Meet Kyle Wyborski | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kyle Wyborski and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyle, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
To be totally frank, I never had much of choice. For as long as I can remember, I have always been artistically inclined. This interest has manifested itself in various forms throughout the years (drawing, acting, performing music, writing novels, shooting films, etc.), but it has ever been a constant fixture in my life. Art is in my blood, one might say. Sure, I could have tried to pursue a more “conventional” career path, but I can’t imagine it would have lasted. Wherever I go, my head is always in the clouds – thinking up some new painting, some new movie, some new story to tell. Simply put, artistic creation is where a vast amount of my energy is concentrated. It’s not really something I have control over. For this reason, I have never quite understood people that call themselves artists, but give up on creating things. Yes, I understand that we all have practical concerns to consider (how to pay the bills, put food on the table, etc.), but I don’t think anyone who is a true artist can ever fully give that lifestyle up. Personally, I would much rather live under a bridge and still be able to pursue my passions, as opposed to being confined to what I like to refer to as “The Corporate Hell-scape.”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a creative, I have explored numerous different fields of concentration, but regardless of which medium I am working with, I am (first and foremost) a story-teller. Throughout the years, this desire to share stories has manifested itself in various different ways (writing novels, drawing comic books, etc.), but most recently I have been focused on honing my skills as a filmmaker. Film, in my opinion, functions as one of the most effective vehicles for storytelling, because it creates a visceral experience for the viewer, combining numerous methods of sensual stimulation with the possibility for total immersion and the suspension of disbelief. This multifaceted nature of cinema is also a large part of the reason that I was drawn to it in the first place. Making films has allowed me to combine my talents for writing, acting, music, and visual art into a single creative product. It has not always been easy, however. Unlike many of my peers, I do not come from a family that has any sort of background in the film industry (or any other artistic fields for that matter), so I have very much had to forge my own path. This journey began at The Catholic University of America, where I studied acting and painting from 2017-2021, and continued at SCAD, where I received my MFA from the school of film and acting in 2024. Since then, I have been touring numerous film-festivals around the country to promote my work, and recently shot my first professional production (a dramatic short called The Broken Places, which I wrote and directed) here, in Savannah. Owing to the success of these endeavors, I am now in a position to hopefully begin shooting my first feature film in the near future. Throughout this creative journey, I have learned many valuable lessons about what it takes to become a successful artist, but one that has really stuck with me is this: JUST CREATE. As anyone will tell you, the world of fine art (and the film industry, in particular) can be unbelievably competitive. It is my firm belief, however, that those who have legitimate talent will never fail to achieve success so long as they continue to apply themselves and focus on creating work that they believe in. This success may not always be quick to arrive (and sometimes it does not manifest itself in the way that we initially anticipated), but for those who continue to persevere, it will surely come. For me, creating work that I feel passionate about means delving deeper into my own personal experience and drawing inspiration from the world around me. In conclusion, I might add that it is especially important for every artist to nurture themselves on a steady diet of good art. In my case, this nourishment has come from a vast array of incongruous sources. To name just a few: the plays of William Shakespeare, the short stories of Ernest Hemingway, the cartoons of Charles Schulz, the music of The Clash, and the rich tradition of my Catholic faith.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite restaurant in all of Savannah was a little Turkish joint called Persepolis, but (like so many good things) it is no longer around. Nowadays, when I need my fix of Mediterranean food, I usually go to Olympia Cafe, and for Tex-Mex (I spent the largest chunk of my life split between San Antonio and Austin) I would recommend Bull Street Taco. I am also a regular at The Crystal Beer Parlor (a quintessential Savannah hangout) and Rancho Alegre (Cuban). For those looking for something a bit more on the “fancy” side, you can’t go wrong with Garibaldi’s or Alligator Soul (their candied alligator is unbelievable!). Finally, I would suggest Saint Bibiana as the most memorable dining experience. As far as sight seeing goes, there is so much beauty to be found in Savannah that it would be impossible to encapsulate everything into a single list. That being said, my opinion is that the best way to experience the city is to allow yourself to get lost in it. Perhaps begin with a stroll down River Street, then allow yourself to wander across the many open squares, and finish with a jaunt through Forsyth park. Regarding specific stops: I am especially fond of the Telfair art museums and the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (where I attend Mass). A number of favorite local shops include The Paris Market, Saints and Shamrocks, Clockwork skate shop, and The Book Lady Bookstore. Speaking of books, it is always worth while dropping by the childhood home of Flannery O’Connor, one of Savannah’s most famous former residents.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Patricia and Alfred Wyborski

Website: https://www.kylewyborski.com

Instagram: @kyle_wyborski

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-wyborski

Image Credits
Photos by Chiara Jurczak
Stills from Jesus Thief (DP: WeiChung Chen)
Still from The Broken Places (DP: Jeff Tanner)