KEAH D. MOFFETT lives by this motto: “Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters”.
Mississippi-born and New Orleans-raised, Keah has always loved tv and video and knew that she wanted to create. Currently, Keah is a director, actor, screenwriter and dancer. She has made several short films (behind and in-front of the scenes) and can be seen in commercials, films and music videos (such as Solange’s “Cranes in the Sky” and “Don’t Touch My Hair”). As a dancer, she has been on both of her college dance teams and has performed for President Obama’s First Inaugural Parade, 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and many Mardi Gras parades. She now coaches a dance team. She is a proud graduate of Hampton University in Virginia (#hbculove) and Academy of Art University in San Francisco (#artschoollove).
Keah Moffett
2017 is the year for visionaries and entrepreneurs. How do you think your work will impact the people you inspire this year?
Keah: “It still boggles my mind that I inspire people. I have had people tell me that, and I think, “Really?! I’m just Keah!” but I don’t take it lightly. My mom has always taught me to be 100% “me” whether I’m in public or private, so I always try to carry myself with respect and dignity and I try to showcase that through my work: I try to get better with every project that I create.
I hope that 2017 brings more opportunity to showcase what I do and the message that I want to convey. I believe that it’s a good time for it, because people are so upset about politics, race and all that. I want to bring a message to people and bring laughter back to people.”
You were in “Cranes In The Sky” and “Don’t Touch my Hair” by Solange. What was that experience like? What did it teach you?
Keah: “It was really fun! I look back and I realize that it seemed like friends getting together to make a film. The first day was a big deal– lots of people everywhere! Then, as the days went on, it was more and more intimate. Solange is very sweet and down- to- earth. I guess people always say things like that, but it’s true. Her husband and son are the same. It was a joy.
As she would play the songs, we would tell her that they were great and we couldn’t wait for them to come out. I’m so happy that the world loved them as much as we did. When the videos came out, they were so beautiful! And the crazy part is that there’s a lot of footage that didn’t make the cut that could probably make two more videos.
After everything, she had a listening party and invited us girls and when we got there, it was a long table and we sat at it. SO I ACTUALLY GOT A SEAT AT THE TABLE, YALL! 🙂 Everyone’s spirit was great and the event was full of joy. We danced and laughed and had a good time. Afterwards, I gave her a big hug and told her that I hope to work with her again and she hugged back and said it would be a pleasure. I’m very thankful for that opportunity.”
Name 3 favorite books, 3 songs, and 3 movies that changed your life. Explain why.
Keah: “ooo just three?!
Books:
So everyone says “The Bible” so I won’t say that, but it is a very important book.
*in no particular order*
– Maybe You Never Cry Again by Bernie Mac– I like reading autobiographies. There’s a part in this book where Bernie Mac saw his mom crying when he was 5 years old and he felt helpless. Then, Bill Cosby came on tv and she laughed. When he saw how upset she was one minute and how Bill Cosby suddenly made her able to smile, he told his mom that he would grow up to be a comedian so “maybe you never cry again.” That stuck with me for a few reasons but one of the main reasons is that it shows how you can use your talents and your art to reach people– people you may have never met– and change their prospective.
Also, I love Bernie Mac.
– Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns)/ Why Not Me by Mindy Kaling– (told you I like autobiographies) I put both of her books together because they’re similar. I love Mindy Kaling. If you don’t know who she is, her resume includes “The Office” and “The Mindy Project.” She does exactly what I want to do: she writes, produces and stars in her own show. In her book, she talks about her struggles, her critics, her shortcomings and how she gained confidence in herself and her craft.
– Harry Potter and the *insert second part of title here* by JK Rowling– There’s no deep meaning why this book changed my life, but it keeps my imagination active and fun, which, I guess in a way has helped me in many ways.
3 Movies
– Rear Window
One of my favorite movies. It’s beautiful and it’s a very good story. It showed me how to make intriguing film.
– Do the Right Thing and School Daze
Showed me that a Black person could make a film that’s a piece of art and get a message across.
– Forrest Gump
I’ve always loved this movie but it is brilliant how this movie is not really about anything. Just think about it: Talk about what Forrest Gump is about in one sentence. Would you go see that movie?!
I guess it changed my life because I could get lost in it and it showed me the type of writing, acting and directing that I want to do.
Songs
– “If It’s Magic” by Stevie Wonder
I get lost in this song. It is so beautiful. It makes me want to cry every time I hear it. Talks about unconditional love
– “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Makes me feel proud to be Black. In elementary school, they made us learn all three verses and sing it every morning. I didn’t mind it then, but now I realize how cool that was. It’s such a beautiful song and it reminds the “young, gifted and black” that we are beautiful, too.
– Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”… “Billie Jean”… “Remember the Time”
Do I have to pick one song? MJ showed me how to live larger than life and dream big. He was my first dance teacher. Back in the day, my mom couldn’t afford dance lessons, so I’d learn from the tv. So it’s hard for me to pick one song.”
As a multitasker of many successful things, how do you prioritize your time for your projects?
Keah: “I write everything down. I put everything in the calendar on my phone. I make lists and put stars next to the most urgent things. I feel accomplished when I can check something off the list, and yet, the list doesn’t get shorter.
I sacrifice a lot of things that I want to do in order to achieve the things that I want to achieve. One thing that I don’t sacrifice is my family time. I always make time for my family. Lately, I’ve been working on time management so that I can spend more time on myself. I’ll get caught up in projects and doing things for others that I would suffer, but I realized that when I suffer, I can’t help others. I’m getting better at setting times for things and leaving times for rest, exercise and unwinding.”
Who do you want to collaborate with in the future?
Keah: “So many people. Way too many to name, but I’ll try:
Barack and Michelle Obama
Mindy Kaling
Spike Lee
Jon Stewart
Stephen Colbert
Denzel Washington
Angela Bassett
Adam Sandler
What is your favorite quote and why?
“Feed your faith, not your fear”
Keah: “My grandma died and it was hard on our family. I love my grandma very much. We had an ongoing joke that we would go dancing one day (she had a bad hip, so couldn’t dance). She knew that I was a dancer, but never got a chance to see me dance. When she died, my mom asked me to dance at her funeral to “Order My Steps” and I was unsure about it. I’d never danced at a funeral (excluding second lines) and never for a close family member and I wasn’t sure if I’d do a good enough job for me. I was afraid.
When we got to her house the next day, I found her Bible and when I opened it, a piece of paper was there, in her handwriting and it said, “feed your faith, not your fear.” I danced for her and I say those words to myself whenever I get scared. “
Thanks Grandma.
If you could meet any actor, who would it be? Any singer?
Keah: “I would meet Angela Bassett and Stevie Wonder. Because they’re awesome.”
Facebook: Keah Moffett
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