From campus studios to the Cannes Film Festival, Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ alumnus Tyler Piña has turned his passion for storytelling into an award-winning career. A former TV2, Black Squirrel Radio and KSU Independent Films student, he credits Student Media with giving him the skills and confidence to succeed. Now an Emmy-winning filmmaker and founder of Neon Flamingo Films, Tyler’s work has appeared on Netflix, Disney and Amazon.
What drew you to Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹?
Originally, I came for the architecture program—studying abroad was a big draw. When I first visited, I fell in love. A large campus with a small-town feel, this was the perfect place to start the next adventure while still feeling supported by a tight-knit community. When I switched majors and joined CCI, I was impressed by the studios and extracurriculars available. Programs like TV2, BSR and KSU Independent Films were vital for my success after college.
What were some of your most memorable and meaningful student media experiences?
Co-directing the student feature through KSU Independent Films was a big one. That whole experience taught me everything I need to know on set. Plus, having a feature under my belt gave me a huge leg up in the job market. I also loved being on Black Squirrel Radio with my friends on our show Three Guys and a Girl. It was just a lot of fun. And it taught me how to speak when the mic was on me (vs always being behind the camera), how to interview, how to be entertaining and charismatic on the spot and really just how to turn it on, no matter the circumstances. TV2 was also a lot of fun. I really learned discipline at Kent with these experiences. They taught me how to be a leader, a team player and the importance of just leaving your ego at the door when you enter any professional or high-stress situation.
How did being part of Student Media prepare you for post-graduation life and the working environment?
It was everything! You cannot expect to get a job today with just a degree, point blank. You need experience. You need a portfolio of work to show for yourself. And, even with all that, it’s still competitive. Kent provided me with all of this. I had a foundation. Not just to show why I’m a valuable hire, but also to allow me to show up each day in my professional life with the confidence needed to get the job done and excel. I felt prepared at each of my jobs because I had done all of this before, while still in school.
What were some of your favorite classes?
Audience Analysis and the Kent in London Marketing and PR courses were incredible for me. Both taught me the importance of understanding your audience and also how to best analyze and impact them. Every project I begin starts with this, every social media post. Who is my audience? I am a creator at heart. But sometimes creators forget who they are creating for. Media, art, storytelling… it’s just another language, a way to communicate thought and feeling. These courses helped me understand the best way to translate this to mass audiences.
How did coursework prep you for where you are today?
Other than the feature and Audience Analysis course, my editing classes directly impacted where I am today. That’s where I first learned the software that I’d continue to use each day in my job. I gained a lot of important knowledge in my writing classes as well, which helped me when I worked in the journalism space and even now as I begin writing studio scripts… And, honestly, my wine and food pairing class was one of the most impactful courses that I took. It sounds silly, but when I take clients out for drinks, picking the right wine and being knowledgeable about it is an easy way to showcase my intellect in a casual setting. These little things really make a difference.
Tell us about your career path.
It’s been a really fun and exciting journey. There have been highs and lows, but all of them have moved me forward in the direction I want to go. I’m nowhere near where I’d like to be professionally, but I’ve done a lot. I’m very fortunate for the opportunities that have come my way, and I’d be remiss if I did not give credit to the incredible, life-changing experiences that I’ve had. And honestly, I have to say, it all began with Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹.
I began working as a director, then a producer, during my last semester. After graduation, I moved to San Francisco and began freelancing, primarily making commercials for tech startups.
Then, one day, I was offered a job at Vox Media, working as a director for Recode and then The Verge. I won an Emmy for a show I worked on called Next Level. Right afterwards, I wrote and directed a short film called 88 Cents, which deals with themes of homelessness and the prison system in the US. I toured with the film, traveling all over the world. It played at Cannes and many other film festivals before I secured a distribution deal with Amazon.
