was able to be in a music video for the Grammy-winning group Take 6. During this time I was also going out to star-studded events like red carpets and VIP behind-the-scenes functions, interviewing celebrities for an entertainment network my mom had created on youtube called Pop Source TV. By the age of nine, I had already interviewed A-list celebrities including the likes of Bob Barker, Joe Mantanga, Skai Jackson, Marsai Martin, Donald Driver, and Diahann Carroll, to name a few. I also got to work behind the camera and do editing. I didn’t really appreciate the spaces I was in and how much of an advantage I had over other kids my age, so after about two years I stopped doing it all. I’m sure I took all the exposure I was getting for granted.
It wasn’t until I was around 13 that I joined the drama club at Manhattan Beach Middle School and gained an appreciation for the arts and started to miss what I had. Now being in plays wasn’t really my thing but it did make me want to get into television acting so I expressed an interest to my parents. At first, they didn’t really take me seriously because I had quit in the past but after a year and a half of asking, we started to prioritize it. It was pretty hard to get it going tho because I needed an agent and since I had no experience in theatrical acting no one would take me without a reel. Covid was a blessing and curse in my journey, it was harder to get auditions because a lot of studios were on lockdown but Covid also prepared me because it allowed me the opportunity to do online school which made my schedule a lot more flexible, allowing me to hone my craft as a talent.
I just finished shooting for a Christmas movie, slated to come out In November directed and produced by NAACP award-nominated director Reggie Gaskins and also starring Stephanie Charles who is on Tyler Perry’s Ruthless. I also write articles online spotlighting people making a difference in the community, and for pop culture entertainment features. Another one of my favorite gigs thus far has been working as a line producer for Tavis Smileys KBLA 1580.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Well, really I am still on the Journey, I am thankful for all of the experiences in life thus far. I still have so many goals and dreams, and the world has not seen the best of me yet. It has not been easy to get where I am and it certainly won’t be easy to get to where I want to be but I am a hard worker and am excited to see where my career takes me in the future.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am most known as an actress and that is my main passion. I am very thankful that I have been able to accomplish everything that I have so far and especially at such a young age. I do realize that I am ahead of most 15-year-olds in terms of experience and I’m just so fortunate that I can be doing what I want to be doing with such a head start.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Getting experience early on will set you apart from others. If you don’t know what you want to do at a young age, experiment with different things. If you don’t like one thing find another to try because the good thing is when you start young you actually have time to change your mind. It will actually help in the long run to be able to confidently list everything you have done at such a young age. Remember age is just a number.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://about.me/Ravenkeiara
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravenkeiara
