Interview with Guernslye Honorés
Invest in friendships. Your support system is always going to be there for you, but you have to work to cultivate it organically.
As a part of our series called “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Producer”, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Kyle P Nolan.
Kyle is Head of Production and Co-Founder at STURDY., a multi-vertical agency leader in visual innovation, production, and experiences for world-class artists and brands. Based in Los Angeles, an entrepreneur and Executive Producer, Kyle is dedicated to crafting iconic moments in the realms of video, experiential, and live entertainment.
With a proven track record, Kyle has produced multiple TV series and films for Netflix, MTV, Amazon, and Nickelodeon. He spearheaded campaigns and media initiatives for global giants like Elton John, Bad Bunny, Nike, Adidas, BMW, Red Bull, Virgil Abloh/ Off White, and more. Kyle’s success is rooted in his knack for connecting with a diverse range of artists, brands, technologies, and the ever-evolving pop culture.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit of the ‘backstory’ of how you grew up?
My twin sister Gabriella and I would play in our Philly duplex living room as Motown and Muddy Waters vinyls spun at max volume. Music was just a part of everyday life. My parents were musicians and teachers; my dad was a music therapist professor. So inevitably, music was ingrained into my personality from a young age. Amazing how now it is the foundation of my journey and success and how I ended up at STURDY..
I was a very outgoing kid with friends from many cultures and neighborhoods, a young hustler, and an athlete. As a kid I would organize group activities and was often called “The Producer”. During high school and college, I created a collective of young artists called Verge and rented a warehouse to have art shows, communal workspaces, and performances. It became known well enough that teachers allowed me to adapt certain projects to Verge, so I was getting school credit for building my own thing, pretty cool.
After completing undergraduate degrees in Entrepreneurship and Mass Media/Communications, I left college well-rounded, passionate, and confident with a unique network. I now use what I’ve learned to work alongside some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
After being humbled as a PA within a variety of different productions, teams, and crazy LA talent, I was asked to produce a music video for a young rock band. I knew this needed to be great if I wanted to propel myself to the next level, but also wanted to do it right. I was asked if I had my own company to run the production through. I said “yes of course” knowing very well I did not. I was making $126/day working about 80 hour weeks. Beside the normal pre production process of locking crew, storyboarding, and renting all the gear, my talented director friend Brian Lipko and I created a company through LegalZoom, made a logo, and opened a bank account. The video budget was $800 and went on to win a number of awards that year. More importantly, it forced us to make a company.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your filmmaking career?
As an associate producer on an extreme action-packed episodic series in rural Texas one blazing summer with a stretched budget, I was responsible for a number of duties. Dailies for the showrunner, welding, and sawing with the art department via a shipping container in a Holiday Inn parking lot, driving diesel trucks with 24’ tow trailers hauling vehicles and art builds, setting up race courses by hand within lakes and various terrains, wrangling a number of talent and being solely responsible for wardrobe and continuity, the list goes on. Although these were added duties that I was not fully aware would be on my plate, the opportunity helped me learn with my hands and test my ability to take on more and more.
What I did not plan for was being the exact same height, size, and weight of the main character, we even had the same shoe size. Thus making me his unofficial stunt double for each episode. I would go on to test pretty much all of the various stunts and man-made experiential builds on his behalf. The amount of stories and experiences from this show to this day are still insane to me.
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
I am always amazed while interacting with my partner and STURDY.’s Head of Creative Adrian Martinez. He constantly strives for excellence and pushes the boundaries creatively. Recently, he creative designed and directed a 2023 Billboard Music Award pre-shot performance. As he meticulously planned the multi-set-up shoot, his vision consisted of projection mapping, fog screen content, an orchestra, pyro, choreography, and a lighting-programmed custom stage — all in a single evening shoot. What impressed me the most was his use of lasers. Working with a trusted laser engineer Adam, designer, and overall goat — Adrian debuted custom lasers that were never before used in broadcast. By integrating mirrors placed in calculated positions Adrian and the laser team were able to create incredible programmed effects. Literally pioneering the way lasers are used in live show production and in my opinion setting a new standard. We produced the pre-shot performances for both Bebe Rexha and Tate McRae.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I’m very grateful for my partner, good friend and STURDY. co-Founder Kevin Henry. We officially met at a funeral before the pandemic of a very close friend of ours who meant a lot to each of us. That next year we were in business together. Without his mentorship, vision, deep understanding for the industry, and stellar integrity I wouldn’t be where I am today!
