Mischief and Mastery

Letting the Work Stay Playful | Victoria Salazar on Sound, Curiosity, and Crossing Mediums

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 06:09:00 -0600

In this episode, Mishu talks with Victoria Salazar, a sound designer and re-recording mixer at Noisefloor LTD, about developing taste over time and following curiosity across formats without locking yourself into a single lane too early.

Victoria reflects on moving between film, commercials, and games, and how each medium asks for a different kind of attention. Rather than treating sound as something precious or mystical, she talks plainly about listening, making choices, and staying open to surprise. Games, in particular, come up as a place where sound gets to be playful again — less precious, more iterative, and closer to instinct.

The conversation also touches on learning by watching and listening closely, how short-form projects fit naturally into her way of working, and why enjoying the process matters if you’re going to keep doing this for the long haul.

🎧 Victoria Salazar is a Chicago-based sound designer and re-recording mixer whose work spans independent films (Kombucha, Room Six, Ghost of the Void), commercial campaigns for Jeep and Checkers Rally’s, and games including Destiny 2 and SpongeBob Idle Adventures.

We talk about:

→ Developing taste by listening, not theorizing
→ Letting curiosity — not career strategy — guide medium shifts
→ What feels different about working in games versus film
→ Making sound choices without over-intellectualizing them
→ Keeping the work playful instead of precious

Connect with Victoria:
Website: victoriaudio.com
Instagram: @vict.wav

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

Staying With the Work | Kyle Anne Grendys on Responsibility, Process, and Letting a Film Grow

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:12:00 -0600

In this episode, Mishu sits down with filmmaker and editor Kyle Anne Grendys to talk about making a documentary from the inside of an experience most people will never encounter. They get into what it means to work inside communities often flattened by the word “disability,” how responsibility can shape creative decisions, and why Kyle has chosen patience while expanding her short documentary into a feature.

They talk about what it means to tell a story when you are also one of its subjects, how rarity changes the stakes of representation, and why expanding the film into a feature isn’t a matter of ambition so much as responsibility. Kyle reflects on living with the film over time — screening it widely, hearing from other people with the condition, and sitting with the knowledge that for some viewers, this film may be the only time they see themselves reflected on screen.

🎬 Kyle Anne Grendys is a Chicago-based filmmaker and editor whose award-winning short bio-documentary Fraser Syndrome & Me has screened at over 80 festivals across 15 countries. She’s currently developing the project into a feature-length documentary and recently earned her MFA in Film & Television Directing from DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts.

More from Kyle:
Website: kyleannegrendys.com
Instagram: @kyleanne

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

Color Is a Language | Xanthe Brown on Taste, Translation, and Creative Authority

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 06:09:00 -0600

In this episode, Mishu sits down with editor, colorist, writer, and producer Xanthe Brown to talk about what happens after a year of saying yes to everything — the growth, the at-times exhaustion, and the challenging balancing act of sustainability through practicing boundaries. They dig into the emotional and technical labor of post-production, why color is one of the hardest creative languages to translate, and how learning to articulate visual feeling is as much about empathy as it is about skill.

Xanthe shares what it’s been like building a post-production career straight out of film school, navigating friend-based collaborations, and balancing generosity with self-preservation. From unsupervised color notes and budget-driven workflows to the discomfort of asking for limits, this conversation is about maturing creatively without hardening — and learning when “yes” can become “not right now.”

Xanthe Brown is a Chicago-based editor, colorist, writer, and producer whose work spans independent features, documentary series, and branded content. She was a producer and editor on the feature mockumentary Line Cooks (premiering 2026), is currently coloring the documentary series One Million Experiments in the Field, and served as post-producer on Adam Present’s American Dendrite, which screened at the Chicago Underground Film Festival.

We talk about:
→ Why color notes are emotional translations, not technical instructions
→ The hidden cost of being “the only colorist people know”
→ Supervised vs. unsupervised post workflows (and what budget really dictates)
→ Using lessons from producing and post production to inform a writing practice

Learn more about Xanthe at xanthemoon.com and follow her on Instagram: @xanthe_does_film

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

A Practice Beyond Permission | Brynley Halverson on Writing, Identity, and Creating Without Being Chosen

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 06:08:00 -0600

In this episode, Mishu sits down with actor and writer Brynley Halverson to talk about the strange, liberating year where acting work slowed down and the writing door swung wide open. They get into what it means to build a creative life that isn’t dependent on being chosen, why co-writing has become an unexpected artistic home, and how having a permissionless outlet can quiet the old scarcity mindset.

Brynley is a Chicago-based nonbinary transfemme performer, writer and theatre maker whose work spans Shakespeare, immersive theatre, and new-play development. They’re a founding member of Astral Stage Collective, where they co-wrote and performed in the world premieres Stardog and The Space Between. A decade into their acting career, they’re now exploring the pull of writing with a collaborative approach that feels equal parts craft and lightning-in-a-bottle.

This conversation is about creativity as companionship — not competition — and how claiming one artistic lane can free up another.

We talk about:
→ When acting slows down — and why it doesn’t have to break you
→ The peace that comes from having a creative outlet no one has to “grant” you
→ Co-writing immersive plays where four stories run at once
→ Navigating identity, agency, and artistic longevity in a city like Chicago

Learn more about Brynley on Instagram: @bralverson

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

Let the Music Lead | Yuxin Lu on Emotional Scores, Instinct, and Writing What Feels True

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:07:00 -0600

In this episode, Mishu sits down with Chicago-based composer and sound designer Yuxin Lu to talk about slowing down, trusting your musical instincts, and finding your voice between two sonic worlds. They get into what happens when the work goes quiet for a while, how spotting a feature film changes the way you see structure, and why Yuxin refuses to fake a genre they can’t stand behind.

Yuxin blends intimate piano work, synth-forward energy, and a cross-cultural musical language shaped by both Chinese and Western traditions. Their work spans film scoring, sound design, sync production, and solo releases like the 2021 EP Pink Area. They also bring experience from Paramount/MTV’s First Time Composers initiative and collaborations with 5 Alarm Music and Jingle Punks.

This conversation dives into process, honesty, restraint, and how to write music that actually fits the picture — not just the temp track.

We talk about:
→ What a spotting session really looks like, and how it shapes the entire score
→ Why it matters to admit the genres you can’t do (and how that builds trust)
→ Writing emotional piano vs. high-energy synth beats — and living in both worlds
→ The difference between a score that supports a scene and one that performs over it

More from Yuxin:
Website: sourlyx.com
Instagram: @sourlyx

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

Mischief and Mastery Minisode | When In Doubt, Read: 13 Books to Build Your Creative Compass

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0600

In this short post-holiday episode, Mishu quickly walks through thirteen books that have shaped their artistic life. These are the ones they reread, return to, steal from, and lean on when the world feels loud or the industry feels shaky.

Creative Practice & Inner Life

Nonviolent Communication — Marshall Rosenberg
The War of Art — Steven Pressfield
The Artist’s Way — Julia Cameron
The Art of Living — Epictetus (interpreted by Sharon Lebell)
Tao Te Ching — translated by Stephen Mitchell

Showbiz, Film History & Industry Reality Checks

6. The Great Moviemakers: Conversations with the Masters — George Stevens Jr.
7. Down and Dirty Pictures — Peter Biskind
8. Hollywood Economics — Arthur De Vany
9. Blink of an Eye — Walter Murch
10. Film/TV Director's Field Manual — Rob Spera

Writing & Craft

11. How to Build a Great Screenplay — David Howard
12. The Screenwriter’s Bible — David Trottier
13. Dialogue (and Story) — Robert McKee

A simple gratitude practice can steady the creative life more than any productivity system — and these books are the ones that helped Mishu keep going.

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

Leave Before You Break | Dashawna Wright on Burnout, Reinvention, and Starting Over in LA

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:38:46 -0600

In this episode, Mishu sits down with filmmaker and producer Dashawna Wright, founder of Choppe Productions, to talk about the quiet heartbreaks and necessary resets that come with a creative life. From the burnout that pushed her to leave Chicago to the disorienting honesty of starting over in LA, Dashawna opens up about momentum crashes, the pressure to make film your everything, and the relief of finally giving herself permission to have a life outside the grind.

Dashawna is an award-winning filmmaker whose bold indie work includes producing Daughters and directing shorts like Store-Run. She’s currently producing the feature Art of Alchemy with Space Cave Productions as part of the Chicago International Film Festival’s Film Exchange Lab.

This conversation digs into the emotional mechanics of sustaining a career when the industry slows down, when a low-budget set breaks your heart, when the rejections pile up, and when the thing you love threatens to swallow your entire identity.

We talk about:
→ Why she moved to LA even as everyone else said, “I’m moving back to Chicago”
→ The emotional toll of low-budget productions and why questioning yourself is part of the job
→ The difference between wanting community and grinding yourself into social exhaustion
→ Figuring out who you are when film is no longer your only hobby
→ Starting over in an industry town without letting the industry devour you

More from Dashawna

Official website: choppeproductions.com
Instagram: @Producedbychoppe

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

When the Room Comes Alive | Jordan Gleaves on Craft, Courage, and the Charge of Live Performance

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:03:00 -0600

In this episode, Mishu sits down with actor and playwright Jordan Gleaves to talk about the jolt of performing in front of a live audience, the intimacy of forgetting a line onstage, and the focus behind keeping a theater career alive in a city that will happily eat your free time. They get into Jordan’s balancing act between stage work, new play development, and sharpening his on-camera instincts—while staying anchored in why he returns to the theater again and again.

