This week, in what might be the funniest episode yet, Molly and Emese are joined by co-stars Amy Schumer and Brianne Howey. They get candid about motherhood, career evolution, and their new film, Kinda Pregnant —which unexpectedly led to Amy’s latest health discovery. Amy opens up about how public criticism led her to uncover her Cushing syndrome diagnosis, what it’s like to navigate comedy and Hollywood as a mom, and the importance of sharing birth stories without shame. Brianne shares how becoming a mother has shifted her perspective on work, how Ginny & Georgia ’s Georgia Miller compares to real-life parenting, and the power of female friendships in the industry. We also go behind the scenes of their new Netflix film, Kinda Pregnant —how Molly first got the script, why Amy and Brianne were drawn to the project, and what it means for women today. Plus, they reflect on their early career struggles, the moment they knew they “made it,” and how motherhood has reshaped their ambitions. From career highs to personal challenges, this episode is raw, funny, and packed with insights. Mentioned in the Episode: Kinda Pregnant Ginny & Georgia Meerkat 30 Rock Last Comic Standing Charlie Sheen Roast Inside Amy Schumer Amy Schumer on the Howard Stern Show Trainwreck Life & Beth Expecting Amy 45RPM Clothing Brand A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us at @sonypodcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…
เนื้อหาจัดทำโดย Michelle Simone Miller เนื้อหาพอดแคสต์ทั้งหมด รวมถึงตอน กราฟิก และคำอธิบายพอดแคสต์ได้รับการอัปโหลดและจัดหาให้โดยตรงจาก Michelle Simone Miller หรือพันธมิตรแพลตฟอร์มพอดแคสต์ของพวกเขา หากคุณเชื่อว่ามีบุคคลอื่นใช้งานที่มีลิขสิทธิ์ของคุณโดยไม่ได้รับอนุญาต คุณสามารถปฏิบัติตามขั้นตอนที่แสดงไว้ที่นี่ https://th.player.fm/legal
Join actress and host Michelle Simone Miller and hear from the most interesting people in Entertainment, as well as the inside scoop on all of your favorite films and TV shows. Each week Michelle talks to Directors, Producers, Network Execs, Actors and more, to learn how they started, how they moved up, and any tips they've learned along the way. Mentors on the Mic is the place to find Mentorship without having to ask for it.
เนื้อหาจัดทำโดย Michelle Simone Miller เนื้อหาพอดแคสต์ทั้งหมด รวมถึงตอน กราฟิก และคำอธิบายพอดแคสต์ได้รับการอัปโหลดและจัดหาให้โดยตรงจาก Michelle Simone Miller หรือพันธมิตรแพลตฟอร์มพอดแคสต์ของพวกเขา หากคุณเชื่อว่ามีบุคคลอื่นใช้งานที่มีลิขสิทธิ์ของคุณโดยไม่ได้รับอนุญาต คุณสามารถปฏิบัติตามขั้นตอนที่แสดงไว้ที่นี่ https://th.player.fm/legal
Join actress and host Michelle Simone Miller and hear from the most interesting people in Entertainment, as well as the inside scoop on all of your favorite films and TV shows. Each week Michelle talks to Directors, Producers, Network Execs, Actors and more, to learn how they started, how they moved up, and any tips they've learned along the way. Mentors on the Mic is the place to find Mentorship without having to ask for it.