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life? “
“The windshield is bigger than the rearview for a reason.”
Mistakes happen, things we wish we had done and didn’t — happen, right and wrong choices happen. If the majority of our time remains on what’s in front of us while being able to glance back to learn from those things in our past, we can change lanes without an accident and keep moving closer to our destination.
I am very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
Entertainment is about culture, arts, and narrative. Diversity gives perspective, opportunity, and growth to an industry that would otherwise be stale without it. The more diversity, the more entertainment can grow and touch more people. At STURDY., we always think about different ways we can tell a story through visuals and immersive entertainment.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
STURDY. is known as an industry-leading creative studio and agency. We bring amazing work to our clients. A new phase is bringing amazing work to ourselves, through our own IP. What better way to do that then throw a STURDY. branded experiential event at the world’s most influential festival, Coachella. We did this last year in 2023, which was a major success. It was a highly curated three day/night event filled with activations and experiences driven by performances from James Blake, Dj Spinall, Uncle Waffles, Young Miko, Austin Millz and more. Being our own client was a great feeling. In 2024, we plan to do this again thus keeping our footprint strong within the festival event landscape.
Which aspect of your work makes you most proud? Can you explain or give a story?
Bringing the highest level in live entertainment technology, design and visual to cultures and countries who are seeing it for the first time. While in Jakarta, Indonesia this past summer Executive Producing the NxWorries international tour with Anderson Paak, I experienced an ultimate moment of pride. The creative direction of this show heavily relied on the use of Notch, a real time visual enhancement video technology that is movement reactive. Due to being a camera operator, I assisted in operating for a portion of the show. In various hype moments I shot the crowd who then appeared on the IMAG screens in real time with various Notch effects being activated. I could hear from the gasps of fans who were in awe, many of which were seeing Notch for the first time, by seeing live imagery of themselves manipulated by Notch to create stunning images on the stage’s massive LED screens. They truly felt like they were part of the show’s creative, which was the intention. I’m sure that show inspired a few people.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
1. Experience is worth more than money — Assisting in different types of productions helped me build experiences and knowledge of the industry in a variety of ways.
2. Physical health fuels career health; take better care of your health. When operating at a high level consistently it’s easy for your health to take a backseat which will ultimately slow you down and potentially hurt major opportunities.
3. Always build your network. Don’t be afraid to ask for emails, phone numbers, websites, etc. Never know when you may need a certain contact!
4. Invest in friendships. Your support system is always going to be there for you, but you have to work to cultivate it organically.
5. Work with those who motivate, drive, and intimidate you. Intimidation is not a bad thing, it helps us strive for greatness.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
A program for those all over the world to tune in and receive writing, music theory, live production, design, and arts related group lessons and collaborative opportunities for free taught by peers.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
Michael Rubin, who is from Philadelphia as well. A self-made serial entrepreneur, philanthropist and social justice advocate. Specifically, Reform Alliance, his joint venture with JAY Z and Meek Mill . A movement focused on changing the laws, polities, and practices that contribute to mass incarceration. A true Philly hero.
How can our readers further follow you online?
Web:
IG:
@sturdyco
@Kylepnolan
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
About the interviewer: Guernslye Honoré, affectionately known as “Gee-Gee”, is an amalgamation of creativity, vision, and endless enthusiasm. She has elegantly twined the worlds of writing, acting, and digital marketing into an inspiring tapestry of achievement. As the creative genius at the heart of Esma Marketing & Publishing, she leads her team to unprecedented heights with her comprehensive understanding of the industry and her innate flair for innovation. Her boundless passion and sense of purpose radiate from every endeavor she undertakes, turning ideas into reality and creating a realm of infinite possibilities. A true dynamo, Gee-Gee’s name has become synonymous with inspirational leadership and the art of creating success.
Kyle Nolan Of STURDY: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Filmmaker was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.