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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

60:38

Curiosity Over Control | Jack C. Newell on Chicago...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/10/28

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

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60:21

After the Burnout | Demma Strausbaugh on Creative...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/10/21

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

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53:45

Joy Is the Point | Edwina Luokkala-Burckhardt on...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/10/14

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

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61:02

The Story That Wouldn’t Let Her Go | Sanicole Young...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/10/07

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

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61:58

Three Jobs in One Body | Lillian Frances on Pop...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/09/30

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

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52:52

Finish the Film (Even With a Hamster in Your Head) |...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/09/23

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

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62:13

At Depth, the Good Stuff Happens | Tony Scott-Green...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/09/16

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

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58:05

The Spite Project That Sparked a Feature | Daisy...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/09/09

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

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59:57

Fail Fast, Dream Big | Erica Duffy on Reinvention,...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/09/02

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

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60:27

Finishing Strong | C. Ryan Stemple on Post, Pivots,...

Mischief and Mastery ·

2025/08/26

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

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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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46 results

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