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PODCAST

Mischief and Mastery

Creativity isn’t tidy—it’s risky, chaotic, and full of surprises. It’s full of breakthroughs and breakdowns, moments of flow and moments of doubt. Join Mishu Hilmy for unfiltered conversations with artists, filmmakers, musicians, and fearless makers who thrive in the unknown, embrace imperfection, and create at the edge of possibility. This is your front row seat to the self-doubt, unexpected wins, and messy emotional work of making something real. But craft isn’t just about feeling—it’s about

education film interviews

All Episodes

60:05

Let Go of the Frame | Isaac Izzy White on...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/08/19

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

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60:34

The Project That Broke Her Heart | Emily Lape on...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/08/12

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

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61:30

Get Good on Your Own Terms | Rob Spera on Reps,...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/08/05

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

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65:02

I Don’t Want to Be a Brand | Tuxford Turner on...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/07/29

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

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59:17

Sexy, Subversive, and Stuck | Jim Vendiola on Trust,...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/07/22

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

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58:22

What If You’re the Right One for the Role? | Katie...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/07/15

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

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59:48

It Doesn’t Have to Be Good Yet | Mary Tilden on...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/07/08

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

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54:13

Creative Work Is People Work | Jamie Kreppein on Film...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/07/01

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

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58:44

What If Prestige TV and Instagram Had a Baby? | CJ...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/06/24

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

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58:27

Build the Whole Building | Troy Pryor on Ecosystems,...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/06/19

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

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59:28

Make It Look Expensive | Shelby Gamble on Scrappy...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/06/17

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

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56:43

You’re Not Too Late | Julia Relova on Scarcity,...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/06/12

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

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50:07

Nothing Big Has to Happen | Katherine Quinn on Small...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/06/10

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

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51:13

Make It Yours or Don’t Bother | Ryan Satterfeal on...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/06/05

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

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61:08

Staying Seen Without Selling Out | Ruth Kaufman on...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/06/03

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

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55:32

Build What You’d Want to Come Back To | Colin Parker...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/05/29

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

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53:13

This Scene Could Go Sideways | Andrea Zile Bish on...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/05/27

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

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63:12

Stop Writing for the Audience—Start Telling the Truth...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/05/22

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

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54:24

Write the Cult, But Make It Believable | Jennie...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/05/20

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

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60:42

The Edit Is Where You Lose Your Mind (and Maybe Find...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/05/15

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

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56 results

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