Kyle was accepted to USC’s film school in 2007 however, and in that same week, he was also recalled to active duty by the Army and ordered to a yearlong deployment in Iraq.  Although his recent film school acceptance was enough to exempt him from this nationwide recall, Kyle decided instead to take an 18-month academic leave of absence and fulfill his obligation.

Although his recent film school acceptance was enough to exempt him from this nationwide recall, Kyle decided instead to take an 18-month academic leave of absence and fulfill his obligation.

From May 2007 to May 2008, Kyle served as a squad leader and convoy commander in Iraq and presided over as many as 7 gun trucks and 20 soldiers at a time. Promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant, he led over 80 combat logistical patrols, traveled over 30,862 miles of the Iraqi countryside, accounted for over $1 million of equipment, and was subject to weekly roadside bombs and enemy small arms fire. For his actions under fire and meritorious service throughout the yearlong deployment, Kyle was awarded 2 Army Achievement Medals and the Bronze Star. 

The time spent (back) in the Army impassioned Kyle’s inner filmmaker and as a result, he documented over 30 hours of combat footage, soldier testimonial, and interviews with various Iraqi civilians.  Additionally, he aided in the creation of an hour-long segment for PBS: Frontline as well as received sponsorship from V.I.O.’s Wearable Video Technology Division allowing him to position cameras in places never before seen in a military environment.

Kyle returned to the USC School of Cinematic Arts in August 2008 with a gritty appreciation for life and a duffle bag full of stories to tell.  His first film, “Now, After” a disturbingly visceral account of PTSD, was quickly embraced by the Department of Veteran Affairs and subsequently is being used in their hospitals nationwide as a training aid.  Kyle’s second film, a narrative action-drama entitled “Kapisa” won Best Student Film at the 2009 G.I. Film Festival in Washington, D.C.  Kyle also created a national PSA for the VA’s Vet Center, a federally funded branch of counseling center with 300 locations in the U.S. and surrounding territories. 

Kyle was one of only four students in the USC production program selected to direct a university-funded undergraduate senior thesis. The result was a suspense-thriller entitled “Ellen” which will be traveling the festival circuit throughout the end of the year.

Kyle graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in May of 2010 and is currently developing a feature-length Iraq script, completing an avant-garde music video for LA-based band Just Off Turner, and collaborating on a variety of other film/television/commercial-related projects.