McCormick Brothers Inspire Cinematography Students
Professor Bob Gustafson interviews Kody and Kyler McCormick of The Outbound Life.
In the spring of 2025, media professionals Kody and Kyler McCormick spoke to seniors in Professor Gustafson’s Cinematography class. The brothers, who describe themselves as “storytellers at heart,” are the co-founders of the production company The Outbound Life.
In Prof G’s class, the McCormicks shared a recent project—a music video production—with the students. The video shoot served as an example of how to work collaboratively on a professional project while allocating time across three phases: development, production, and post-production. Students responded with questions about how they overcame obstacles in the production and how closely the final project matched their initial vision.
“Anything worthwhile in life takes time. Don’t be discouraged with setbacks today. If you persist long enough, amazing things will come.”
“We were so impressed by the group’s thoughtful questions and enthusiasm,” says Kyler, who serves as the company’s creative director. “It was meaningful hearing about projects they had done, are working on, and have dreams of pulling off in the future. Their future is very bright!”
In an interview with Prof G., the brothers shared details of their journey from aspiring filmmakers to owners of their own production company. They particularly emphasized the importance of looking at challenges and obstacles as opportunities to learn and grow.
“Anything worthwhile in life takes time,” Kyler says. “Don’t be discouraged with setbacks today. If you persist long enough, amazing things will come.”
The McCormicks began pursuing their passion in their teens, building relationships with partners like Canon® and RODE®. They continue these relationships today and emphasized to the students the importance of networking and building relationships and not waiting for opportunities to come.
“In life, your ‘net worth’ is equal to your ‘network,’” says Kody, the company’s executive producer. “Make connections by representing yourself in a respectful and poised manner, and you will get places in life.”
Kyler agrees and advises students that the keys to finding and realizing their passions are vigilance and persistence.
“If you pay attention to what excites you, you’ll find your passion,” he says. “If you truly love something, and believe in it, don’t give up. The slammed doors, curve balls, and setbacks feel devastating now but will be appreciated in the future. If you learn from what you pay attention to and constantly put those observations into practice, you’ll stumble into a life that is uniquely yours.”