Ken Girotti has had a hand in the creation of hundreds of hours of television episodes, pilots, television movies and film and received multiple award nominations. His television movie MAYERTHORPE garnered the best director award from the Director’s Guild of Canada. Recently Ken has been Executive Producer/Director on FBI MOST WANTED (CBS). He served the same role on ANNE WITH AN E (Netflix). He Executive Produced and Directed both seasons of PURE (Hulu/WGN) and was a Producer and Director on the CBC miniseries FORTUNATE SON. He directed half the episodes of the first three seasons of VIKINGS (History Channel), episodes of DAREDEVIL (Netflix), LAW & ORDER ORGANIZED CRIME (NBC), ORPHAN BLACK (BBC America), FRONTIER (Netflix), THE STRAIN (FX Networks), THE CROSSING (ABC), COPPER (BBC America), DAMAGES (FX Networks), RESCUE ME (FX Networks). Pilots and movies for television he’s shot include CRA$H & BURN, SABBATICAL, THE DEALERSHIP, and BEFRIEND & BETRAY. Currently Ken has numerous projects in development with Scott Einbinder’s 5X Media He splits his time between New York City, Madrid and Toronto. In this episode, we talk about: • Started in theater and craft services before assisting directing (which wasn’t the right fit for him) • Working on the famous “The Ides of March” episode on Xena: Warrior Princess with Lucy Lawless • Gigging on various shows vs working a few episodes of one show or what he calls “a tonic” • Tips for actors on their self tapes • His approach to a new script and how much time he has for prep • How do you add producing to your role as a director of an episode of a show • What it means to be a creative gatekeeper of a show like FBI: Most Wanted • How he handles show runners, producers, and writers “meddling” while maintaining his creative vision as a director • Tips for directors in training • Lightning round with his thoughts on shows he’s worked on including: 24 with Kiefer Sutherland, Season 1 of Supernatural , New Amsterdam , White Collar , Covert Affairs , Rescue Me , La Femme Nikita , Nikita , Vikings , Pure , Orphan Black , Anne with an E with co-showrunner Moira Walley-Beckett (about to do Fourth Wing series), and FBI: Most Wanted • What episodes Ken directs of FBI: Most Wanted and how does he choose who directs other episodes Guest: IMDb Wikipedia Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out Linda Mendoza - From page to Comedy TV/Film Director of Scrubs, The Good Place, and more Jason Ensler - From PSAs to Executive Producer/Director of HULU's "Love, Victor" Becoming... Film/TV Director Rosemary Rodriguez "The Walking Dead" "Law & Order SVU" "Acts of Worship"…
Scott McCormick, has been an audiobook director, adaptor and narrator for over 10 years. In that time he has directed and adapted over a hundred books and narrated and provided voices for well over a thousand book. He has played many characters through the years including the lead roles in Sir Apropos of Nothing by Peter David and The Ishmael Jones by Simon R. Green. He has also lent his voice to dozens of audiocomic book characters including Venom, The Thing and most recently Hellboy. A native of Baltimore, he moved to the DC metro area in 1999 to pursue a career in theatre, wanting to avoid any chance of fame by not moving to New York or LA. He just north of DC with the love of his life, Jillian. In this episode, we talk about: • A breakdown of his role as Creative Director and Director Training Manager at Graphic Audio • Process for creating the dramatized audiobook for Graphic Audio • How COVID expanded their roster of actors • How long production and post-production takes for a book like Fourth Wing or Iron Flame or Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros • Reading Onyx Storm and starting in mid-February • Surprise at the success of ACOTAR and Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, especially on Tik Tok • How he envisions a character on the page • Advice for starting in Voiceover including recommended hardware and software • A great voice for Graphic Audio and the ways to submit to Graphic Audio as a VO artist Guest: Graphic Audio profile X profile IMDb The Empyrean 1: Fourth Wing (1 of 2) (Dramatized Adaptation) - Also available wherever you listen to audiobooks Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out Becoming... Voiceover Actress & Filmmaker Khaya Fraites (Graphic Audio's Violet Sorrengail in "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame") Becoming... VP at Disney Television Animation of Current Series & Diversity Jay Francis…