Jordan’s stage credits span Court Theatre, Remy Bumppo, Goodman, TimeLine, and touring with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks and has appeared in the feature film BAM! He holds an MFA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a BA from Morehouse College.

We talk about:

→ The presence and meditation of live performance
→ The adrenaline spike of going up on a line—and finding your way back
→ How theater instincts translate (and don’t translate) to on-camera auditions
→ Navigating feast-or-famine seasons in Chicago’s creative ecosystem
→ Why he seeks out rooms where collaboration feels like oxygen

Catch Jordan in The Unseen by Craig Wright
Tin Drum Theatre at Bramble Arts Loft (through Nov 23)
Tickets: https://tindrumtheatre.com/the-unseen/

Follow Jordan on Instagram: @justjordan93

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

Being Yourself Is a Muscle | Ilse Zacharias Rivera on Creative Permission and Doing It Anyway

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 06:01:00 -0600

In this episode, Mishu sits down with actor, writer, comedian, and filmmaker Ilse Zacharias Rivera to talk about what it means to create your own permission slip. They dig into how her new podcast Ilse Will Say became acts of self-definition—and how podcasting, performance, and filmmaking all feed the same muscle of showing up as yourself.

They talk about learning to trust your collaborators, what happens when you stop overthinking and start doing, and how to find joy (and sanity) in a career that can feel like a casino. Ilse opens up about writing the stories she wasn’t seeing on screen, balancing ambition with community, and why she believes “being yourself is a muscle.”

🎭 Ilse Zacharias Rivera is a multitalented storyteller whose work spans theater, film, standup, and podcasting. She wrote and produced The Knockout, which premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre, and her screenplay La Chupacabra was a finalist for the Sundance Institute’s feature development program. As a performer, she’s appeared in The Exorcist (FOX), Chicago PD (NBC), and Dirty Business (Chicago Latino Film Festival). Her latest venture, Ilse Will Say, blends comedy, curiosity, and cultural critique—“smart, playful, and totally me,” as she puts it.

We talk about:
→ Letting go of perfectionism and embracing momentum
→ Turning networking into genuine connection (and comedy)
→ Trusting collaborators and knowing when to walk away
→ Why being yourself is a creative practice, not a personality trait
→ Doing the work anyway—especially when no one asks you to

Follow Ilse at @ilsezacharias and her podcast @ilsewillsay
Visit ilsezachariasrivera.com

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

The Sight Unseen | Shawn Antoine II on Family, Faith, and Rebuilding Memory Through Film

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:55:00 -0600

In this episode, Mishu sits down with documentary and experimental filmmaker Shawn Antoine II to talk about honoring family memory through film, the ethics of reconstruction, and how to tell stories when the archive runs out. They unpack Shawn’s hybrid documentary The Sight Unseen—a film inspired by a miraculous 1971 event in the Bronx—and how his search through the Schomburg Center for a single lost article turned into a meditation on faith, legacy, and truth.

Shawn shares how he blends oral history with visual invention, why he sees himself as both storyteller and historian, and what documentary can do that no other genre can: give memory back to people who’ve forgotten.

🎥 Shawn Antoine II is a Harlem-born filmmaker whose work explores identity, spirituality, and cultural preservation. His films have screened at Lincoln Center, DOC NYC, and the Pan African Film Festival, and he’s assisted on major projects like The Penguin (HBO Max), The Blacklist (NBC), and Really Love (Netflix). His latest work, The Sight Unseen, merges narrative and documentary techniques to reconstruct a forgotten family story through faith, imagination, and community.

We talk about:
→ Rebuilding family history when the archive is missing
→ The ethics of “constructing the truth” in hybrid films
→ Finding spiritual language in cinematic form
→ Why faith-based storytelling can feel new again
→ Seeing yourself as both filmmaker and historian

Learn more at shawnantoineii.com
Follow Shawn on Instagram: @shawnantoineii

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

Curiosity Over Control | Jack C. Newell on Chicago Grit and Creative Reinvention

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:07:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu sits down with filmmaker and public artist Jack C. Newell to talk about creative longevity, balancing fiction and documentary work, and the myth of having a master plan. Jack shares how “scarcity in Chicago” taught him to say yes to opportunities outside a niche, why rest is as essential as work, and how curiosity—not certainty—has shaped his body of work across genres.

🎬 Jack C. Newell is a writer, director, producer, actor, and public artist whose films include Monuments (Nashville Audience Award ’20), How (not) to Build a School in Haiti, and Bettendorf Talks (SXSW ’24). He’s the co-creator of Destroy Your Art, the public installation The Wabash Lights, and the founder of The Second City Film School. His work has screened in theaters, festivals, and on major platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon.

We talk about:
→ Why the “best advice I never took” was to go niche early and hard
→ How scarcity builds creative range (and humility)
→ Finding rest and rhythm in an unpredictable career
→ What fiction and documentary work teach each other
→ Why creative curiosity matters more than any five-year plan

Learn more about jack at jackcnewell.com and follow on Instagram: @jackcnewell/ @zaxiefilm

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

After the Burnout | Demma Strausbaugh on Creative Recovery and Learning to Trust Yourself Again

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 05:17:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu sits down with Chicago-based writer/director and producer Demma Strausbaugh to talk about the tension between creative drive and creative fatigue. They unpack the push and pull of wearing too many hats, the hard truths about indie filmmaking as a “rich person’s game,” and why Demma’s determined to create her own intentionality anyway.

🎬 Demma Strausbaugh has produced multiple short films, a music video, and a commercial, and directed two shorts of her own. She’s currently taking on the Filmmaker’s Mixtape Challenge — a yearlong experiment in consistency and craft. A founding member of Film Girlz Brunch Chicago and coordinator for the Chicago Independent Film Symposium, Demma is also a fierce advocate for creative community and independent storytelling.

We talk about:
→ Why indie filmmaking sometimes feels impossible — and how to do it anyway
→ The difference between creative paralysis and creative rest
→ How to build discipline without losing curiosity
→ The myth of “just writing” versus learning to protect creative time
→ Balancing producing for others and directing for yourself

Follow Demma's work on Instagram: @players_pod
Website: players-pod.com

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

Joy Is the Point | Edwina Luokkala-Burckhardt on Performance, Patience, and Making Work That Loves You Back

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 05:43:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu sits down with Chicago-based actor, singer, and dancer Edwina Luokkola Burckhardt to talk about finding creative freedom after the rigidity of musical theatre. From the pandemic pause to co-writing and starring in Roller Babiez, Edwina opens up about rediscovering her voice, learning to build art from the ground up, and the joy of collaboration that keeps her motivated.

🎬 Edwina Burckhardt holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre and has performed in productions including Medea and Pussy Sludge. In recent years, she’s shifted from performer to creator—writing, producing, and starring in the upcoming feature Roller Babiez, and co-directing Coming Over alongside Daisy Allen.

We talk about:
→ How skating with friends sparked the idea for Roller Babiez
→ Relearning how to make art “from the bottom up” after musical theatre training
→ The power of collaboration and creating without institutional validation
→ Finding joy in being intentional—rather than prolific
→ How performance changes when you’re finally allowed a little control

Follow Edwina on Instagram: @edwinafaye
Follow the film: @rollerbabiez

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

The Story That Wouldn’t Let Her Go | Sanicole Young on Purpose, Pressure, and Creative Persistence

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 05:32:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu sits down with writer and director Sanicole Young to talk about what it means when an idea won’t leave you alone. They chat the discomfort of filmmaking—the stress, the pivoting, the grind—and the joy that keeps you coming back anyway. From battling production hurdles to learning when to listen to the idea that wakes you up at 3 a.m., Sanicole shares how she stays anchored in purpose even when the work feels impossible.

🎥 Sandrel “Sanicole” Young is an independent filmmaker from Chicago whose work centers on the African-American experience in love, family, and community. Her films have screened on national television and at major festivals. Recent projects include The Bet, Take 290, and Rel Talk, her comedy special directorial debut with Lil Rel Howery Rel Talk now streaming exclusively on Tubi.

We talk about:
→ The idea that won’t leave—and why that’s the one you have to make
→ Navigating stress, budgets, and the daily “tolerance for discomfort” of filmmaking
→ Building discipline without losing heart
→ Why storytelling is an act of love and persistence
→ How “just living life” keeps the creative well full

Follow Sanicole on Instagram: @sanicole and catch Rel Talk on Tubi

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

Three Jobs in One Body | Lillian Frances on Pop Stardom, Production, and Teaching the Next Wave

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 05:19:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu sits down with indie pop artist and producer Lillian Frances to talk about the pendulum swing between hyper-focus and creative burnout, what Burning Man taught her about play, and the practical ways she’s learning to sustain both her art and her business. From teaching music production to self-releasing textured, bilingual dream-pop, Lillian opens up about the challenge of being a “sonic collager” while also running three full-time jobs in one body.

