We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kyra Hurlbut. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kyra below.
Hi Kyra , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience is a concept that holds a special place in my heart. In fact, I have “resiliency” permanently etched on my wrist, serving as a daily reminder of its significance. Developing resilience has proven to be one of the most challenging journeys in my life, and it remains an ongoing process for me.
I attribute much of my resilience to my parents, Lydia and Shane Hurlbut, who have navigated numerous adversities with a positive outlook. They’ve consistently encouraged me to do the same. This steadfast support and unwavering optimism have significantly influenced my ability to confront life’s challenges.
I first had to cultivate resilience at a young age due to persistent bullying, which began as early as second grade. I vividly remember feeling like an outsider, constantly ostracized by my peers who were cruel and uninviting. Over time, this torment escalated, with both girls and boys joining in the relentless teasing. At one point, an “I Hate Kyra” club even emerged during lunchtime. To protect ourselves from bullies, I formed a tight-knit group with fellow outsiders.
In middle school, the bullying took a physical turn when I was pantsed during P.E. class and shoved into a locker in front of the entire class. In high school, I faced exclusion from parties, and malicious rumors circulated about my character. These painful experiences continued throughout high school and even into college, where I continually felt like a target. My mom, in her unwavering support, reached out to school authorities in an attempt to end this torment, but I had to learn to cope with the emotional pain that I carried home daily.
I don’t share these experiences to seek sympathy but to highlight how my foundation of resilience was forged through adversity. Reflecting back, and taking my parents’ advice to heart, I realized that these individuals were threatened by my unwavering spirit and bright presence. Their actions only pushed me to embrace my true self, unapologetically. I’ve learned to speak my mind and stand up for others, determined to ensure they don’t endure mistreatment alone. These trials have molded me into a resilient advocate.
From the age of seven, I aspired to become an actress, a profession that demands immense resilience. Constant rejection is an integral part of the industry, and it’s challenging not to internalize those “no” responses. My years of bullying left me guarded and skeptical, but my acting journey taught me to be vulnerable and embrace self-acceptance. It’s a career that pushes me out of my comfort zone, forces me to confront my past pain, and demand unwavering self-belief, as few others will provide it. The timing in the industry is often beyond your control, and the path to success can be an arduous one.
I graduated college a few weeks before the pandemic. Imagine being fresh out of acting school ready to take on the world and drive around Los Angeles auditioning. That was all quickly put to a harsh stop and now, in October of 2023 my union SAG-AFTRA is on strike. Since leaving school, my resilience has had to kick in. We have stopped and started and stopped and started. It makes you feel like you’re never going to get enough auditions or opportunities to book anything. And let’s not think about the sheer volume of actors in LA….. yeah, it’s A LOT.
As I navigated the entertainment industry, I unexpectedly discovered a talent for social media management, which ultimately led me to co-found a company called Lost Objects with my partner, Brendan Sweeney. Building and running a business, as it turns out, necessitates an abundance of resilience. We’ve faced setbacks, made mistakes, and encountered numerous learning opportunities that have shaped our company into what it is today.
In conclusion, I cherish every life experience, both the highs and the lows, as they have collectively shaped me into the unapologetically strong and resilient woman I am today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a professionally trained SAG-AFTRA Actor and a skilled social media manager. I’m incredibly fortunate to have discovered two passions in life. My first and enduring love is acting. I’m deeply passionate about the power of storytelling and its ability to evoke emotions in people. Whether it’s helping them connect with a story they never knew or find healing through a character’s journey, this is what drew me to the craft. The ability to tell stories that can genuinely change the world and impact individuals is what drives me.
My second love is social media management and marketing strategy, a path I unexpectedly found during the pandemic in 2020. My family’s company, Filmmakers Academy, an online educational resource for cinematographers and filmmakers, needed assistance. It boasts over 800 hours of content, a global community, and invaluable mentors. Over the past four years, I’ve dedicated myself to studying social media extensively, learning the dynamic landscape, and continually expanding my knowledge.
I find myself at a pivotal transitional phase in my life, which is both exciting and daunting. In July 2023, my partner Brendan Sweeney and I co-founded Lost Objects, a social media management company primarily focused on serving the needs of filmmakers and the film industry. The outpouring of interest and support we’ve received has been exhilarating. Currently, both Brendan and I continue to work at Filmmakers Academy, where he serves as the creative producer, and I manage social media and marketing. This has meant working two full-time jobs and logging 80-hour weeks for the past few months, which, as you can imagine, has been quite exhausting.
