We recently connected with Kylie Klunder and have shared our conversation below.
Kylie, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I’ve always been blindly optimistic, in fact my phone background says “BLIND OPTIMISM,” so I have a daily reminder. My family and my faith are a huge proponent of that. I grew up with two teachers as parents, who inspire kids every day. I also grew up a Christian, so I was always told to have a child-like faith, and that’s a fundamental belief I carry in all aspects of life. It’s gotten me through life’s highs and lows, helped me in every step of my acting career, and gave me hope in my view on the world. As a person who is drawn to numbers (I have a mathematics degree), the statistics that support optimism are astounding as well — if you go into any situation optimistic or with an “I’m lucky” attitude, your odds of a successful outcome skyrocket!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am originally from Michigan, where I did the traditional high school, college, STEM degree route — but then I decided I’ve always wanted to pursue acting and life is too short not to follow your dreams. So i packed everything in my Jetta, drove across the country, and posted up in L.A. I am now a working actress – I just completed my first mini-series “My Neighbor’s A Vampire,” and I have a pretty big commercial coming out this football season.
When I’m not booked on something, I am writing and producing my own films. I have a passion for story-telling (as many artists in LA do), but I cannot sit still, so I never wait around to book a role. A lot of recent work I’ve created stems from girlhood and is heavily influenced by the “Just A Girl” trend. In fact, I recently co-wrote/produced/starred in two comedy short films, one titled “Love Stinks” and the other “Just A Girl”. “Love Stinks” is out and available to watch on the link in my Instagram bio. It’s been really fun to create work with friends, and I think that’s important as an artist.
Separate of the Film/TV industry, I’m dipping my toes in the music scene, and have my first single, LEAGUE, coming out in January, which you can also find on my Instagram.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think my most important qualities that have gotten me to where I am today are my outgoing personality, my marketing brain, and my optimism.
I never realized it until I graduated, but my ability to talk to people is a super-power. I’ve never been shy to introduce myself to strangers or become friends with people. Since moving to LA, I noticed this is super valuable, as it’s important to create a positive community when you’re in a difficult industry AND it’s good to know people.
I also do have a business-mind, coming from a numbers background and a math & business degree. I’ve always been very crafty in making money and I often wonder how to make passions profitable. I like to work, and if it’s something I’m passionate about, it doesn’t feel like work.
My optimism and positivity are at the core of who I am. If you don’t believe something will happen, it certainly won’t. When something seems to go “wrong,” there is always a lesson to be learned, an experience to be had, or a funny story to tell. I’ve had this mindset in every stage or category of life. It makes life a lot more fun and worth living.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
My number one obstacle in my life and career is time. There are so many things I want to do, but there never seems to be enough time. I think this is valuable to acknowledge, though, because it really helps me weigh what’s important in my life, career, friendships, etc. I struggle with daily management of time, knowing I wear many hats and have a lot of projects going on at once, but I also struggle with managing my entire lifetime — I miss my family, who all still live in Michigan, and I fear I’m missing out on my niece and nephew growing up, but I know I need to be here to do what I want to do. All of it encourages me to use my time wisely, make sure I’m having fun in the process, and be thankful for every day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylieklunder/
- Other: My recent short film: https://youtu.be/rQR8_AhL_Bk?si=ue5Ii3U1eychRa7Q Spotify Pre-Save Link: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kylieklunder/league?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaajBwBVtIfft1WkbXr2-p-LaDuUwWJYR2vyeL2qQJzsdia7Ceyrkgw_qtk_aem_mzkaqhoLqeJbxA_sjIiyiQ
Image Credits
Paul Archuleta Caleb Knowles Cameron Bortolussi Chris Jon
