Why have you chosen to be an artist? What is your “raison d’être”?
I never chose to be a filmmaker or a designer. It was God who chose for me this path for arts, being creative and exploring colors and screenplays.
All things film started for me back in 2022; becoming a background actor on “Outer Banks” with my father, Corie Rose, and [my] brother, Zion. I fell in love with movie making and I wanted to be an actor! That was the passion that God gifted to me and chose for me; tailor made, which I love to say it.
I originally just wanted to be an actor, but then Zion and I went to film camp at the [Division of Youth Affairs] and that’s where it started for screenwriting. My brother, Zion Rose, was the first screenwriter; the guy that started it all with my writing. Then I took over and fell head over heels for screenwriting. I didn’t want to stop. I just love it!
Then in 2023, [at] New York Film Academy, I went to summer camp with Zion to learn more. I learned a lot about angles and cameras. I was a training director in NYC.
The next form of art was in February 2025, where I was blessed with an opportunity to design and sew a skirt so I [could] give it as a gift. This [was] my first time ever stitching fabric or even [an] outfit. I was so nervous, but yet God directed [this as] my path once more; to step into the fashion door. I will continue to grow and exceed [in] it. These are my art forms and passion.
Who are your influences and what have you learned from them?
My role models I look up to would be a variety of different artistic ones I know. My daddy, Corie Rose, is one of my huge influences and role models in my life, both in family [and] in show business and marketing. He is a great strategic thinker and businessman who I look up to, [I] and aspire to work like him.
Asha Lovelace, CEO of Caribbean Film Festival, is creating a way for Caribbean filmmakers to see and celebrate their films. I always wanted to meet her since I saw her in the Caribbean Beat Magazine in the airline, and I was all like, “Who is this boss lady, I have to meet her!”
I was so excited to meet her, and the person she portrays in person is elegance, and yet that class of professionalism. Asha is truly an amazing woman who I look up to, in particular her work “Water Devil”, shown at the Caribbean Film Festival.
Kate McKinnon, I love Kate; she’s so funny! Her comedic timing and how she is as an actor was my inspiration for my acting piece in Broadway Artist Alliance. And the scene in [my film] “Perturbed” where I pulled down the mask with a sinister smile and asked, “Hey, how do I look?” I’ve learned so much from just watching her on SNL. Even in the “Barbie” movie, I loved her character as Weird Barbie. I hope one day to work with Kate and to continue comedic acting just like her.
Tim Burton is my favorite director, the one director I really do love. One day I hope to work with him. His work is fabulous in a dark way. I love how he made “Alice in Wonderland”, the live action, so differently than the cartoon. The movie came out when I was younger; it was so scary to watch. The Queen of Hearts looked frightening, and then he not only made me love the Alice character but dislike the Queen because of the villain she made.
Ava DuVernay [is someone] I had the pleasure of meeting, and got the awesome opportunity to ask a question at the CARIFESTA XV [Fireside] Chat. Her encouraging words still linger in my mind! I love her work as a black woman director is so perfect! She’s so great at what she does. The way Ava makes her films and how she tells a story is just encouraging for me.
What do you think makes you unique as an artist?
I believe what makes me unique is God’s favor and what [H]e blessed in me to create art that comes to life.
My art is [in] three different forms: film, stage and fashion. I like to take past experiences and emotions from my life, but also find a way to blend [them] with situations and problems in the world, creating a story that’s flawed from a realistic point of view. All of my characters I’ve written for different screenplays are based on real people or real emotions that I monitor and research, or, as I said, [I] experience for myself.
I loved creating dark screenplays. Everything I write [has been] dark and meaningful. Since I was small, there was always a connection to my favorite stop motion animation, [“Coraline”] , which is so dark and ominous, [similar] to Joker in the “Dark Knight”.
My drive is being the best; therefore, I had to learn from the best. Case in point: I’ve recently returned from acting on Broadway Artist Alliance. Both Zion and I auditioned and excelled. Broadway was a whole different experience. I adored [it] and give God thanks. Because, from the start of auditions [to] even the final showcases and the whole week, [it] was truly intensive but a great learning moment.
Throughout that time, I learned how to dance, sing better. I learn[ed] to read sheet music while singing and [took] wonderful acting master classes that shape[d] me to be better, to engage my audience with a story and a character who’s still me, but performed in a totally different way. I love learning about movement [and] how to dance by Broadway actors. I’ve learn[ed] to just believe and trust in the process, because that’s what acting is: a process and journey of becoming [a] better me.
Now with Fashion, it’s such a contrast [to] my films.
With my fashion I’m able to explore all of my colorful creativity, watching cartoons [to] even playing with my dolls. My fashion is inspired by my inner childhood of so many colors. I’m also inspired by different cultures and countries, and different time periods. I love the 1920s, with the fashion, the big feathers, and dazzling beads [and] the 60s’ unique style.
Everything in my fashion is orchestrated with a meaning for every color, every design. I never like to just stitch something just because it looks good. I need a meaning for every piece, every accessory [that goes with] it. Last February, after filming the TRIZON [P]roduction[s] short film “Perturbed”, I immediately started the process of designing and creating a unique mini skirt to give to the PLNGNS runway at the Berlin Fashion Week. It was well received by the founder, and he excitedly asked, “Is this really hand stitch[ed]?”
For you as an artist, is there a work of art or an artist that resonates with you on a profound level?
There are many films that [do] resonate with me. In fact, it goes all the way back to when I was five. There was this kid animation called [“Coraline”]. It was the creepiest thing I ever watched. I had nightmares for the whole week. I was afraid, yet fascinated. Ever since, I’ve been obsessed with anything dark and creepy.
This [led] me to discover one of my favorite directors, Tim Burton! [He] did Batman flawlessly twice and made the “Nightmare before Christmas” a classic that has great story telling with amazing dark visuals.
The next film would be “Mean Girls”, done by Tina Fey. [She] created such an exciting movie with fun themes, making “Mean Girls” seem like real girls, just with problems and not monsters who hate each other. That increased my love for high school movies and bullying themes.
One other [series] that’s extra special for me is “Breaking Bad”, because it’s one of the most important studies for screenwriting. Every screenwriter should study Walter White’s story arc. This was said by my tutor at New York Film Academy. This [series] is the capital for writing characters, looking [at] and examining different stories, and the spiral of madness an innocent character does.
When people engage with your work, what do you want them to get out of it?
I want them to not see a film, but to see and be in a world that’s created with realistic characters that are recognizable. They would know each character is related [to] someone they know or saw or [are] even related to. That’s what I love about my films.
I want to continue getting better and better when making more films, because I love the topic of realism and hurtful and meaningful stories.
My fashion, I want to be in the pieces. I want my audience [to] see walking, talking art that creates a land and stories through all the fabrics and accessories. [E]very detail is a different world on the piece. It all create[s] a cohesive land of fun. I want people to [engage] with my pieces as characters, like they are coming to life to not only represent fashion, but an emotion like nostalgia, pain, or even laughter from joy. That’s what I want my audience to engage with.
