Check Out Kyel White’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyel White.

Hi Kyel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
I was born and raised in Chicago, IL, where, from a very early age, I was intrigued by the idea of working in Film & Television. Whenever my family would get a movie on DVD (remember those?) The first thing I would do was watch the Behind-the-scenes featurettes because I was so enamored with the process of filmmaking. 

When I was about 10, I saved up enough birthday money to buy my first video camera, and I would write little scenes/skits and force my sisters to act in them just so I could pretend like I was making a real movie. In high school, that is when I realized my favorite part of the process was the writing. I loved the idea that I could create characters and entire worlds all on the page. So, I decided to become a student of the craft and get my hands on as many screenwriting books I could and even purchased real TV scripts off of eBay so I could see how the pros did it. Thankfully, scripts are much more easily accessible these days! 

So, as I was about to start college, I knew that screenwriting was something that I wanted to pursue. And now for a dramatic twist – I attended Marquette University and majored in… Mathematics. That’s right, while I did love writing and film, I also knew that the industry is risky and wanted a solid backup plan. So, by day I would attend my math classes and at night I worked at the campus TV station. This was an invaluable experience because I was able to get hands-on experience writing/directing/producing my own content. I also established a network of friends/peers who were also passionate about filmmaking, and a lot of us even moved to LA together. 

It was one of these connections that helped me get my first job in LA as a Production Assistant at Bento Box Entertainment. Even though I grew up loving cartoons, I never even considered animation as an option for me because I can’t draw… at all. But I was eager to learn as much as I could and popped around on different shows doing various production work (PA, Production Coordinator, Showrunner’s Assistant) before eventually landing a job as a Writer’s Assistant and eventually Script Coordinator. 

After Bento Box, I moved over to DreamWorks Animation as the Script Coordinator on Fast and Furious: Spy Racers, where I was lucky enough to write two scripts for the show. Once I wrapped on that, I was a Staff Writer on Abominable and the Invisible City as well as The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday. I’m still employed at DreamWorks now, where I most recently served as the Story Editor/Head Writer on a DreamWorks series that I can’t talk about quite yet (pesky NDAs) 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Although I’ve been very fortunate, I think there were definitely some bumps along the way. The industry is full of ups and downs, and learning how to navigate those is still something I am working to get better at. But I think a lot of my struggles also stem from the dreaded imposter syndrome, and I am just coming to terms with the idea that I deserve the success I’ve had and that my voice in the room is valuable. 

Another challenge stems from the fact that often I am the only black person (and sometimes the only POC) in the room, and being able to find my voice in those rooms while also not being the voice of all black people can be difficult. And although the industry is changing, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, so it’s very important to me that I use the limited power I do have to advocate for people like me. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Screenwriting is definitely the part of the process I’m most passionate about, but I do love the producing side as well. I’ve been able to dabble in that a little with DreamWorks, as I’m now working within their development department. And because of my position, I am able to help bring in other black and POC writers and provide a small steppingstone for them to also further their careers. 

And I also still enjoy just making things outside of work with my friends. The most recent venture is a sci-fi/comedy audio drama called Romulus V, now streaming on Spotify. The idea sort of grew out of a whim during the pandemic, but I’m super proud that we were actually able to make it happen! 

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
One piece of advice I wish I had when starting out would be to be kind to yourself. I put so much pressure on myself to write every day or beat myself up for getting a “no” or compared myself to others, thinking I’m not where I’m supposed to be in my career. But everyone’s path is different, and the industry is hard enough, so the least I can do is give myself some grace. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiteakyel/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyel-white-62276a21/