🎶 Lillian Frances is a self-produced Sacramento-based alt-pop artist whose sound blends organic and electronic textures, moving seamlessly between English and Spanish. Her music has been featured on NPR, Indie Shuffle, and Pop Matters; she’s performed at Oregon Country Fair, Stilldream, Feather River Flowdown, and opened for Sylvan Esso. Her latest single “In Violet” (Jan 2025) is the first taste of a new album dropping soon.

We talk about:
→ How The Artist’s Way supercharged a summer of focus
→ The rhythm of working at 130%… and then crashing into play
→ Why journaling and environment shape her creative process
→ Juggling the triple identity of pop star, producer, and educator
→ Letting go of genre to embrace sonic collage

More from Lillian:
Official site: lillianfrancesmusic.com
Instagram: @lillianfancess
Spotify: Lillian Frances

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

Finish the Film (Even With a Hamster in Your Head) | Jerry S. Gonzalez on Weird Shorts and Big Spooky Dreams

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 05:21:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu sits down with Chicago filmmaker Jerry S. Gonzalez to talk about sticking with your strangest ideas, finding validation after quiet festival runs, and the discipline of just getting projects across the finish line. They unpack the lessons of shorts like Intergalactic PizzaBoy and The Spaghetti Man, the freedom (and limits) of DIY VFX, and how letting go in post-production can open the door to real collaboration.

🎬 Jerry is the director of award-winning shorts including There’s Something in the Woods, Intergalactic PizzaBoy, and The Spaghetti Man (winner of Best Short Film at Spooky Empire, Audience Choice at Midsummer Scream, and a “Troma Diploma”). He’s currently in post-production on his highly anticipated short Hamster in My Head while developing his feature Big Spooky House. Alongside his own projects, Jerry has worked on productions like Chicago Med/PD, Empire, Shameless, Trial of the Chicago 7, and The Bear.

We talk about:
→ Why “fuck it, just finish the film” is Jerry’s best advice to young filmmakers
→ The power (and pitfalls) of doing your own VFX in After Effects
→ How handing off post for Hamster in My Head taught him to trust collaborators
→ Finding energy after years of creative droughts and dead festival runs
→ Why Chicago’s community makes “making weird art” actually possible

Follow Jerry on Instagram: @jerrysgonz

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

At Depth, the Good Stuff Happens | Tony Scott-Green on Focus, Flow, and Creative Time

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:44:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu sits down with composer and educator Tony Scott-Green to talk about how music moves with people, the discipline of organizing your creative time, and what it means to truly listen in an era of constant background noise. From scoring films that have played Cannes to teaching “Music, Time, and Place” at Columbia College, Tony reflects on the interconnectedness of sound, the influence of migration (whether human or digital), and the tension between convenience and depth in how we consume art today.

Tony Scott-Green sculpts original music for film, TV, and media, with credits spanning feature films, documentaries, web series, and sonic branding for Fortune 500 companies. His scores have been heard at festivals worldwide, and he now splits his time between Chicago and Los Angeles. Alongside his professional work, Tony teaches at Columbia College Chicago, where he challenges students to trace music across geographies, histories, and cultures.

We talk about:
→ How mountain polkas sound like Texas bluegrass—and what that says about music’s migration
→ Why Tony compares deep creative work to diving at depth
→ From background vibes to vinyl intention: listening with focus in a distracted world
→ How teaching “Music, Time, and Place” reshaped his view of sound and culture
→ Structuring a creative week so composing time isn’t chopped into fragments

More from Tony:
Website: tonyscottgreen.com
Instagram: @tonyscottgreen

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod.
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

The Spite Project That Sparked a Feature | Daisy Allen on Roller Babiez, Writing, and Creative Fuel

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 05:41:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu sits down with Daisy Allen—writer, performer, and co-screenwriter of the queer stoner comedy Roller Babiez—to talk about what happens when you let an idea spiral into a feature, why sometimes spite is the best creative fuel, and how collaboration inside a close-knit community shapes both process and play.

Daisy is a Detroit-born, Chicago-based artist whose work blends comedy, visual experimentation, and original storytelling. She co-wrote and stars in Roller Babies (currently in post-production), created the short Coming Over, and comes from a background in theatre and dance. Her projects thrive on collaboration—writing roles for friends, pulling in Room 19 colleagues, and building worlds where joy and absurdity have space to breathe.

We talk about:
→ Why her first short was born out of “I can’t listen to that boy one more time” spite
→ Turning Coming Over into a feature-length collab with friends
→ Writing with a cast already in mind—and tailoring roles for community
→ Balancing performance with writing, and why her roles keep getting smaller
→ Roller Babies’ wild ride: from bedroom short to full-on feature

Follow Daisy on Instagram: @daisyallen3000 and learn more about Roller Babiez: @rollerbabiez

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod.
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Fail Fast, Dream Big | Erica Duffy on Reinvention, Mentorship, and Building Midwest Film

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 05:41:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu sits down with Erica Duffy—founder of Camera Ambassador and longtime champion of Chicago’s film community—to talk about taking leaps before you’re ready, why “fail fast” has become her north star, and the power of designing spaces that spark collaboration.

They get into Erica’s intuitive decision-making process (including the literal dream that sparked her company’s new CineCity Studios HQ), her five years steering the Midwest Film Festival, and how she’s using workshops and mentorship to lift up the next generation of storytellers.

Erica founded Camera Ambassador in 2014, growing it into one of only three women-owned rental houses in the country. Under her leadership, it’s become Chicago’s most vibrant hub for gear, guidance, and community—anchored by hands-on workshops, inclusive networking events, and a culture of genuine support. From CineCity to film festivals, her work has consistently pushed Midwest film forward.

We talk about:
→ Why Erica trusts intuition over analysis paralysis
→ Designing Camera Ambassador’s new 11,000 sq ft CineCity space
→ Lessons from five years running the Midwest Film Festival
→ The “fail fast” motto and why experimentation matters
→ Mentorship, workshops, and building community infrastructure
→ The balance of business expansion and creative passion

More from Erica:
🔗 cameraambassador.com

Instagram:
@cameraambassador
@hello.erica.duffy

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod.
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Finishing Strong | C. Ryan Stemple on Post, Pivots, and Producing Your Own Films

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 05:44:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu sits down with colorist, editor, and producer C. Ryan Stemple, CSI to talk about why finishing is its own art form—and why post-production might be the most adaptable corner of the industry right now. They dig into pivoting through strikes and slowdowns, how machine learning is quietly reshaping drudgery work, and why Ryan is committed to building a Midwest hub for finishing, teaching, and producing under one roof.

Ryan Stemple has graded over 50 features and countless shorts, docs, and branded projects. He’s the founder of Quicksilver Color, co-owner of Journeywork Entertainment, and adjunct faculty at Northwestern, where he teaches (what else?) color grading. In 2022 he and his wife, Ana Christian (founder of Anachrony Post), merged their companies under Journeywork Entertainment, which now spans color, online, dailies, and production. As of 2025, they’re producing the indie feature Line Cooks in partnership with Who’s To Say Productions.

We talk about:
→ Why post-production pivots faster than other roles in the industry
→ How “the AI we actually use” frees up editors for creative work
→ Going from colorist to producer on Good Guy With a Gun
→ Building a full-service post house with his wife, Ana Christian
→ Navigating union paperwork on their first in-house feature
→ What it takes to finish a film so it truly feels done

Stream the trailer & support Line Cooks: seedandspark.com/fund/line-cooks

More about Ryan and his companies:
🔗 quicksilvercolor.com
🔗 journeyworkent.com
🔗 anachronypost.com

Instagram:
@crstemple
@journeyworkent
@quicksilvercolor

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod.
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Let Go of the Frame | Isaac Izzy White on Cinematography, Control, and the Cost of Doing It All

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 05:47:00 -0500

Mishu sits down with award-winning Director of Photography Isaac Izzy White to talk about the momentum crash after a high-output year, learning to scale creative ambition, and the quiet clarity that comes from building things with friends. They unpack how Izzy pivoted from monthly to quarterly filmmaking, why directing and shooting your own project might not always be the best idea, and what happened when a student film idea got a second life and a 20-person set.

Isaac has shot music videos with millions of views, commercials for Fortune 500 companies, and a relentless stream of personal projects. Their approach to cinematography is tactile, obsessive, and rooted in a hunger for collaboration—and it shows. In this episode, they open up about burnout, post-strike slowdowns, and the joy of finally letting someone else touch the VFX.

We talk about:
→ Going from overbooked to underbooked in a single season
→ Shooting at night with a crew of 20 for a short called Meteors
→ Post-house partnerships and handing off VFX
→ Directing while also D.P.-ing (and the cost of doing both)
→ Navigating ADHD, hyperfixation, and learning pipelines
→ Why this year is about deeper collaboration, not just output

More from Izzy:
Visit: isaacwhite.tv
Instagram: @isaacwhite_dp

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod.
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

The Project That Broke Her Heart | Emily Lape on Delayed Grief, Creative Survival, and Letting the Work Find You

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 05:41:00 -0500

Mishu sits down with writer, director, actor, and artist Emily Lape to talk about what happens when a project breaks your heart—and how to find your creative footing again. They unpack how Emily's songwriting, painting, and acting re-lit the pilot light after her feature Abiquiú stalled in pre-production due to the SAG strike, and what it takes to hold onto a story that still wants to be told.