Khaya Fraites is a voice and film actor based in New York City. She has narrated books such as the full cast versions of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame from GraphicAudio and has performed in video games such as World of Warcraft, Diablo 4, and Blumhouse games’ first release: Fear the Spotlight. You can also catch her in animated shows such as Pokémon Paldean Winds, Quantum Heroes Dinoster and Rainbow High. Khaya is also a filmmaker and has made short films that have screen at festivals such as Virginia Film Fest and, Big Apple Film Fest. In this episode, we talk about: • Her start in Voiceover in 2020 and what she used for her first voiceover reel on Backstage • Her initial voiceover setup (including equipment and software) and how it compares to her setup and space • The first websites she would submit to and what she submits to now • How she started at Graphic Audio and recording for their database • Recording narration and/or dialogue for Graphic Audio books like Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Crescent City, and Zodiac Academy • The experience of the Iron Flame audiobook blowing up • Working on animation and video games and booking VO work on twitter • Advice for people who want to get into voiceover Guest: Website Audible Instagram IMDb Tik Tok Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out The 7 "Rules" That Actors Should Break w/ Joshua Morgan of the Creative Risk podcast Becoming... Series Regular Melissa Navia (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+) Becoming... VP at Disney Television Animation of Current Series & Diversity Jay Francis…
Joshua : Joshua is a diverse, singing actor who has worked on Broadway and regionally at esteemed theaters such as Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Theatre Under the Stars, Folger Theatre, Triad Stage, and Signature Theatre. His television appearances include "FBI," "Law and Order," "Law and Order: Organized Crime," "Law and Order: SVU," "Lincoln Rhyme," and HBO’s "Paterno." Joshua co-founded and served as Artistic Director of the Helen Hayes Award-winning No Rules Theatre Company in Washington, DC, and Winston-Salem, NC. Mike Labbadia (co-host) an actor, producer, writer and filmmaker, a “multipassionate” you can say. As a company member of BEDLAM he's appeared Off-Broadway in shows from Arcadia to Julius Caesar. Regional work includes Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Gulfshore Playhouse, Penguin Rep and Virginia Rep. He's in the upcoming film "On the End" with Tim Blake Nelson. As a producer he's had films premiere at prestigious festivals around the world. In this episode, we discuss these "Rules" actors should break: 06:15 - Rule 1 - Don't pitch yourself Sent 37 self pitching emails, without an agent, and booked a Broadway show 9:03 - Rule 2 - Don't complain to our Reps 12:45 - Rule 3 - We can only be one "kind of artist" 17:15 - Rule 4 - Wait until you have a big project to grow an audience 21:20 - Rule 5 - Don't actively pursue industry relationships 15:52 - Rule 6 - Take on Gig work to support your career 30:29 - Rule 7 - Let the Industry define you as an artist PODCAST DESCRIPTION: “CREATIVE RISK”, is a new podcast hosted by actors Joshua Morgan and Mike Labbadia of Artist’s Strategy where they explore all things art, entrepreneurialism and everything in between. The acting industry is more volatile and competitive than ever before, therefore the artist must evolve in order to take radical ownership over their creative businesses. Each episode, Mike and Joshua will get raw and unfiltered, giving hot takes and cutting edge strategies on how to build a sustainable career in the arts. Guest: For Joshua Morgan : Website IMDb Instagram Broadway World For Podcast: Spotify Apple Podcasts Youtube Instagram TikTok Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a clip of the Creative Risk podcast. If you like this episode, check out my episode on their podcast" Apple Podcasts Spotify…
A graduate from Aberystwyth University, BEN THOMPSON left Wales and London to settle in New York. Soon after arriving he joined the Tribeca Film Festival where he is currently the VP of Shorts Programming. From the start of his career as a filmmaker Ben has always had a keen interest in short form storytelling and discovered while at Tribeca a passion for programming and presenting short films to new and engaged audiences. He is fascinated by the influence film has on our world and culture and travels to search out new stories from around the globe. He has watched over 12,000 short films for Tribeca alone. In this episode, we talk about: • Internships that prepared him for working at Tribeca Festival • Pros/Cons for submitting early to film festivals • The process for programming short film blocks for the festival and advice for short film filmmakers who want to submit to festivals like Tribeca (timing, theme, etc) • Whether filmmakers can monetize short films and the value from having your short in a festival • Festivals are