In light of this, we realize that continuing at this pace is unsustainable and could potentially jeopardize our personal relationship due to the stress and long hours. Consequently, I made the tough decision to commit to Lost Objects full-time starting in January 2024. This choice was particularly challenging because Filmmakers Academy is my family’s business, and my four years there have been immensely rewarding and fun. Life often confronts us with difficult decisions, and it’s essential to give ourselves time to think and feel. I was overwhelmed with emotion and hesitant to leave my parents to find someone else to fulfill the many roles I had been handling.
After discussions with Brendan and my parents, we found an ideal solution. I will continue to manage the social media for Filmmakers Academy through Lost Objects, ensuring its continued success while dedicating the time and attention Lost Objects deserves.
Speaking of Lost Objects, we are a full-service social media management company with a niche in the film industry, but we’re open to serving businesses of all types. Our expertise lies in brand strategy, social media strategy, content creation, content implementation, and consultation. As social media becomes increasingly essential for individuals and businesses, we aim to help as many people as possible optimize their online presence and achieve results. Our clients have experienced substantial growth in their businesses and personal pages, greatly benefiting their careers.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
This is a fantastic question!
Three areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey are:
1. Resilience:
Understanding that if you are building a business or pursuing an artistic career, it’s going to be tough and feel impossible at times. You also can’t please everyone and be the right fit for what they are looking for. DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY. What doesn’t come to you is not meant for you. Remember WHY you are here and pursuing your dream. Coming back to your “why” is what helps me push forward after facing adversity.
2. Letting Go:
Learn to let go. If something doesn’t go the way you want or if you made a mistake, LET IT GO. Holding onto mistakes and past regrets prevents you from having clarity and peace of mind moving forward. As a business owner and artist, you are going to make a lot of mistakes, but it’s how you bounce back from those and keep pushing that matters. They say the greatest athletes and performers have short term memory. If they miss a pass or produce a project that fails, they forget it and keep moving forward. The more you feel sorry for yourself and give into self hatred, you will never move forward.
3. Self Care:
This is the hardest thing for me to prioritize and something I’m continuously working on. When life gets hard, it’s easy to put work first and burn yourself out. I’ve burnt myself out many times and it is not worth it. Nothing is worth losing your peace of mind. Always take time for yourself and take 5 minutes to meditate or ground yourself when things get hard. I’m telling you, it will make you a happier person and help you perform at a high level.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents Lydia and Shane Hurlbut are the best and most supportive people, I seriously don’t know what I would do without them .
They have encouraged me to pursue my dreams ALWAYS and to never give up. They have been there to catch me when I fall and wipe my tears. They have inspired me to take the world on and be unapologetic. Growing up in this loving and supportive environment has made me who I am today.
My mom, Lydia Hurlbut, is the CEO of Filmmakers Academy, a Reiki Master and life coach. She has always championed health and wellness and has taught me so much about business and the importance of taking care of myself. The life advice that she has given me has changed my perspective and helped me grow in ways that I never thought of. This is a huge shoutout to her. For all of her love, resilience and sacrifice for our family. And for anyone looking for life/business/relationship coaching she is PHENOMENAL and her reiki sessions have made me heal in ways I can’t explain. She is a healer in all of the terms of the word. I would suggest you to reach out to her at: lydia@filmmakersacademy.com to book a session, it will open your mind and change your life.
My dad, Shane Hurlbut, ASC is a master cinematographer and amazing human. Getting to watch him do what he loves brings me so much joy. I learned so much from him about resilience, work ethic, and pursuing a career in the film industry. His passion and dedication is something that is so beautiful and rare. He wakes up everyday ready to take on any challenge and find a way to make it work. Despite being gone for a lot of my childhood, he has always prioritized being there for my family and maintaining a relationship with my brother and I. He and my mom are still so in love and have been married for 35 years, something that is so rare in the film industry.
Words can’t describe the love and gratitude I have for my parents.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wearelostobjects.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearelostobjects https://www.instagram.com/kyragracee/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyra-hurlbut-342b921b7 https://www.linkedin.com/company/lost-objects/
Image Credits
Images by Jeremy Pavia Images by Chris Jon