Emily Lape is an award-winning filmmaker and performer whose debut feature Mercy’s Girl is currently streaming on Amazon, Apple TV, and Netflix. She recently starred in Lucy is a Loser, directed by Wendy Jo Carlton, and is Executive Producing Michael Glover Smith’s next feature Heckla.

We talk about:
→ Making peace with pause
→ Returning to songwriting after 15 years
→ Shame, location grief, and post-SAG strike recovery
→ How character-driven stories come back to life
→ Moving projects closer to home (literally and emotionally)

Follow Emily:
Instagram: @emlape
YouTube: @emilylape
Watch Mercy’s Girl on Amazon Prime

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod.
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

Get Good on Your Own Terms | Rob Spera on Reps, Subtext, and Making Your Own Path

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 05:47:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu sits down with director, writer, and educator Rob Spera, whose decades-long career spans feature films, cult classics, network television, and theater. They talk about staying connected to your purpose, cultivating a habit of experimentation, and the self-directed discipline that lets you keep growing—no matter where you are in your career.

🎬 Rob Spera’s feature films include The Sweet Life, Fathers and Sons, and the cult classic Leprechaun in the Hood. He’s directed episodes of Criminal Minds, Supernatural, and Army Wives, and helmed over 75 theatrical productions during his tenure as Resident Director at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Rob is also the author of The Film/TV Director’s Field Manual and currently serves as Head of Directing at Rideback Rise, a fellowship for POC filmmakers.

We talk about:
→ Making filmmaking your daily sketch practice
→ Working without waiting for permission
→ Building a sustainable long-term creative life
→ Why directing is “the art of the subtext”
→ Rob’s advice to early-career directors (and late-career ones too)

Visit robspera.com or follow him on Instagram at @robsperaofficial

Buy The Film/TV Director’s Field Manual here: Amazon link

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod.
Produced by @ohhmaybemedia

I Don’t Want to Be a Brand | Tuxford Turner on Ambition, Burnout, and Being Yourself

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 05:38:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu talks with actor, writer, and comedy performer Tuxford Turner (they/them/tux) about starting over in L.A., learning to trust their brain again, and the deep relief of not grinding yourself to dust. They dig into internalized urgency, “insecure ambition,” and what happens when your capacity for output isn’t tied to your self-worth. Tux shares how quiet—literal and figurative—has become their compass, and what it means to resist the cultural pressure to always be making, posting, or optimizing for visibility.

Tuxford Turner is an actor, comedy performer, and writer from all over, currently based in Los Angeles but forever Midwest at heart. They’ve worked across film, television, and comedy specials, and recently starred in the award-winning indie feature BAM!, now streaming on Tubi, Amazon, and Apple TV. Before L.A., Tux was a Resident Company member at the iO Theatre in Chicago, performing and directing across stages including The Annoyance and Second City.

We talk about:
→ Building your own rhythm instead of mirroring someone else’s
→ Burnout disguised as ambition
→ Relearning presence as a creative act
→ What to do when you’re always chasing “the life you want”
→ And why trusting yourself isn’t about never stopping—it’s about knowing you’ll start again

Learn more about Tux at TuxfordTurner.com Instagram @TuxfordTurner

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Sexy, Subversive, and Stuck | Jim Vendiola on Trust, Taste, and Creative Haunting

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 05:42:00 -0500

How do you make the work when the world feels like it’s on fire—and still believe it matters?

In this episode, Mishu and filmmaker Jim Vendiola talk about ambivalence, integrity, and making art that haunts you. They dig into taste, tempo, and attention spans, the value of saying no, and what it means to trust your ideas enough to wait. They also get into the quiet thrill of writing voice memos at 2AM, how neurodivergence impacts the creative process, and why sometimes the best thing you can do for your collaborators is to not make the thing—yet.

Jim Vendiola is an award-winning Filipino-American filmmaker whose work explores longing, eros, and emotional liminality. A Newcity Film 50 hall-of-famer (2016–2024), he’s the co-creator of the upcoming neo-noir limited series Argus (in development with WarnerMedia OneFifty), and his recent short Pretty Pickle made thirty-five festival stops and was called “sexy, subversive, and truly stunning.” Jim also won the inaugural NewNarratives Program from NewFilmmakers LA and WarnerMedia OneFifty, and is currently adapting Samantha Kolesnik’s queer body horror novella WAIF for the screen.

We talk about:
→ Navigating ambition and burnout in 2025
→ The myth of consistent productivity
→ Knowing when not to make something
→ AI, advertising, and artistic compromise
→ What makes an idea worth haunting

Follow Jim on Instagram at @jimvendiola, check out his work at jimvendiola.com, or watch his films on Vimeo and Bluesky.

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What If You’re the Right One for the Role? | Katie Bellantone on Panic Weeks, ASMR, and Embracing Your Weird

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 05:46:00 -0500

In this episode, Mishu and actor/ASMR creator Katie Bellantone get into the rollercoaster of working in indie film, the panic spiral between auditions, and how she stays grounded when her brain tries to sabotage her face. They talk about the difference between trying to look perfect and trying to tell the truth, navigating self-image in a visual medium, and why improv drop-ins might be the most humbling (and hilarious) way to stay loose.

Katie Bellantone is an actor based in Chicago and the creator of KatieASMR, with over 400,000 YouTube subscribers and 1.5 million TikTok followers. She’s booked dozens of indie shorts and the feature films like Canoe Dig It? and is a rising presence in both narrative film and online performance.

We talk about:
→ The comedy of failing hard at improv
→ Short film momentum and the chaos buffer
→ Reframing visual insecurity while auditioning
→ The secret self-doubt that comes with a callback
→ How to build your point of view across platforms

Follow Katie:
Instagram: @katherinebellantone
YouTube: KatieASMR
TikTok: @katieasmr00
IMDb: Katie Bellantone

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Good Yet | Mary Tilden on Drafts, Dialogue, and Making Room for Play

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 05:49:00 -0500

In this episode, comedian and filmmaker Mary Tilden joins Mishu to talk about the weird in-between of writing when you can’t tell if your ideas are good—or garbage. They get into how theater and improv keep her connected, how she navigates the chaos of multiple drafts, and why trusting actors might be the key to better screenwriting. It’s a playful, honest, and surprisingly precise look at process, procrastination, and the way dialogue starts to hum when you stop trying to make it perfect.

Mary Tilden is a comedian and filmmaker originally from South Carolina. She co-produced and starred in Cool for Five Seconds (Midwest Film Festival Grand Prize, 2021) and directed the award-winning Rough River Lake. Her comedy work includes the short films Yes, Andrea, The Unfinished Film, Fern, and the web series Collaborate & Listen, with screenings at Cinequest, SeriesFest, and more.

We talk about:
→ Writing when your drafts are all over the place
→ Using improv to unstick your creativity
→ The trap of comparing your script to someone else’s finished film
→ Why dialogue is a playground—not a performance review
→ Working on self-kindness when the draft feels like a mess

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Creative Work Is People Work | Jamie Kreppein on Film as Care, Leadership Without Ego, and Saying Yes to the Hard Stuff

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 05:47:00 -0500

Filmmaker and producer Jamie Kreppein joins Mishu for a warm, honest conversation about the invisible labor that makes independent filmmaking possible—and meaningful. They talk about the structures behind the stories, the gentle power of showing up, and how leadership can look like care, especially on underfunded sets.

From feature films like Roller Babiez and Year One to the community-run event Film Girlz Brunch, Jamie’s work lives at the intersection of art and relationship. She shares how production roles like AD, coordinator, or casting director offer their own kind of creative fulfillment—and why she’s just as energized by a school film set as she is by a packed festival screening. They dig into scheduling as storytelling, designing rest into your process, and how to avoid burnout while keeping your standards high.

Jamie Kreppein is a Chicago-based director, producer, live events coordinator, and one of the co-founders of Rm. 19 Productions—a company that champions femme filmmakers and intentionally crafted stories. She has worked on numerous indie features and short films across directing, ADing, and producing roles, and is also a dedicated arts educator at Warren Township High School.

We talk about:
→ Crew culture and care as a leadership practice
→ The power of soft-spoken persistence
→ Why everyone should try ADing at least once
→ Finding creative fuel in teaching
→ Working on Roller Babiez, Year One, and Primos
→ Scheduling as emotional architecture

Find more from Jamie:
Website: rm19productions.com
Instagram: @j_krepps & @rm.19productions

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What If Prestige TV and Instagram Had a Baby? | CJ Arellano on Going Viral, Making Art, and Knowing What’s Worth Keeping

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 05:52:00 -0500

Filmmaker and screenwriter CJ Arellano joins Mishu to talk shop on platforms, posting, prestige, and playing the long game in a fragmented media landscape. With humor and insight, CJ reflects on how content creation has become a testing ground for audience connection—what hits, what flops, and why “dumb ideas” on Instagram sometimes say more than a perfectly polished pitch deck.