seasonal work and the different festivals he used to work in one year and moving to a full time position • What goes into a Festival Coordinator position and working as a liaison between the festival and the filmmakers • Whether it’s important to have celebrities or famous people in short films • What’s important in a cover letter - description and how you are positioning your film • What he recommends is the most important investment in creating your short film. • Benefits he’s seen of screening at Tribeca and other opportunities available for short film filmmakers at the festival • Internal scoring process at Tribeca • Advice for those who want to be a programmer at a festival Guest: LinkedIn Tribeca Profile 2025 Tribeca Festival Submissions overview Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out How I Got my Press Badge for Tribeca Festival - 4th Anniversary Solo Episode TRIBECA SERIES: RESOURCES, PROGRAMS and AWARDS with Director of Artist Programs Bryce Norbitz Becoming... Festival Director and Senior VP of Programming at Tribeca Festival Cara Cusumano…
Presenting... Part 2 of my Filmmaker Roundtable at the Hampton International Film Festival. In this episode, we talk to the filmmaking teams of four short films. We delve into the process of creating their films and their experience at the festival. Including: Director Jack Kendrick and Producer Taylor Ervin for TORNADO: A struggling contractor risks his young sons’ wellbeing to cut a sweet deal. Director Geneva Peschka and Cinematographer Safiyah Chiniere for THE SOLACE OF SISTERHOOD: The Caramel Curves are an all-Black female biker crew in New Orleans that defies societal norms by embracing their multifaceted identities. Director Jenifer McShane for QUILTERS: The movie follows a men's quilting group inside a maximum security prison as they create personalized quilts for local foster children. Director Lily Ahree Siegel for EQUAL PLAY: The movie delves into the lives of disabled youth, uncovering the transformative power that sports can wield. Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out Hampton Film Festival Filmmaker Roundtable - ADULT BEST FRIENDS, LOS FRIKIS, A MAN WITH SOLE: THE IMPACT OF KENNETH COLE (Part 1) TRIBECA SERIES: RESOURCES, PROGRAMS and AWARDS with Director of Artist Programs Bryce Norbitz…
Tom Nesher - Director & Writer Born in Los Angeles in 1996, Tom Nesher is a graduate of the Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film School. She directed four award winning shorts, and has created dozens of unique freeform documentary pieces as a journalist at one of Israel’s most prominent networks. Come Closer is Nesher’s debut feature film. Logline: When Eden’s beloved brother suddenly dies, she takes desperate measures to fill the void. Once she discovers he had a secret girlfriend, these measures assume a passionate and dangerous twist. The 2024 Israeli film Come Closer won several awards, including Best Film at the Ophir Awards, and will represent Israel at the 97th Academy Awards. Come Closer won the Viewpoints Award at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival. It recognizes films that present "bold and exceptional voices" in independent cinema. In this episode, we talk about: • Her first feature film ‘Come Closer’ after directing three short films • The 5 year filmmaking process which included 4 months of rehearsal • Adapting the film as she processed her grief over the years • Tom’s experience at Tribeca Film Festival • Her unique process with her actors: they read it, they improvised the scenes, and then Tom rewrote it • Her advice for filmmakers is to trust and listen to your crew and your team Guest: IMDb Instagram Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out TRIBECA: Tim Blake Nelson, Andrew Liner and Vincent Grashaw for "BANG BANG"…
Presenting... Part 1 of my Filmmaker Roundtable at the Hampton International Film Festival. In this episode, we talk to the filmmaking teams of two feature narratives and one documentary. We delve into the process of creating their films and their experience at the festival. Including: Delaney Buffet (Director, Lead Actress, Writer) and Katie Corwin (Lead Actress, Writer) for Adult Best Friends. Nothing holds a mirror up to your life more than the examination of a friend from childhood. While Katie ( Katie Corwin ) should be celebrating her engagement to John ( Mason Gooding ), she can't help but fret over what her best friend, Delaney ( Delaney Buffett ), will think. Driftless and unambitious, her opinions and feelings matter most to Katie. In an effort to reconnect and break the news gently, she plans a girls' trip to assuage her codependent friend, setting the stage for a hilarious buddy comedy. With an attractive cast (including Zachary Quinto , Cazzie