Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Christiansen.
Hi Kyle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Like many of us, film is a medium I was introduced to at a young age. We all have our childhood favorites – I remember watching Scooby Doo on Zombie Island or Barbie Rapunzel and being absolutely smitten. As I got older, I became increasingly fascinated by different types of movies – a sensibility that was largely encouraged by my parents. Horror was definitely a genre that excited me and intrigued me all the same. When my mom finally allowed me to watch The Shining, I could tell I was watching something greater than the sum of its parts. Not just an enjoyable flick or a successfully haunting experience, but a piece of art that weaves craft, story, performance, and tone so powerfully that it infiltrates and permeates culture from there on out. In other words, I was inspired. I’d been drawn to performance as well, so seeing what was possible through film motivated me to honor that passion. In that regard, I’m blessed to have always known my calling. In high school, I got involved with speech and theater, two programs that allowed me to act and hone my craft. In college, I got my BA in Studies in Cinema and Media Culture. Throughout my academic career and life outside of academia I was constantly watching movies – iconic or not, praised or not, niche or not – obsessing over the vision it takes to create something truly beautiful and brilliant. After college, I got involved in the local Minnesotan film community. I got cast in a feature film as well as several short films, building my experience and portfolio. However, I’d also been building a longing over the years – the longing to move to Los Angeles. In June of 2021, I moved to Los Angeles to continue pursuing my career. Upon moving to LA, I started doing extra work on both studio and no-budget sets, began rigorously submitting to castings, and got myself an agent. After a while, I prioritized the question: “What is my vision for my career? What do I need to do to acquire that?” I wanted to act, sure, but also to be a full-on auteur. I’m inspired by the greats – Stanley Kubrick, Ingmar Bergman, Wong Kar Wai, Yasujiro Ozu, as well as directors that are known for acting such as Greta Gerwig or Jordan Peele. Thus, I got involved in crew work, starting out as a PA or Script Supervisor. Doing behind-the-camera work built my confidence in understanding what it takes to run the ship. Additionally, I knew I needed to build a community of other filmmakers. Across sets, I began befriending many other creatives that are also looking for opportunities to hit the ground running. Now, 3 years into living here, I’m actively writing, I’ve directed two projects, I’m getting sought to act in people’s shorts, and I’m submitting films of my own to festivals. I’m also honored to have won Best Performance in a Short at the LA WEBFEST 2024. Feeling capable in my skillset now, I’m working on integrating myself once again into Minnesota’s film scene. I recently visited home to act in a short for a Minnesotan filmmaker and I’ve developed relationships with other local filmmakers in addition to those I’d previously worked with. Soon I hope to be even more involved in Minnesota, from acting to directing, producing, and attending local film festivals. I’m making progress on my vision (slowly but surely, just the way I like it) and I look forward to the day that I’m known as a Minnesotan legend.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Naturally there are struggles. Societal struggles, such as finances have played a big role. Moving site-unseen to Los Angeles, one of the most expensive cities in the world, definitely threw me into the deep end of this struggle – all while trying to start a career in acting/filmmaking, the opposite of an immediately lucrative career. In addition to the financial component, moving to a new city all by myself came with a deep sense of loneliness. Mind you, I moved in the latter half of COVID’s primary assault on all of us. I, like all of us, was already enduring a detachment from humanity. To make matters exponentially worse, uprooting my life and heading west only exacerbated the internal isolation. I’m naturally socially anxious, so breaking out of those walls has been a major conquest. Many creatives flourish through their ability to network, house community, and be unabashedly themselves. These are skills I’ve had to work on. Luckily, the struggle of lacking experience actually aided my sense of self because as I started getting more and more work, my confidence and extroverted side took the forefront. Once I knew the positive reinforcement of a job well done on a project I genuinely care about, I knew that was the sign of a fulfilling journey ahead. Ultimately, I’ve learned to honor my sense of fulfillment more than anything – something I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint if I hadn’t had any struggles at all.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m primarily known as an actor, writer, director and producer of film. I currently have an award-winning short horror film that I wrote and starred in titled Corners available on YouTube, and a queer short film that I produced and starred in titled What Are We? Are We Going To Be? We Are. slated to premiere in 2025. In addition to these, I’m in various stages of production for several other projects – either of my own, of my colleagues, or of filmmakers I’ve had the pleasure of working with. You can stay up to date on all of my work through my Instagram (@kyleearthurr).
I’m proud of the progress I’ve made thus far in my career, nestling myself into the very beginnings of what I plan to be a fruitful and fulfilling journey. I’m excited to continue zeroing in on my own ideas and bringing my unique sensibilities to roles and to sets. Having a clear, unwavering vision accompanied with focus, discipline, and gut instinct has helped me decipher who I am within this field and within this industry. Not only do I have multiple coals in my fire, but I believe in the universe to continue delivering the right opportunities to me. It’s my job to pounce on them – or create them myself.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Have faith in the process. Put yourself out there, but don’t feel the need to force a connection. Trust your gut – if someone or something puts you at ease, it’s promising. If something is off or doesn’t sit right with you, have the courage to remove yourself from that situation and still intrinsically believe that all is not lost. When you are in tune with your center and operate from that place, the right responders will resonate with your frequency. You can’t predict when an opportunity will cross your path, you can only be ready for it when it does. We’re lucky to live in a modern society where we can put ourselves out there and display what we’re capable of, but it’s simply an outlet. Lean into those that lean into you, and allow those that lean away to drift. Submit for that role, or to the agency you’ve been eyeing. Go to the film festival, or the movies by yourself. Post about it. Write the first draft of your script even though it’ll be terrible. Get ugly. Get dolled up. Do what you want (so long as you’re not harming anyone) without regard for the opinions of others. Do it because, frankly, it does not matter if everyone will like it or not. Not everyone will. The right people will want more. Essentially, trust yourself – your creativity, your work ethic, your values, your past and your future. Mostly, trust your present. That’s where you are and where you will always be. Live there authentically and the pieces will fall into place.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kylechristiansen.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/kyleearthurr
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/skmSheIECGg?si=vxkF_F4_QD8wiZbf
Image Credits
Photography: LA WEBFEST, “Corners” official poster design by Kyle Christiansen, “What Are We? Are We Going To Be? We Are.” official poster design by Kyle Christiansen and Zachary Christiansen, Photographer: Aeson Rose, Photographer: Yubicela Brito, Photographer: Christophe Mcwhorter, “Corners” award laurel, Photographer: Christophe Mcwhorter
