Film graduate navigates storytelling in the age of AI

Long before working at the leading artificial intelligence video platform in London, U.K., Kyle Odefey, film production graduate (‘21), was just a kid fascinated by storytelling and Star Wars special effects. 

BFA in Film Production

Kyle knew he wanted to be involved in film from a young age. He experimented with video editing, created gaming videos for YouTube, and later began writing screenplays and attending summer film programs.

“I always wanted to tell stories,” he says. “There’s something exciting about collaborating with people, creating something meaningful and seeing how audiences respond to it.”

That passion led him to Minnesota State Moorhead where practical and study abroad opportunities sealed the deal for Kyle to become a Dragon.

During his time in the film production program, Kyle worked on multiple film projects that allowed him to build a strong portfolio and broad skill set. That helped him graduate as a well-rounded creator, with tools to launch his career.

“At MSUM, you get to try everything — editing, directing, producing — and figure out what kind of creative you want to be,” Kyle says. “I left with a massive body of work I was proud of and confident in. That directly helped me secure internships and jobs later on.”

Kyle earned awards for Best Editing and Excellence in Experimental Filmmaking at the South Dakota Film Festival in 2019.

Beyond campus, he studied abroad at the University of Lincoln in England for one semester, a unique experience that led to a master’s degree in cinematography and film/video production in the U.K. after completing his bachelor's at Moorhead.

“I wanted to take what I learned at Moorhead and push it further,” he says. “It was a huge decision, but it opened doors I never expected.”

Right after graduating, Kyle launched his own business with support from a university grant. He worked with small companies in England while searching for long-term opportunities.

Then, a job offer from Synthesia as a video editor would change his life.

Synthesia allows businesses to create training, marketing, and educational videos using AI-generated avatars.

Working at an AI video platform was never part of his original plan. But Kyle quickly saw the value of combining emerging technology and traditional storytelling.

“AI is replicating what it sees. It’s not inventing new emotional experiences or understanding meaning the way humans do,” he says. “Execution, storytelling and emotional connection still belong to people.”

Now, as the first in-house video producer, Kyle tells human stories behind technology. He develops videos on the company culture, employees, and real-world applications of the platform.

One highlight of his career was the coverage of a conversation with Synthesia’s founders and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang. With less than a day of notice, he captured content to share across Synthesia’s platforms.

The storytelling instincts Kyle nurtured as a child – and refined through hands-on experience at Moorhead – continue to guide swift work in the expanding AI space. 

“Technology will continue to evolve,” Kyle says. “But storytelling is human. And that will always matter.”