David and Alexander Hodge ) and zippy dialogue, closeness and self-deprecating humor are felt through the screen. Michael Schwartz (Writer, Director - Los Frikis, Peanut Butter Falcon), Eros de la Puente (Actor), and Hector Medina (Actor) for Los Frikis . Inspired by the audacity and resilience of kindred souls facing the challenges of Special Period Cuba, the plot tells the story of youthful members of a punk rock band, who, seeking musical freedom, relief from poverty, and a sense of independence, purposely infect themselves with HIV. This allows them entry to an isolated government run sanatorium where they live life on their own terms, forging a seemingly utopian community and looking to an uncertain future with hope and resilience. Dori Berinstein (Director) for A Man with Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole . More than just a global fashion icon, footwear designer Kenneth Cole has put cause before commerce for 40 years, driven by heart and 'sole.' Undoubtedly a trendsetter, Cole inspired and mobilized cultural norms and perceptions for the better as a pioneer of corporate social action; he advocated for social causes—from HIV/AIDS and homelessness to LGBTQIA+ rights and mental health—through his groundbreaking advertising campaigns. Featuring a treasure trove of archival footage and interviews with fashion leaders, global scientists, and longtime collaborators, Tony and Emmy Award winner Dori Bernstein celebrates Cole’s enduring legacy of combining style with social conscience. Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out How I Got my Press Badge for Tribeca Festival - 4th Anniversary Solo Episode TRIBECA SERIES: RESOURCES, PROGRAMS and AWARDS with Director of Artist Programs Bryce Norbitz…
Carol Baum has produced thirty-four movies, seventeen of them independently. Before becoming an independent producer, Baum was co-president of Sandollar Productions, Dolly Parton and Sandy Gallin’s production company, for ten years, where she produced such hits as Father of the Bride; the Academy Award-winning HBO documentary Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt; Tidy Endings; I.Q.; Jacknife; True Identity; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Gross Anatomy; Shining Through; Straight Talk; and Kicking and Screaming. As an indie producer, Baum made, among other movies, The Good Girl; My First Mister; $5 A Day; You Kill Me; and Boychoir. She has produced five television movies for Hallmark and several documentaries. Baum currently teaches producing in the Film and Television Production Division at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. She is also a mentor for the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC. In this episode, we talk about: • The lesson she learned working at her first job at Bantam Books which led to the purchase and development of the autobiography of Malcolm X • Being an advocate for the material and develop your taste • Getting pregnant and working freelance for awhile • Her 5 years at Palomar Pictures working on projects like The Stepford Wives and then moving to LA with her husband and becoming the studio VP at Lorimar • Becoming known for developing “The Shining” at the Producer’s Circle • Being a VP at 20th Century Fox and what she sees as the difference between a producer and an Executive • Working at Dolly Parton’s company Sandollar • How The Fountainhead made her love the business and why she thinks its important for young producers to watch movies from the 40s and 50s • Launching the careers of David O. Russell and Mike White • The story of developing with Father of the Bride and getting the rights from Ted Turner, the invention of Martin Short’s character, and how Jack Nicholson was thrown as a possibility for Steve Martin’s role • Developing multiple projects as a producer and how it’s all about timing. She said that if David Cronenberg hadn’t had success with The Fly, he wouldn’t have been able to do Dead Ringers. • Her recommendations for writers on what is commercially viable right now • Carol’s explanation for spec scripts for films • Her recommendation for writers on how to get an agent Guest: IMDb Wikipedia Website Buy her book! Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out Excerpt from Creative Producing: a Pitch-to-Picture Guide to Movie Development by Carol Baum The Do’s and Don’ts of PITCHING YOUR FILM with Hollywood Producer Carol Baum…