From viral sketches to award-winning horror shorts, CJ shares how he's balancing snarky realism with real artistic stakes. They explore the tension between algorithmic engagement and emotional resonance, why TikTok might be the new soap opera, and how communal attention still matters. Also: soap, slot machines, vertical mansion porn, and CJ’s surprise metric for success.

CJ Arellano is a horror, comedy, and fantasy storyteller whose award-winning shorts—including Dry January and Griffica—have landed him directing honors and grand prize wins across major screenwriting competitions. When not making smart genre work with bite, he’s directing for brands like McDonald’s and The Second City. His work has appeared everywhere from the British Horror Film Festival to your phone’s Reels tab.

We talk about:
→ Posting like an open mic
→ Making “dumb” content that’s secretly universal
→ The A24 version of vertical video
→ Treating Instagram like a testing ground
→ Playing the long game while feeding the content beast
→ Why collective laughter still hits harder than your FYP

Find more from CJ:
Website: cjarellano.com
Instagram: @cjlgva
Substack: cjlgva.substack.com

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Build the Whole Building | Troy Pryor on Ecosystems, Ownership, and Creating What’s Missing

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 05:39:00 -0500

What happens when you stop waiting for a seat at the table—and start building the whole building? In this episode, Troy Pryor and I talk about designing creative ecosystems, the long game of legacy, and what it actually takes to create sustainable platforms for underrepresented voices in media. We also dig into the power of “showing your work,” Troy’s early wins as a host and director, and how to protect momentum when you’re juggling a dozen parallel projects.

Troy Pryor is the founder of Creative Cypher, a portfolio of entertainment brands (including XL Film Fest, Cypher Newsroom, and Dark Berry Productions), and currently serves as Vice President of SAG-AFTRA Chicago. His award-winning projects span film, television, and live media, and his directorial debut on TV One’s Change Agents set the tone for a career grounded in collaboration and impact. In 2024, he won a Telly Award for the short film An Outfit, and continues to lead platforms that bridge industry access gaps with intention and scale.

We talk about:
→ Why community-centered work is harder—and more valuable
→ The “proof of concept” trap and how to move beyond it
→ Why a good brand pitch sounds like a conversation
→ How to protect your calendar from busy work
→ Taking a studio-style approach to local storytelling

Upcoming:
🎬 XL Film Festival runs August 14–23 in Chicago
📍 Info + lineup: creativecypher.org/xl-fest
🎟️ RSVP for the Magnolia Pictures advance screening of 40 Acres on June 19th, 7:30pm at AMC River East 21: RSVP here

Follow Troy’s work:
Instagram: @creativecypher & @xlfilmfestival
More at: creativecypher.org

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Make It Look Expensive | Shelby Gamble on Scrappy Sets, Queer Grit, and Getting the Shot Anyway

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 05:53:00 -0500

Filmmaker Shelby “SB” Gamble joins me for a conversation about scrappy sets, strange stories, and the tension between polish and personal vision. We talk about learning to trust your instincts on shoots, the differences between commercial and narrative work, and how to stay creatively motivated when you’re wearing five hats.

Shelby Gamble is a Chicago-based filmmaker, cinematographer, and video content producer with a sharp eye for story and a soft spot for the strange. By day, Shelby shoots polished campaigns for hotels, restaurants, and global brands. By night, he’s in the basement (literally) making indie queer films with heart and grit. A former 1st AC turned indie director, Shelby brings big ideas to small budgets—and somehow still makes them look expensive.

We talk about:

→ Turning a hotel gig into a visually rich reel
→ What Power Rangers taught him about filmmaking
→ Navigating chaos on set without losing clarity
→ The risk and reward of trusting nontraditional scripts
→ Learning when to let go—and when to dig in

Follow Shelby:
Website: sbgamble.com
Instagram: @sbgamble
Company: goodfightfilms.com

Watch Dream Boy now on Tubi:
https://tubitv.com/movies/100031365/dream-boy

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

You’re Not Too Late | Julia Relova on Scarcity, Saying No, and Starting Anyway

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 05:52:00 -0500

In this episode, Julia Relova and I talk about that tender mix of creative joy and quiet comparison—what happens when you see a story close to your own finally break through, and the voice in your head says, “Does that mean I’ve missed my chance?” We get into scarcity mindset, energy tracking, and the sometimes-tricky shift from generous collaborator to intentional boundary-setter.

Julia Relova is a queer Filipino-American filmmaker, creative producer, and community builder based in Chicago. She co-founded Rm. 19 Productions, a company committed to telling stories that center women—both on screen and behind the camera. Her credits include producing features like ROLLER BABIEZ and YEAR ONE, and she's spent years in program management across big tech and nonprofit sectors. These days, she’s focused on writing her first feature High, Mom, and reminding herself that sometimes, the best work starts when you let the outline break.

We talk about:
→ Celebrating watching other people get their flowers
→ How energy (not time) might be your most precious creative resource
→ Creating a rubric for saying yes to collaborations
→ The balance between showing up for your community and showing up for your own work
→ And why extroverts sometimes rot on the couch too

Find Julia and Room 19 Productions on Instagram: @juliarelova, @rm.19productions
Check out her work and podcast: anywhereishome-podcast.com

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Nothing Big Has to Happen | Katherine Quinn on Small Stakes, Stillness, and Writing What’s True

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 05:46:00 -0500

In this episode, Katherine Quinn and I explore what it means to tell stories that resist spectacle. We talk about choosing stillness over fuss, pacing that invites pause, and the creative rebellion of writing conflict-averse characters—on purpose.

Katherine is a New York-based writer and filmmaker whose work has screened at the Long Youth Film Festival, The New York Monthly Film Festival, and Cinema Arts Center’s Filmmaker Soirée. A magna cum laude graduate of Binghamton University, she sees filmmaking as the intersection of her passions—writing, acting, music, and fashion. In her words, her goal isn’t to change your life—it’s to help you realize you’re not alone in yours.

We talk about:
→ The tension of being conflict-avoidant in a medium obsessed with catharsis
→ Slice-of-life filmmaking and Linklater’s influence
→ When flat delivery is a stylistic choice
→ Critiquing your own work without hating it
→ The trap of mistaking volume for value

Learn more at her Website, on Instagram @katherine_mj_quinn and YouTube Katherine Quinn Films.

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Make It Yours or Don’t Bother | Ryan Satterfeal on Acting, Audacity, and Why Specificity Wins

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:51:00 -0500

Ryan Satterfeal is a multi-award-winning actor, writer, and musician whose curiosity led him from garage bands to community theater—and eventually, to screen roles in Chicago Med, commercials, and indie films like Life Unexpected, Poser, and Clown Shoes. In this conversation, we talk about why he still reads scripts with both his actor and writer brain, how he handles risk and mischief in the audition room, and what it means to trust your impulses without letting your craft become automatic.

Ryan shares how he finds the “sentence of a scene,” navigates vague direction, and finds his footing in the ever-changing world of self-tapes, stage performance, and set collaboration. We also talk about what makes something big—not in budget, but in impact—and why you sometimes have to make the project you want to see.

We talk about:
→ Letting go of technical rigidity and trusting the “why” behind the line
→ Navigating vague or rushed direction on set
→ The role of mischief and discomfort in his audition process
→ Reading the script with a writer’s ear, even as an actor
→ What gets in the way of authentic point of view—and what helps it shine
→ How self-awareness and pacing choices set a tone for collaboration
→ Why he’s not a fan of the word “content”—and what he prefers to make instead

Connect with Ryan on Instagram and Bluesky: @ryansatterfeal

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Staying Seen Without Selling Out | Ruth Kaufman on Saying No, Showing Up, and Still Loving the Work

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:56:00 -0500

Actor, author, voiceover artist, improv performer—Ruth Kaufman has worn a lot of hats. In this conversation, we talk about what it means to stay present and committed in a saturated industry, even when the wins are hard to see. From casting breakdowns and shifting expectations to how self-tapes changed the emotional math of auditioning, Ruth shares how she’s managed to keep her love for the work without losing herself to the chaos of the market.

She’s been a Marvel attorney, a best actress nominee, and a comedic novelist, and has thousands of VO credits under her belt. Her films have screened across the country, and her book My Life as an Extra was a Top Comedy finalist in the Launch Pad Prose Competition. You might’ve also caught her on “America’s Funniest People” or “America’s Got Talent.” She brings a mix of seasoned perspective and no-nonsense warmth to the mic—and reminds us that sometimes, relevance is just showing up with integrity.

We talk about:
→ How audition metrics mess with your head
→ Why “make your own work” isn’t always the answer
→ The boredom of parent roles—and how to say no
→ Producing, promoting, and the exhaustion of funding cycles
→ How to stay visible without selling your soul

Find out more at ruthtalks.com
Follow Ruth on Instagram at @ruth.kaufman and on Facebook

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Build What You’d Want to Come Back To | Colin Parker on Taste, Chemistry, and Leading with Intention

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 29 May 2025 05:46:00 -0500

Some projects come together in a rush. Others take years of quiet build-up, trust, and timing. In this episode, Mishu and Colin unpack what it takes to move a project from an idea to the finish line—without burning out your team or yourself. They talk about clear communication on set, why structure matters even in creative chaos, and how to stay flexible while holding on to your vision.

