Being Kylie Earle

Kylie suffers from a rare genetic disease called Neurofibromatosis which from birth affected her left eye. She has never been able to see from it, as she got older the plexiform tumors caused her eye to be removed. Against odds Kylie, a bubbly 16yr old is a high performing athlete, a back spotter in the Texas Elite Cheer team. While facing crippling mental blocks and battling low muscle tone because of her condition she preserves in a sport that favors not only physical aesthetics but requires precision, strength and flawless technique.

  • Rory K McHarg
    Director
  • Rory K McHarg
    Writer
  • Stevie Ansara
    Producer
  • Larissa Hanna
    Editors
  • Dimitrius Ramirez
    DP
  • Zak Engel
    Composer
  • Pat Sexton
    Colorist
  • Jonathan Braue
    Executive Producers
  • Nate Segall
    Executive Producers
  • Joseph Talbot
    Executive Producers
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 9 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 18, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    75,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Alexa
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Rory K McHarg

Rory grew up in a small sheep-ridden town in New Zealand before studying motion design and visual communication. When he was eight years old he discovered a love for typography and the craft of making letterforms with personality. That love continues to drive his creative ethos: Finding empathy in the intersection between personality and craftsmanship.

For the past 20 years, Rory has been telling stories for the world’s largest brands – pushing them to create deeper, more meaningful connections that transcend beyond the products and services they offer. He joined production company Woodward Original Detroit from VICE Media where he created global music and social impact programs for Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, YouTube, Budweiser, & Bacardi. He believes deeply in the concept of brand as publisher.

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Director Statement

This film was made to bring awareness to a rare genetic disease called Neurofibromatosis, there is currently no cure for it. It is not hereditary and mostly affects children many whom do not survive into old age.

We follow the story of Kylie as she prepares for her high school homecoming Cheer performance in Krum, Texas. We hear from her family and friends about how this rare, currently incurable disease has affected her life and how she has managed it. It's a coming of age story well before any young woman should have to come of age. The story touches on the brutal nature and treatment of kids with disabilities. But shows ultimately how resilient she is, achieving at the highest level despite missing an eye and living with a totally unpredictable disease. We see how her confidence in putting herself out into the world via social media has brought massive awareness to her disease and helped other kids accept and not be afraid of their own conditions.

The film is approached with a mix of cinema vérité and formal interviews while using live action unscripted documentary footage. It is shot on location outside of Dallas Texas.