Cara Cusumano has been with Tribeca since 2008, during which time the festival has become a globally respected showcase for film and TV premieres, live music, talks, interdisciplinary events, and talent discovery. During her tenure as Festival Director, Tribeca has been called “an annual powerhouse” (Time Out), “reliably and inarguably excellent” (Village Voice), and “one of the most prestigious festivals of the new millennium” (Playlist). She has served on nominating committees for the Cinema Eye Honors, the International Documentary Association Awards, the Gotham Awards, and the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards, and festival juries including CPH:DOX, Los Cabos Film Festival, DOC NYC, Nordisk Panorama, Bogota Audiovisual Market (BAM), and the Nantucket Film Festival. She holds a degree in Film from Columbia University’s Barnard College, and an MA in Cinema Studies from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. In this episode, we talk about: • Internships and her first job as short film programmer at Brooklyn Film Festival • The different programming teams involved in Tribeca and how she oversees them all • Choosing films to be featured at Tribeca • Typical day-to-day routine • Networking at film festival and how do you get a seasonal job there • Famous filmmakers/cast vs unknown first time filmmakers and films coming with distribution and film coming in without distribution • Want a job at Tribeca or any festival? Cara’s recommendation for a starting position in the screening committee • Advice for filmmakers who are hoping to get their film into a festival including in the pre-production and post-production stages of their films • How to identify what films are “right” for Tribeca Festival • Collaborations and partnerships with brands like Chanel, Mazda, Indeed, AT&T, and Canva Guest: Linkedin Instagram Tribeca Website Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out How I Got my Press Badge for Tribeca Festival - 4th Anniversary Solo Episode TRIBECA SERIES: RESOURCES, PROGRAMS and AWARDS with Director of Artist Programs Bryce Norbitz…
Bryan Smiley is President & Chief Content Officer of Hartbeat, the global multi-platform media company founded by Kevin Hart. Named to Variety’s 2022 “New Leaders” and Hollywood Reporter’s 2018 ”Next Gen” and “Rising Executives 35 under 35” lists, Smiley oversees Hartbeat production, financing, and development, including the company’s 70+ projects in development and more than 20 projects released in 2022 across top tier partners including Netflix, Peacock, SiriusXM, Netflix, Audible and more. In 2021, Smiley negotiated a first look deal with Netflix to produce feature films for the streamer, a strategic move that would allow Hartbeat to continue creating content during a global pandemic. Smiley was also instrumental in getting Fatherhood released on Netflix, which was watched by more than 91 million accounts globally, making it one of the most successful original dramatic movies on Netflix. Since then, Smiley oversaw and produced Me Time and True Story , which went to #1 on the Netflix charts, and produced the upcoming 2024 film Lift . In this episode, we talk about: • Working as an assistant story editor out of college and how networking helped him get to New Regency • How his early assistant roles taught him about the business and how he identified where the company needed help and resources • His work as Vice President of Creative Development & Production at Columbia Pictures, a Sony Pictures Entertainment company • How the range of his individual companies that he co-founded (list them) help him in his role today • Why he’s never had a fear of failure and the reality of starting a business • How he transitioned to development with an executive position at a studio • Some of his favorite deals at SONY with Steph Curry a multi-picture deal with Issa Rae • A breakdown of the divisions at Hartbeat and his rise to President and CCO • Their hands-on, full-service approach to projects including their show “Olympic Highlights with Kevin Hart & Kenan Thompson” on Peacock • His 4 picture guarantee and first look deal with Netflix and his thoughts on the importance of a first look deal in the current marketplace • How they decide what project to take on and develop? • Some pivotal moments and decisions that impacted his career Guest: Linkedin Hartbeat website IMDb Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out Becoming... VP at Disney Television Animation of Current Series & Diversity Jay Francis…