Colin has worked on everything from The Bear to The Batman, but his own short film FISH EYE won “Best Editing of the Year” at the Midwest Film Festival and screened at several fests. A graduate of the Chicago International Film Festival’s CIX Lab, he’s currently raising funds for Art of Alchemy, a feature he hopes to shoot in 2026. He’s also working on Monsters, an upcoming series for Netflix.

We talk about:
→ cultivating risk through taste rather than shock value
→ designing humane sets that people want to return to
→ how pitch decks can be moodboards, not just info dumps
→ what keeps you going when the industry feels broken
→ directing as authorship, and producing as service

Check out more of Colin’s work at vimeo.com/spacecaveproductions and follow him on Instagram at @space_cave.

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

This Scene Could Go Sideways | Andrea Zile Bish on Tone, Trust, and the Unscripted Work of Directing

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 27 May 2025 05:57:00 -0500

Filmmaking doesn't always go according to plan—but for Andrea Zile Bish, that’s part of the fun. In this episode, Bish and Mishu talk about the ups and downs of directing both comedy and horror, the balance between structure and spontaneity, and the vulnerable realities of post-production burnout. They also unpack the myth of the auteur, share thoughts on directing tone-sensitive scenes with care, and explore how an improv mindset can make you a more adaptive—and more generous—filmmaker.

Andrea Zile Bish is a Chicago-based film and theater director whose vibrant, genre-blending work has screened at over 20 film festivals across the U.S. Her award-winning anti-rom com Last Date and the ultra-colorful It’s Your Night, Babe! are just a taste of her eclectic slate. With a directing BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and a certificate from Second City Film School, Bish fuses traditional technique with an improvisational spirit. She co-founded Script Night in Chicago and has produced surreal, strange, and surprising work under her banner, Cathode Ray Pigeon.

We talk about:
→ The reality of directing comedy, horror, and everything in between
→ What to do when a scene “isn’t working” and there’s no time to panic
→ Editing breakdowns, deadline spirals, and the emotional math of finishing
→ Rewriting tone on the fly and protecting actors in uncomfortable scenes
→ Why post production burnout is real—and why collaboration chemistry might save you

Check out Andrea’s work at zilebish.com and follow her on Instagram @zilebish.

➕ Keep an eye out for her comedy It’s Your Night, Babe! screening around Chicago, and upcoming releases including La Law Firm and her new horror short Alone in the Woods.

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Stop Writing for the Audience—Start Telling the Truth | Jordan Tragash on Structure, Discomfort, and the Unraveling

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 22 May 2025 05:44:00 -0500

What happens when a filmmaker stops writing from the outside in—and starts building stories from the subconscious out? In this episode, Jordan Tragash joins Mishu for a conversation that gets into experimental structure, emotional disorientation, and the creative tension between clarity and chaos. They explore the value of discomfort, the illusions of control, and why Jordan has no interest in telling you what his films are about.

Jordan is a writer-director and creative producer named “One To Watch” by The Guardian in 2024 after the release of his debut feature BAM!, which earned audience awards at Wicked Queer and nominations at Rome Independent and Fresno Reel Pride. His previous shorts include By A Thread (Pentimenti Emerging Filmmaker Award) and Only Strangers Sleep In My Bed, which has amassed over 100k YouTube views. A Wesleyan grad with degrees in Theater and Economics, Jordan works between New York, Chicago, and LA, integrating market insight and emotional intelligence into his uniquely absurd, character-focused work.

We talk about:
→ Writing from personal discomfort, fear, and absurdism
→ Rebuking three-act structure—and what happened in his writers’ group when he did
→ Audience interpretation vs. authorial control
→ What it means to build “the vibe” without giving up rigor
→ Why he’ll never tell you what a film is about

Watch Jordan’s feature film BAM! now on Tubi, or rent it on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.
Follow him on Instagram at @jtragash and track his next project Cinghiale at @cinghialefilm.

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Write the Cult, But Make It Believable | Jennie McMurtry on Story, Risk, and Rewriting the Villain

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 20 May 2025 05:47:00 -0500

What makes a story resonate—and what’s the cost of writing one that doesn’t play it safe? In this episode, Jennie McMurtry joins Mishu to talk about screenwriting in the indie world, from crafting high-stakes pilots to rewriting cult thrillers that feel unnervingly plausible. They chat about the pressure of self-producing, learning when to ask for money (and when to call in favors), and the liberating joy of writing unhinged women, flawed villains, and characters that push back against lazy tropes.

Jennie is a Chicago-based screenwriter, story editor, and founder of the Chicago Film Events community. She’s honed her craft through Second City, iO, and mentorships with writers like Shonda Rhimes and Brent Forrester. Through her community work and collaborations, Jennie helps filmmakers navigate the indie ecosystem, advocate for paid writing, and spotlight emerging women-led projects. Her writing is character-driven, politically aware, and proudly allergic to cliché.

We talk about:
→ Rewriting villains with actual interiority
→ What cults and pyramid schemes teach us about narrative structure
→ Indie pricing psychology: why you should budget for yourself
→ Finding the line between creative risk and responsible representation and the impactful documentary Code of The Freaks
→ Why your “bad” first draft is probably doing its job

Learn more about Jennie’s work and community building via Chicago Film Events @chicagofilmevents and download her app.
Official Website: www.jenniefromnebraska.com
Instagram at @jenniefromne, and @abbyneedsafriend.
YouTube at @jenniefromnebraska.

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

The Edit Is Where You Lose Your Mind (and Maybe Find the Movie) | Kyle Leland on Structure, Fear, and Finishing

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 15 May 2025 05:52:00 -0500

What happens when you stop trying to be Wes Anderson and start figuring out what’s actually yours to say? In this episode, filmmaker, writer and editor Kyle Leland Cullerton joins Mishu for a refreshingly candid conversation about fear, delusion, and creative self-awareness. They talk about the high-stakes neurosis of editing, the discipline of outlining, and why learning to tolerate imperfection might be the only way to finish anything worthwhile.

Kyle grew up in Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood and got his start working on the studio film Wanted at just 17. Since then, he’s directed nearly 30 shorts and music videos, won over 20 awards for his series Hammersmith, and had a 48 Hour Film Project short screen internationally at the 2018 Festival de Cannes. His work has appeared in campaigns for the Cubs, Blackhawks, Bud Light, and Subaru.

We get into:
→ Why subtext is the real emotional currency of a scene
→ The terror of the first draft—and the secret weapon of the outline
→ Why a good edit requires a little bit of madness
→ Wrestling with imposter syndrome and calling it commitment
→ Making short films that actually feel like you

🎟 Buy tickets for the 3rd annual Screen Time showcase at the Davis Theater (May 29): Eventbrite link

Learn more at vimeo.com/kalopsiafilms
Follow Kyle on Instagram at @kyle_leland_

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Make the Set Safe First | George Ellzey Jr. on Creative Burnout, Boundaries, and Leading with Care

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 13 May 2025 05:54:00 -0500

What does it mean to direct with care in an industry that often forgets its people? In this episode, George Ellzey Jr. joins Mishu for an unflinching and heartfelt conversation about navigating burnout, building emotionally safe sets, and resisting the achievement spiral. They explore the quiet rewards of creative leadership, how to protect your joy when the hustle hits hard, and why making room for humanity on set might be the most radical thing you can do.

George is a Chicago-based director and screenwriter known for his award-winning short Cottage Grove (now streaming on AMC+) and his experimental film SWITCHIN’, featured on NBC5 Chicago and Open Television. His work has screened at national and international festivals including Athens International, Black Harvest, Micheaux, and Tallgrass. George recently won Best Student Narrative (Cottage Grove) and Best Screenplay (All Good) at the 2025 Lindsey Film Festival. A graduate of Bowdoin College and DePaul University’s MFA program, he brings a steady, reflective voice to Chicago’s evolving indie film scene.

In this episode, we talk about:
→ Setting boundaries and expectations on indie sets
→ The danger of achievement obsession in creative careers
→ Burnout, depression, and learning to pause
→ Sharing knowledge instead of gatekeeping
→ Leading with care and creating room for vulnerability

Learn more about George’s work and follow his production company on Instagram at @cottagegroveproductions.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

The Joke That Scares You | Rey Tang on Risk, Recognition, and Writing Toward Surprise

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 08 May 2025 05:54:00 -0500

What does it mean to chase a joke without losing yourself? In this episode, Rey Tang—a Chicago-based writer, photographer, filmmaker, and performer—joins Mishu for a conversation about finding her comedic voice while navigating feedback, audience expectations, and the realities of making a creative career sustainable. They talk about letting go of perfectionism, writing toward surprise instead of shock, and learning to take risks without chasing edginess.

Rey performed stand-up at the 2024 SNL Showcase at the Annoyance Theater and was a Comedy Gazelle Vouch finalist that same year. She’s performed at Laugh Factory, Zanies, and Hollywood Improv, and is currently represented by Stewart Talent Agency Chicago. Rey also hosts Pizza Mic, a beloved weekly open mic that was featured in the New York Times Travel section.

