We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kyleigh Nikkels a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kyleigh, appreciate you joining us today. How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?

I’ve always believed that stories have the power to inspire, to heal, and to connect us—and today, I finally get to share one of mine.

My new film ‘Dolphin Summer’ is officially out on Amazon Prime, and I honestly can’t believe how far it’s come. We filmed in the Bahamas and part of it right here at the San Antonio Aquarium—which makes this moment so deeply personal to me. Growing up, I used to visit that aquarium all the time with my family. It was one of those magical places that sparked my imagination and made me fall in love with animals and storytelling.

To come back years later—not as a visitor, but as a producer and lead actress—feels incredibly full-circle. I used to dream in those halls, and now a piece of my dream lives there on screen.

This film is for families, for kids who dream big, and for anyone who loves dolphins, summer, and stories with heart. It’s a reminder that what we loved as kids can grow into something real if we keep believing.

Kyleigh, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

People always ask me how I got into the film industry, and honestly—it started with love. The kind of love that finds you young and never lets go.

I started acting in films when I was 16, and that’s when I fell in love… with falling in love—with characters, with stories, with the magic of becoming someone else for a moment. That passion led me to AMDA Performing Arts College in Los Angeles, where I trained, grew, and learned what it truly meant to be an artist.

But breaking into this business wasn’t glamorous. I started at the very bottom—working as a PA on film sets, running errands, learning from every department, watching and listening. I said yes to every opportunity and worked my way up—one long day, one lesson, one connection at a time.

Now, I’m proud to say I’ve stepped into producing—while still acting, still creating, still loving every second of it. It’s been a journey of grit, faith, and heart.

I’m just getting started, but I’m grateful for every step that got me here. The dream is real—and it’s only growing.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative, for me, is definitely seeing how your work connects with people and makes an impact. When you put so much heart into something—whether it’s a movie, art piece, or even a campaign—especially when it revolves around important causes like faith, animal rescue, marine conservation, and the ocean, it’s like you’re planting seeds of change. You’re not just creating for the sake of creating, but you’re making a difference, helping people see the world in a new light.

The challenge of combining fun and education, especially for younger generations, is a unique kind of creativity. You’re not just telling a story; you’re building a bridge between knowledge and emotion in a way that sticks with them long after they’ve experienced it.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

It’s a real struggle for creatives who are also trying to balance the business side. I think one of the hardest things for non-creatives to understand is just how mentally taxing it can be to constantly flip between the creative and business mindsets. On the creative side, you’re dreaming up big ideas, visualizing a message or a feeling, trying to be true to your vision—and then, BAM, you have to switch gears to focus on the numbers, the logistics, the budget, and what will actually get the project funded and seen.

When you’re working on something as meaningful as your ocean conservation project or your dolphin scenes, you have this artistic vision of what it should be, but then you have the reality of what it costs and how much room you have to make sacrifices. Maybe it means cutting back on some scenes you were excited about, like the dolphins, to stay within your budget, or compromising on certain creative aspects to ensure the project can be completed and get the visibility it needs. That back-and-forth is exhausting, and it can be tough for non-creatives to see how it might affect the passion and energy you put into the creative part.

Being able to wear both hats effectively—and gracefully—can feel like a constant balancing act. And then, knowing what’s best for the business while still honoring the integrity of your creative vision is like walking a tightrope, but it’s worth every second of it Producing and starring in your movie is the most magical and rewarding experience in the world!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://knikkels.wixsite.com/my-site-1
• Instagram: kyleighnikkels
• Other: instagram @dolphinsummermovie

Image Credits

I am the movie producer on ‘Dolphin Summer’, and I’m the lead actress.