ROB DECINA - In December of 2018, Rob Decina was named VP, Casting in NY for CBS Studios. He has contributed to the casting of many shows across several broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms, including: Your Honor, The Comey Rule (SHOWTIME), Nancy Drew & The Dynasty (CW), Diary of a Future President (Disney+), Guilty Party & The Game (Paramount+) and Swagger ( Apple TV+). At CBS, he developed two programs: a Casting Fellowship, designed to encourage diversity and inclusion in the profession of casting, and an Educational Outreach Program, where he speaks to colleges and conservatories about auditioning. Previous episodic television casting credits include, Insatiable for Netflix, Shades of Blue for NBC, as well as pilots for the CW Network. His book, The Art of Auditioning: Techniques for Television had its second edition published in April of 2022. In this episode, we talk about: • Directing and casting internships and first full time job was a casting assistant at Warner Bros • How a forgotten resume at Disney led to a job at Warner Bros • His personal favorite story of working The West Wing • Differences between working for a network and working freelance with your own casting office and why networks focus on pilots and hire out for the rest of the season • The projects he had turned down at Rob Decina casting • Casting a soap opera like Guiding Light for a decade and how different it was in comparison to other projects • Role of VP of Casting at CBS Entertainment (combination of studio and network) and how it works there • Tips for dealing with nerves ahead of the in-person audition or callback • Accepting an associate position later in his career • His book: The Art of Auditioning: Techniques for Television Guest: IMDb LinkedIn Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out Becoming... award-winning Casting Director Bernie Telsey ("The Color Purple," "The Idea of You," "Hamilton," "SMASH," "Wicked," "The Gilded Age"…
With 15 wins and 76 nominations, Bernard Telsey is one of the premier Casting Directors in the industry. Casting our favorite films, television shows, and Broadway shows, Telsey Casting is well known for excellence in casting. From the original production of RENT to NBC's This Is Us to Only Murders in the Building to Wicked (both the upcoming movie and the show), their office is constantly busy. In this episode, we talk about: • His first job as a casting assistant and building his rolodex of actors • Casting RENT as an off-Broadway musical and why it was a difficult year long process • Putting an ad in the Village Voice for a rock musician for RENT • That ideally, he would like to be part of the early development process of a project • Giving Casting their credit and how that has evolved • How is the office doing post-pandemic • What he sees in actors who shine with 4 lines or for a lead role, like in the case of Annaleigh Ashford • How actors can get on their radar and what projects Telsey is working on now Guest: Website Wikipedia MCC Website Instagram for MCC Theater Instagram for The Telsey Office IMDb Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle If you like this episode, check out Becoming... Casting Director Susanne Scheel ("Past Lives," "The Wife")…
LIVE on the Red Carpet of the World Premiere of the film "All That We Love." Starring: MARGARET CHO (Cast) JESSE TYLER FERGUSON (Cast) KENNETH CHOI (Cast) (Halloweentown, Captain America, Ironside, American Crime Story, The Wolf of Wall Street ALICE LEE (Cast) ATSUKO OKATSUKA (Cast) DEVON BOSTICK (Cast) (Pppenheimer, Saw 4 and 5, Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies) YEN TAN (Writer, Director) Missi Pyle (Just my Luck, Soul Place, A Cinderella Story (with Lucy Hale), Dodgeball, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) Logline: Upon the loss of her beloved dog, Emma Gwon faces an empty nest and renewed feelings for her estranged ex-husband, as she navigates the joy and sorrow of starting anew. Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle For more like this, try NYWIFT Muse Awards RED CARPET: Kyra Sedgwick, Alex Borstein, Tantoo Cardinal & more Click here to join our Mailing list. Image: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Devon Bostick, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Atsuko Okatsuka, Yen Tan, Alice Lee and Kenneth Choi attend the "All That We Love" premiere during the 2024 Tribeca Festival at SVA Theater on June 08, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)…
LIVE on the Red Carpet of the World Premiere of the film "Sacramento." Starring: Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart, Michael Angarano, and Maya Erskine Written by: Michael Angarano and Chris Smith Interviews including Michael Angarano, Chris Smith, AJ Mendez, and Iman Karram Logline: Ricky, an energetic and free-spirited young man convinces Glenn, his long-time friend who's settled into domestic life, to go on an impromptu road trip from Los Angeles to Sacramento. Host: Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com and www.mentorsonthemic.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle For more like this, try NYWIFT Muse Awards RED CARPET: Kyra Sedgwick, Alex Borstein, Tantoo Cardinal & more Click here to join our Mailing list. B-roll Videos: Edited by Getty Video @ Getty Images "Sacramento" Premiere - 2024 Tribeca Festival (EPK Clips HD)…