Today we’d like to introduce you to Skyler Hurt.
Hi Skyler, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in Houston and always remember wanting to work in TV in some shape or form. My mom helped me get an agent when I was a kid and land some commercials and catalogue work, but it wasn’t until high school that I finally got the acting bug out of my system. I decided to make the switch to behind the camera and ultimately ended up majoring in Broadcast Journalism at SHSU’s Dan Rather School of Communications. After doing a professional internship at Disney World in Florida, I got an opportunity to move to Los Angeles in 2014 and everything sort of fell into place from there.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been a super long and windy road to get to where I am now. I lived in 4 different states, transferred to 4 different colleges, and graduated years behind my peers without any kind of plan in place. I left the restrictive religion I was raised in and had to re-learn who I was as an individual all while supporting myself through school. But I feel like all the missteps I took ended up being steps toward finding what was a better fit for me in the end. It was like a process of elimination, figuring what DIDN’T work for me made it easier to find what did.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
After moving to LA in 2014, I worked a few different jobs before eventually landing a gig in unscripted TV casting. I started at Undercover Boss finding the companies/CEOs, then went to Shark Tank finding the entrepreneurs, then The Voice finding the singers, and lastly ended up working in development at a production company for the last 4 years. I got to work on so many great projects like Kentucky Ayahuasca for Viceland, Hot & Heavy for TLC, and Undercover Billionaire for Discovery to name a few. Development really taught me how to pick up the pieces and move on when a show you put your heart and soul into doesn’t get purchased, or an awesome person declines to participate. You realize there’s a lesson in everything and take that with you to the next project.
All the while I was in LA I was hoping to get back home to Texas one day to be near family again, so when this opportunity presented itself at Megalomedia, I jumped on it. I’m now their Director of Casting for all current programming. Since starting my new position at Megalomedia in August, my main focus has been casting My 600 Lb Life on TLC. I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity throughout my career to give people a platform on which to tell their stories that resonate with so many people who may be going through something similar.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I always tell everyone Austin is my favorite city. The art and music scene, the phenomenal restaurants, the super cool bars, and most especially the easy access to so much nature. After 7 years on the coast, I really missed freshwater lakes and rivers… there’s nothing better than diving into Barton Springs on a 100-degree day and hopping out to dry off in the sun. But what I love most about Austin is the people here. This community attracts such kind, interesting, creative, and open-minded people. I feel so lucky to be back.
Contact Info:
- Email: skylerhurt@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skylerhurt/
Image Credits
Mark Lopez, Texas Forever Photography