We chat about:

→ The difference between being surprising and being shocking
→ How stand-up feedback shaped her writing
→ Risk-taking as an engine for creative growth
→ Wrestling with the impulse to be “special”
→ Building a sustainable creative life—on her own terms

Learn more about Rey’s work at reytang.com and follow her on Instagram at @reytangerine.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

You Are the Infrastructure: Remsy Atassi on Indie Film, Audience Building, and Real-World DIY

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 06 May 2025 05:53:00 -0500

What if you stopped waiting for permission and started thinking like a studio? In this episode, Remsy Atassi—a Chicago-based Syrian-American filmmaker—joins Mishu for a grounded, no-nonsense talk about the changing landscape of indie film distribution. They unpack why relying on festivals and acquisitions may be a trap, how to budget with an eye toward self-distribution, and what it takes to build—and serve—your own audience from the ground up.

Remsy directed the 2022 award-winning feature Bad Animal, now streaming on Amazon Prime. His latest documentary The Legend of Kingdom Come, about comic book icon Alex Ross, just raised nearly half a million dollars via crowdfunding and will premiere at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre.

This episode is for filmmakers who are tired of hoping the system will come knocking—and want to learn how to get their film out there on their own terms.

🎟️ The Legend of Kingdom Come premieres May 10 at The Music Box Theatre

Learn more about Remsy’s work at remsyatassi.com
Follow him on Instagram at @remsy_atassi

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What Does Your Voice Sound Like? Tim Corpus on Creating and Composing Music Without Losing Yourself

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 01 May 2025 05:54:00 -0500

What happens when you stop writing what’s expected—and start composing like yourself? In this episode, Tim Corpus shares what it means to develop a creative voice you can actually recognize in your own work. We talk about what makes a temp track helpful (and when it’s not), taking creative swings in client work, and how years of writing for others led Tim back to the sound that felt most honest.

Tim is a Filipino-American composer and arts manager whose work spans concert music, film, and interactive media. He’s had performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Bolshoi Theatre, and MoMA, with features on BBC Radio 3, CNN Money, and WFMT. His 2022 GRAMMY-selected album MMXX earned critical acclaim, and his scores have been heard in over 25 films and episodic projects. He currently serves as Executive Director of the 2025 Ear Taxi Festival and the Hyde Park Youth Symphony, and co-leads the Chicago Media Composers & Lyricists collective. Known for his rhythmic instinct and interdisciplinary mindset, Tim brings both heart and rigor to his ever-expanding body of work.

We chat about:
→ Taking big swings instead of writing safe
→ Knowing when a project isn’t really yours
→ Using constraint to fuel invention
→ Letting go of the illusion of perfect
→ Writing for yourself even when no one’s asking

Check out more of Tim’s work at timcorpus.net, follow him on Instagram at @timcorpus, and find his music on YouTube.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

When Showing Up Feels Pointless, Do It Anyway | Jorge Salas on Auditions, Adaptability, and Building the Work Brick by Brick

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 05:46:00 -0500

What happens when you chase the adrenaline of live performance—and find yourself building a whole second life? In this episode, Jorge Salas joins Mishu to talk about getting into acting later than most, navigating the sometimes brutal psychology of auditions, and staying flexible in both life and craft. We dig into how Jorge’s background in tech gave him unexpected tools for acting, why he values emotional range over "hitting the mark," and how he’s preparing for his next big creative leap.

Jorge’s recent credits include stage work with AstonRep (Buried Child, Jeff-nominated), Meat Machine Theatre (La Ronde), and the Athenaeum Theatre (Accidental Election of an Anarchist), along with TV/film appearances on Hulu’s Deli Boys and Prime Video’s BAM (Broke Ass MotherF*ckers). He splits his time between technology consulting and acting, chasing lead roles, training in Shakespeare, and bringing his bilingual range to commercials, indie films, and the Chicago theater scene.

We talk about:
→ Depersonalizing rejection without losing heart
→ Why emotional variety matters more than "perfect" delivery
→ Building small habits that compound into real growth
→ Balancing career ambition with creative play
→ Learning to embrace mischief and risk—even when the stakes feel high

Follow Jorge on Instagram at @jorgesalaschi and check out his work on YouTube.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Follow the Butterfly | Alex Rembold on Quitting the Job, Starting the Jam, and Finding Joy in the Weird

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 06:09:00 -0500

What if the most meaningful thing you ever made wasn’t your biggest show—but the space you created for someone else to play? In this episode, Alex Rembold talks about leaving a soul-crushing job to start Catjam, the community-driven open mic series he founded to give others permission to show up, sound weird, and feel welcome. We talk about shifting from competitive to collaborative mindsets, the invisible power of musical vulnerability, and what it means to build something out of kindness rather than branding.

Alex is a songwriter, music director, and producer who works with The Second City, iO, and The Annoyance. He’s the founder of Catjam Chicago, a nonprofit that creates inclusive, improvisational music spaces—currently hosting weekly jams at Insect Asylum and (soon) the floating Wild Mile garden on the Chicago River. He also fronts the band Funky Fünke, produces the cozy and chaotic improv show The Cozy Sweater, and still finds time to write introspective bangers about connection, grief, and joy.

We talk about:
→ Leaving the practical job (and the existential crisis that followed)
→ The real risk: not taking one
→ Music as empathy in motion
→ Changing the room by being the room
→ Following the butterfly, even if it leads to a weird warehouse on a Tuesday night

Catch Catjam every Tuesday from 7–10pm at the Insect Asylum (and starting June, at the Wild Mile). Follow Alex on IG at @remby_on_the_bone or check out his work at alexremboldmusic.weebly.com.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

You Don’t Have to Wait to Be Professional | Madelynn Wierda on Trusting Yourself Before They Tell You You’re Ready

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 05:54:00 -0500

What does it mean to call yourself an actor before the industry gives you permission? In this episode, Madelynn Wierda talks about navigating the awkward in-between of student and professional, how she chooses roles based on instinct, and why setting your own tone on set can make all the difference. We explore the mental side of auditioning, asking questions before you arrive, and letting go of “aspiring” in favor of actually doing the work.

Madelynn is a Chicago-based actor who’s extensively trained in both theatre and film, currently pursuing her BFA at Columbia College Chicago. She’s played lead roles in award-winning short films, performed in commercials and stage work, and continues to train at studios around the country. Known for her grounded performances and sharp preparation instincts, she brings presence and intentionality into every space—on and off camera.

In this episode:
→ Shifting from “aspiring” to I’m already doing it
→ Booking more once she stopped clinging to auditions
→ How to prep when there's no rehearsal
→ Knowing when to say no, even when you’re early in your career
→ Reframing the idea of professionalism from the inside out

Follow Madelynn on Instagram at @madelynnwierda.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What If Story Didn’t Require Conflict? Donald Conley on Empathy, Tension Without Trauma, and Stories Without Villains

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 05:18:00 -0500

What if the point of a story wasn’t conflict—but something more subtle, more layered, and more human? In this episode, award-winning director and producer Donald Conley joins Mishu to talk about the evolving shape of story, the language of tension, and how Nonviolent Communication changed the way he writes characters, builds scenes, and approaches collaboration.

Donald Conley is a filmmaker whose work orbits themes of justice, memory, and emotional honesty. He’s produced documentaries distributed by Netflix, PBS, and Max—including Dallas, 2019, a 5-part socio-political series for Independent Lens. His short documentary Matriarch and narrative short About Time have screened at major festivals across the U.S. and Canada, including the 60th Annual Chicago International Film Festival. He’s currently directing a feature doc on the 1970 Syracuse 8 boycott and its legacy in college football.

In this episode, we talk about Tension vs. trauma: how Donald builds story without defaulting to conflict

Redefining narrative structure with empathy at the center
Recasting the role of the antagonist
The cost—and value—of slowing down the creative process
Directing intimacy with care, conversation, and consent

Follow Donald on Instagram @meekley for updates on About Time, his current doc project, and more.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

The Film Stalled—Then We Started Over | Cassidy Tee & Kristina Mercado on First Chair

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 06:01:00 -0500

What does it look like to grow into a role you didn’t expect to take on—and do it with someone who trusts you, even before you trust yourself? In this episode, Cassidy Tee and Kristina Mercado talk about their collaboration on the short film First Chair, navigating setbacks, building momentum from scratch, and making decisions in real time with creative instincts as their compass.

Cassidy Tee is a filmmaker and screenwriter whose work blends suspenseful world-building with grounded character drama. Based in Chicago and drawn to the psychological thriller space, she’s directed a variety of indie projects and is currently deep in pre-production on First Chair, a tech-meets-orchestra short film with Black Mirror energy. Kristina Mercado is a producer and teaching artist who co-runs the production company Tide on Topic, and brings a sharp sense of logistics and community to the table—often jumping into roles she never imagined for herself.

We chat about:
→ Reigniting a project after a stall-out
→ Creative trust between director and producer
→ Running a female-led team on an indie budget
→ Letting momentum lead (even if it’s messy)
→ What it means to define success beyond just “finishing”

Check out Cassidy’s fundraiser for First Chair at crowdfundr.com/firstchair and follow her at @cassidytposts.

