Empowering and guiding folks through setting boundaries in the workplace.
D’arby Rose (she/they) is a seasoned, multifaceted guide focused on boundaries and self-advocating in the workplace, video producer and filmmaker, born and raised in Oakland and the Bay Area. With over twelve years of experience working in Los Angeles in the film, television, and digital media industry, D’arby started as a production assistant in 2011 and worked her way up the producer, director and editor ladders. Along the way, she saw the world and work culture evolve greatly. Up close and personal, she saw the industry recuperate from the 2006 writers strike, inclusive hiring finally take off, the #MeToo movement impact workplace culture (both good and bad), the rise of the BLM movement impact the industry, and more.
As a Black, white, and Mexican-mixed, queer, neurodivergent person she has participated in and has learned the inner workings of american labor since the 2008 recession working in industries ranging from film and television to corporate to tech to nonprofits to retail and more. D’arby brings a wealth of experience and a passion for community to her endeavors, embodying resilience and creativity in every project she undertakes. She has consistently used her voice, talents, and experience in both film and the corporate world to advocate for individuals in all spaces. Her dedication to equity and inclusion is evident in her collaborations with a spectrum of clients, as well as her penchant for storytelling and visual communication. D’arby’s commitment to guidance and advocacy work gives people the information and tools they need to create safer and more equitable spaces and workplaces as well as dismantle systemic barriers and empower underrepresented voices.
In 2018 D’arby Rose co-founded Color Film, a community collective dedicated to fostering an inclusive and intersectional community within the film industry. Through workshops and gatherings, she created spaces to not only provide tools and resources to film creatives to self-advocate in their work, but to also give each other space to exchange tools amongst each other. Once the pandemic hit, Color Film transitioned into a solo venture via Patreon for D’arby, set out with the same goals to provide tools folks to self-advocate in the film industry work spaces, being done primarily through monthly online interactive workshops, shared resources, and virtual community building.
During a two year chapter of working as an Producer and Project Manager at a fintech corporate company, she learned how to navigate corporate america, but this time as a full-time employee and not her typical contractor position. Through D’arby’s time in the company, she brought her community building skills into every space and meeting, always making an effort to ensure everyone in and out of the meeting was included and provided space for. Along the way she was warmly welcomed into the company’s Neurodiversity Community and was eventually selected as a Chapter Chair for the Remote community of the company’s Neurodiversity Community. She was also selected as one in a group of folks to help the Inclusivity & Diversity team redesign the standards and guidelines for cross-functioning teams within the multi-thousand employee company. With this vast experience, D’arby works to guide and support others in the same and similar spaces find their own success in building inclusivity anywhere from their own role/job, immediate team to the entire company.
D’arby has worked with a variety of clients and companies ranging from film production to workshop facilitating, including Mala Forever, Milwaukee Film, Feminist Center for Creative Work, Square, Jennifer Carroll Foy (via One Vote At A Time), Rachel’s Network, Producer Entertainment Group, and more.
You can see her film portfolio here.
As for speaking she has appeared in and shared spaces with The Bechdel Cast, Female Voices Rock, Creative Neighbors, Career Contessa, and more here.
D’arby continues to inspire through her creativity, resilience, and unwavering dedication to fostering inclusive communities both on and off-screen, in and out of work. When not immersed in creative endeavors, this proud Virgo finds solace in music, nature, reality TV, and solo travel, editing/remixing videos, volunteering with Rock Camp for Girls LA, going dumb with her friends and family, and cuddling her cat, Lestat.
Photo credit: Arabella Anderson