Rising Stars: Meet Rose Knight of Mid City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rose Knight.

Hi Rose, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Rose Knight and I’m an LA born filmmaker with a distinctive voice rooted in personal transformation and creative storytelling.

After beginning my career at Paramount Legal in 2018 doing Script Clearances, I transitioned into freelance work in 2023 as a Set Dresser, Assistant Director and Producer. My time in the freelance world has been so rewarding both personally and professionally because of the freedom to be as imaginative as possible in my ideas, set work and time spent on stories needing to be told. It’s the scariest decision to move away from the desk but when it’s for something you believe in doing, there’s no other option than to take a chance on yourself.

Two years later and I’m applying for Graduate School while directing my own proof of concept for a feature film. I have the best producing partner and a team of truly incredible filmmakers who I never would have met had I not taken a chance on myself back in 2023. The feature I’ve written is a 1993 Southern Californian artist’s tale about loving your craft, finding yourself amongst the chaos of a brutal industry, and taking a chance on your own ideas. So…just slightly based upon reality.

Some of my favorite recent projects include set dressing and design assist. for Billboard x Cynthia Erivo, LISA, and Tyla (WIWY Music Video), Assistant Director on “Whispers” (Film Invasion Award Winner), as well as serving as Assistant Director for CBS Studios’ Inaugural Pipeline Challenge in 2021. These are all moments in my career that have me pinching myself because I get to be creative for a living and be on some incredible sets.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing is peachy all the time, especially in the film industry! If you’ve been keeping up with the news in the last year or two, you’ll know the industry has been turned on its head recently. Between strikes, a struggling LA economy and studios struggling to compete with streaming – I’ve really had to learn how to stick to my values on independent sets where crew safety is not a priority, directors and producers don’t pay, or a job means being able to pay your rent but the hours push you to your physical limits.

The people and crew folks that I’ve been able to meet through these past two years have made me love doing this so much. There are so many hard workers out here who are hungry, we just need better paying independent film work. I’d still rather do this than sit at a desk so that answers any doubts in tough moments instantaneously!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work these days consists of producing and directing independent short films for myself and others, which is truly a dream come true! It means the world to me to get to do this for a living and I can’t wait to keep making films until I’m old and grey. I like to think I’m known for a fun set environment, being an honest and kind person on set and off, and encouraging the best performances out of my actors when I direct. I guess my visual style is vintage inspired, a little grungy and based in my love of Blues music, specifically the great Howlin’ Wolf.

I love being set apart from the rest of the pack because it means you have a well rounded and different point of view online. My background outside of the film industry is really arts based, which is something I’m proud of. I grew up dancing ballet pre professionally in the South Bay, trained with the Radio City Rockettes for five summers, am a graduate of the LA Contemporary Dance Company’s Los Angeles Choreographer’s Institute. I think dance and film truly are meant to be joined as they’re both such incredibly intimate mediums. A dream of mine is to create a ballet set for film – maybe a take on Manon? Manon has such insane storylines and the costumes/set design is to die for and would look incredible on camera. The wheels are turning!

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Both of my parents were in the AMAN Music and Dance Folk Ensemble so my house was constantly filled with world music, dance and love of all kinds of culture. One of my most cherished memories is when my dad would play the Oud (a Middle Eastern short-neck lute-type, pear-shaped stringed instrument) after dinner and my mom would teach me to dance. I remember my mom making me little cymbals for my teeny fingers so I could tap along to the rhythm of the music.

I’m so grateful to both of my parents for their love of the world’s music, dance and culture. It broadened my universe at such an early age and has instilled the same care and love of world music/dance as an adult. This world we’re in is filled to the brim with so much love, cultural tradition, and storytelling through folk music and folk dancing. I really feel it’s important to celebrate and understand where we all come from and how we got to this present day. It’s a beautiful thing to be in touch with different people and understand how much music, dance and oral storytelling keep all of us connected to our past, present and future. I watched Sinners recently, and Ryan Coogler’s ancestral scene made me tear up with how he had spirits playing music and dancing across time in one room.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://spoonfulofblues.godaddysites.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosemichelle96/