Learn more about Kristina’s production work at tideontopic.com and on IG at @kristinamvlg14.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Let the First Pancake Burn | Emma Palizza on Starting Messy and Laughing Anyway

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 05:05:00 -0500

Emma Palizza has stopped waiting for permission—and she’s not dragging a boulder uphill just to be "seen." In this episode, she talks candidly about leaving the Chicago theater grind, recalibrating her definition of success, and rediscovering joy in creative work. Whether it's saying no to bad plays, launching a podcast with her best friend, or watching her first podcast episode explode in plays despite the chaos—Emma reminds us that joyful process can be better than exhausted polish.

An actor and sometimes writer, Emma trained at the School at Steppenwolf and Second City, performing with companies like The Gift and Steep Theatre before relocating to Connecticut. She now stars in The Ferryman at Hole in the Wall Theatre and co-hosts Go Get Your Girl, a rom-com podcast full of overshares, running bits, and the occasional sexy snowman. Her work is a mash-up of heart, humor, and blunt realism about what it means to make things—and to know when they’re “good enough.”

We dig into:
→ Saying no to hustle-driven theater culture
→ Rewriting your metrics of success
→ Podcasting as performance and permission
→ Going before you’re ready—and letting go lightly

Find Emma at emmapalizza.com or on Instagram @emilympizza. Check out Go Get Your Girl wherever you get your podcasts.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

You Don’t Need Permission | Shane Dresch on Making It Work Without a Big Budget, a Full Crew, or a Perfect Plan

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 05:01:00 -0500

Before you hit play, go watch Sleepwalking—a surreal, floating, time-bending music video Shane directed for Mario McClean: Watch here. Then come back and hear how it came together—one melted phone prop and 4-hour beach shoot at a time.

In this episode, Shane Dresch breaks down the emotional math and creative strategy behind directing, designing, and assembling deeply personal visual work. We talk about building a story around a feeling, knowing when to kill your darlings (goodbye, train scene), and the long-tail confidence you build by actually finishing things—especially when you’re doing it all yourself.

Shane Dresch is a Director of Photography and visual storyteller based in Chicago, IL, with a decade of professional video production experience. He holds a Bachelor’s in Video Production and a Master’s in Digital Storytelling, overcoming academic challenges by focusing on his passion for visual media. Since 2015, Shane has worked on a wide range of projects including commercials, music videos, and documentaries, contributing as a DP, Gaffer, Writer, Director, and more. His work has earned regional Emmy nominations and recognition at indie film contests. Crafting unique visuals and solving creative challenges alongside a collaborative crew is where Shane truly feels at home.

We also talk about scope creep, learning to trust collaborators, and how side quests like D&D and small insert shots can refuel a tired creative brain. If you’ve ever wrestled with choice paralysis, one-person production, or the urge to DIY everything, this one’s for you.

Learn more about Shane at shanedresch.com
Follow on Instagram: @anxiyeti
Follow on YouTube: @zeroshane50

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What If You Didn’t Push So Hard? Elissa Wolf on Curiosity, Casting, and Letting the Work Breathe

Mishu Hilmy — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 05:04:00 -0500

What if the most powerful creative move you made was choosing to pause? In this episode, Elissa Wolf unpacks the subtle and often overlooked moments that shape her approach to theater—whether she’s in rehearsal, navigating a career shift, or nerding out over Shakespeare’s linguistic breadcrumbs. We talk about slowing down as a strategy, making room for actors to explore without pressure, and how simple tools—like reading lines without emotion—can change the direction of a performance or a process.

Elissa is a multi-hyphenate creative who works across the Midwest and East Coast as a teaching artist, director, and researcher. She’s collaborated with organizations like the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Two River Theater and the former Chicago Youth Shakespeare. She holds an MA in Shakespeare and Creativity from the Shakespeare Institute and is currently pursuing a PhD at King’s College London, where she’s expanding her work on asides and the often-invisible mechanics of stage intimacy. Whether she’s facilitating a workshop, directing a scene, or cold-emailing theaters to observe rehearsals, Elissa brings warmth, rigor, and a deep belief in sharing what you know.

We also talk about the casting “puzzle,” rehearsal room power dynamics, how Shakespeare became a lifestyle (not just a focus), and why mentorship and accessibility matter more than polish. If you’re in a transition—or circling back to what drew you to the work in the first place—this one will resonate.

Learn more about Elissa at elissawolf.com and follow her on Instagram @eliwolf007.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Armin Korsos on Momentum, Documentaries, and Saying Yes Too Soon (On Purpose)

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 05:10:00 -0500

Why wait until everything’s perfect to start something new? In this episode, Armin Korsos shares how saying yes now—even before you’re “ready”—can spark organic growth, community, and career-shifting momentum. Born in the Cayman Islands and now based in Chicago, Armin is a filmmaker known for emotionally vivid imagery and a global lens—both in his documentaries and branded storytelling. He’s also the founder of Caymanite, a creative studio built to bring authentic brand stories to life with impact.

Armin is the co-creator of Filmmaker Friday, a monthly event series that brings together local creatives for screenings, panels, and connection. He’s currently in post-production on two documentary projects—a conservation-focused film and a story following a world-record cycling attempt around Lake Ontario.

We talk about building Filmmaker Friday from scratch without a budget, the myth of needing a perfect platform before launching, navigating collaboration and energy management, and the mindset shifts required for documentary work. Armin also reflects on how opportunity often arrives as a narrow window—and why you have to leap before you feel fully prepared. If you’ve been putting something off because it’s not perfect yet, this one’s for you.

Find more from Armin at www.caymanite.us, on Instagram @armincreates, or connect via LinkedIn. Keep an eye out for his short film Brothers of the Sea, and two in-progress docs: one focused on conservation, and the other following a Lake Ontario world-record cycling attempt.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

The Premiere’s Over | Jon Silver on Burnout, Festivals, and Letting Go

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 05:04:00 -0500

What happens when you get everything you asked for—and it still doesn’t feel great? In this episode, Jon Silver talks candidly about navigating the tail end of a feature film rollout, the unexpected burnout of the festival circuit, and what it really means to build an audience when your control over exhibition is limited. We talk about the tension between gratitude and disillusionment, the DIY hustle of indie comedy, and how distribution can be just as humbling as it is thrilling.

Jon comes to indie filmmaking from a comedy background. He’s the co-founder of ShowPup Productions and has produced sketch comedy, shorts, web series, and features with troupes like Second City and iO. His first feature, The Civil Hoax, was dubbed “Can’t Miss Indie Cinema” by the Chicago Tribune, and his newest film The Premiere—a satirical love letter to the absurdities of filmmaking and live screenings—is currently screening around the world.

If you’ve ever wondered what comes after the good news, or why building a sustainable creative life means thinking beyond just the film itself—this one’s for you.

Learn more about Jon and his work at showpup.com, follow him on Instagram @jonsilverpoop, and check out upcoming festival dates for The Premiere at showpup.com/blog-post/the-premiere-events.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Nobody Prepares You for This Part: Imani Davis on Finishing a Film, Podcasting and Figuring Out the Rest

Mishu Hilmy — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

So much of the film industry is shrouded in secrecy—and Imani Davis is here to crack it open. In this episode, we talk about her podcast Players as well as what happens after you make the movie: the emotional labor, the financial blind spots, and the strategic chaos of trying to get your work seen. A producer, writer, and curator, Imani is a film programmer at the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles, where she’s worked on events featuring filmmakers like Jordan Peele, Sofia Coppola, and the Daniels. She’s also the founder of PROOF, the Cinematheque’s first-ever short film festival devoted to proof-of-concept storytelling.

Her own creative work centers on reshaping the modern Western canon—diverse, character-driven, and unapologetically genre-blending. She’s currently rolling out her feature Year One, a coming-of-age film exploring mental health, belonging, and identity, starring Elizabeth Yu (Avatar: The Last Airbender, May December). She's also the co-founder of Rm. 19 Productions and a community-builder through initiatives like Film Girlz Brunch, a growing grassroots network of femme filmmakers in LA, New York and Chicago.

We explore why “distribution producer” should be a real job title, why filmmakers need to budget for their release just as much as their shoot, and how programming, podcasting, and film production have shaped Imani’s approach to audience-building. We also talk about the tension between vulnerability and professionalism, and how community-based initiatives are reshaping how creatives gather and grow. If you’ve ever wondered what comes after wrap—this is your episode.

Follow Imani on Instagram at @imanimdavis, and check out her podcast Players (@players_pod) wherever you listen. For updates on Year One and campus screenings, keep an eye out on Imani’s social media.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Welcome to Mischief & Mastery with Mishu Hilmy

Mishu Hilmy — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 18:38:32 -0500

Creativity is messy, unpredictable, and full of sharp turns. Mischief & Mastery with Mishu Hilmy brings you real conversations with artists, filmmakers, and fearless makers who wrestle with doubt, chase inspiration, and shape chaos into something real.

Episodes drop weekly. Sign up for the mailing list at mischiefpod.com

Email us anytime at podcast@ohhmaybe.com and follow us @mischiefpod