Afterwards, I decided to take another big leap. I quit my job, moved to LA and started my own production company called Neon Flamingo Films. I was on set a lot at first, filming commercials, branded content and a few shows. Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ a year after the pandemic, most of my work was spent in post-production, editing movie trailers, documentaries and promo materials for studios like Disney, Amazon and Netflix. I got to work on some really big titles such as Avatar, The New Avengers and The Rings of Power. Most recently, I edited the behind-the-scenes documentary for the Oscar-winning film Emilia Pérez, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
As I’ve continued this work, I’ve discovered a new skill and passion that I’ve begun to develop, which is writing. I wrote my first feature, a dramatic coming-of-age love story called Strings. I started raising money for the project and have begun development with a team in Istanbul, Türkiye. The past year, I wrote three studio films, and I just started writing a sci-fi/fantasy book series, which I’m super excited about. There is more to come, but this is what I can share for now…
What is your superpower?
Oh, this is a fun question! I’m really good at meeting someone and right away understanding who they are and what they’re feeling, then finding a way for me to best connect and add value in that moment. I love people. I love relationships of all sorts. I enjoy talking to strangers—from all walks of life. I like to be a sponge, gather information and then share my insights, either in conversation or in my stories.
And I think this helps me as a writer and a storyteller. I write very fast. Every script I’ve written, the first draft was finished in less than a week. Once I lock in, it just pours out of me. Sometimes I don’t even feel like I’m in control. But I think it’s because I’m gathering the stories every day, in my life, my relationships, what I see in the world, and the people I’ve met along the way.
What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment, personally and professionally?
Professionally, you could say that I have accomplished a fair amount at just 33 years old, though I wouldn’t really agree with this sentiment. I feel like I’ve accomplished many things necessary to get me to the next step. And my biggest, most important career goals are still ahead.
So while I am grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had, the chances people took on me and the accolades that I have received for my work, I couldn’t really point to one of those things as a defining accomplishment. I am proud of many of the projects that I’ve led or been a part of, proud of the teams that I’ve worked with, and of what we’ve created together. 88 Cents was an important one for me. I saw an issue in society, and I made a film about it. Simply because it just felt like an important story to tell. I never really thought about the impact it could have. It wasn’t until we started screening the film that I realized, wait… people are responding to this. They’re telling me how this movie made them feel, and explaining to me the changes they’ve made in their life because of it… That blew me away. That is when I realized firsthand how storytelling can shape audiences, and how much it shapes our society…
It is so important to use our voices, all of us, especially now. That is our greatest power, but sometimes it’s the hardest one to use. So I guess maybe, right now, my biggest accomplishment is just being a voice. And trying my best, whenever I can, to amplify others whose voices might not be as loud, or as noticed. We have to look out for one another. We must have empathy. That’s what makes us human, truly…
But sometimes our society or the government or the entire world around us pushes us to forget this. Life can drive us to believe that we must be stern, cold, ruthless and cutthroat to get ahead. But that’s simply not true. In fact, it’s the opposite. Because we’re not playing a zero-sum game. I would not be where I am if it weren't for the people who supported me along the way. Working together, showing empathy and having a giving mindset… that is going to get you so much farther.
How do you stay connected with KSU today?
I am actually good friends now with most of my professors and a lot of my classmates. I’ve actually worked with many of them post-graduation on a variety of projects. It’s a great network, filled with many hardworking and talented individuals. I live in LA now, and I don’t come back to Ohio often. But when I do, I try to dedicate some time to visiting the campus. It’s fun to see how it’s changed and sit in the nostalgia.
What advice do you have for students and recent graduates?
Get involved. Get the experience you’ll need while you’re still in school. Know your worth. Find a paid internship. Don’t do work for free unless it’s something you’re really passionate about or will significantly move you ahead somehow. Take informed risks when an opportunity presents itself. Bet on yourself. And be kind. You never know who you’ll meet and how that person might help you get ahead in life. You also never know who you might be able to help in return, so look for those opportunities as well. We’re all in this together. Remember that.
