Shows
The Art and Science of Difficult Conversations11: Interview by Chris Wong with Mikel Wisler, an award-winning filmmaker and authorIn this week's episode, we interview Mikel Wisler, an award-winning filmmaker and author. He is a big fan of science fiction and helping others find meaning through stories (in all forms). In this episode, we talk about:
- The vulnerability that comes with putting yourself out there and how to handle feedback/criticism
- How leaders can take their storytelling to the next level to motivate and inspire
- the importance of stories in our lives
And if you listen to the whole thing, you may even hear which actor Chris wo...2024-02-2035 min
StarShipSofaStarShipSofa No 673 Mikel J. WislerMain Fiction: "Falling Sunward" by Mikel J. Wisler.This story is original to StarShipSofa.Mikel J. Wisler is a commercial and documentary filmmaker by day and science fiction author by night. He's a sincere believer that good science fiction can help us save the world. Through his writing and podcast (Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions), Wisler explores how we as people encounter and wrestle with meaning-of-life questions in the stories we love. He's the author of two novels, Unidentified, and Sleepwalker, with a third on its way. He's also written and d...2021-11-101h 05
Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions030 Subscribed Short Film - Or How I Got Diana Porter to Directing My ScriptBecause I love science fiction, I don't just talk about it. Occasionally, I write sci-fi stories. And because I used to be a narrative filmmaker, I still pick up and camera and do a little cinematography. In this episode, I invite actor and director Diana Porter to discuss with me why she agreed to direct and star in "Subscribed," this short film I wrote out of concerns over how faceless corporations might exploit artificial intelligence as a tool to transform us into cogs in their profit machine. I also ask what first got Diana interested in science fiction.
2021-09-211h 01
Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions029 The Tomorrow War - Movie Discussion with Chris Wong & Naa DodooThe Tomorrow War offers us big-budget sci-fi with hand-wavy time travel and deadly aliens. What's not to love? On this episode, I invite a couple of friends who also love a good sci-fi flick to join me for a lively discussion about the merits and flaws of this tropy action movie. Be warned, we discuss the move at length, so expect a lot of spoilers.
Follow Naa Dodoo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/facelessfoods/
Keep up with my writing news (including updates about my own time-travel novel): www.mikelwisler.com
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Support this...2021-07-211h 14Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions028 Octavia Cade, The Stone Weta, and Protecting Climate Change DataAuthor and science communication specialist Octavia Cade joins me for an important conversation about climate change, effective communication of science to the public, and protecting data and scientific integrity in a world driven by politics and profit margins. In this challenging and eye-opening episode, Cade and I discuss the real-world inspiration for her novel, The Stone Weta, about the women who put their lives and work at risk to project damning data on climate change. While the novel is fiction, the reality it draws from is something we must face head-on in a world increasingly engaged in science denial.2021-06-291h 15Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions027 Terri Favro and 100 Years of RobotsAuthor Terri Favro joins me to discuss her non-fiction book, Generation Robot, which gives us a look back at the history of robotics and AI and a well-researched look forward into what lies ahead in the coming decades. Science fiction has given us a wide range of views on robots. But has sci-fi really got it right? What will happen if we succeed in giving AI consciousness? What will our responsibility to AI be at that point? What is a realistic view of our relationship to robots in the future? We discuss these questions and much more.
...2021-06-161h 27Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions026 Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - ReviewAndy Weir, author of The Martian, has a new novel out, Project Hail Mary. In this episode, I dive into what works and what doesn't about this book, how Weir has given us a better character journey, and more. Weir returns to some familiar territory with this plausible hard SF adventure. First 20-minutes are spoiler free.
Join the discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/Arsbp5MAhq
Grab a copy of Wisler's Hard SF Cyberpunk Thriller: https://www.doxanousmedia.com/product-page/sleepwalker
Learn more at www.mikelwisler.com
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Support this podcast: https...2021-06-0853 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions025 Astounding by Alec Nevala-Lee and the Golden Age of SFAuthor Alec Nevala-Lee stops by to discuss his monumental biography of the early days of science fiction. His book, Astounding, details the rise of SF through the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. This was the age of a magazine called Astounding, today known as Analog Science Fiction and Fact. In those early decades, John W. Campbell served as editor of Astounding and he left an indelible mark on the genre, for better or worse. Campbell fostered talented writers like Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, L. Ron Hubbard, and so many more. He indisputably shaped what we understand as Science Fiction...2021-06-011h 01Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions024 - What Makes Good Science Fiction - Advice from Ben Bova and Orson Scott CardOrson Scott Card and the late Ben Bova are two giants of the science fiction literary world. Bova has long been one of my favorite authors and his Grand Tour books have been an enormous influence on me. I recently dug up some solid advice from established professionals in the SF writing world and I found Card and Bova had both written books on writing SF. In this episode, I explore some of the connecting big themes both authors discuss in their books about what makes science fiction a challenging but worthwhile genre. I break down some examples of...2021-05-2555 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions023 Professor Sherryl Vint and Using SF to Make Sense of the WorldSherryl Vint teaches Science Fiction Media Studies at the University of California, Riverside and has written several books exploring the various philosophical and cultural aspects of science fiction. Her latest book, Science Fiction, published as part of the MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series. This latest book is a guide for the casual sci-fi fan interested in understanding how the genre has evolved and how it has become one of the most important forms of storytelling in our society's rapid technological and cultural development. Join us for a great discussion.
Learn more about Sherryl Vint's work here: https...2021-05-181h 03Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions022 Stowaway - Netflix Movie ReviewHave you seen the new Netflix sci-fi thriller, Stowaway? In this episode, I review the movie and discuss what worked and what didn't about it and why I want to see more movies like this made. The first portion of the episode is spoiler free, so even if you haven't seen the movie, you can listen to the first part and get a sense of whether this is something you want to watch. Then you can come back a listen to the rest of the episode to see if I got it right.
Join the discussion on...2021-05-1138 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions021 Machinehood by S.B. Divya and the world of 2095S.B. Divya's debut novel, Machinehood, is a thrill ride of plausible future conflict between developing AI and augmented human beings who have given up privacy and now rely on daily updates to their medication to combat designer viruses and remain competitive in the gig marketplace. Divya is also the co-editor of Escape Pod, which is a science fiction magazine podcast that features short stories by many of the greatest writers in the genre weekly. Join me for a lively discussion with S.B. Divya about how she got into the SF in the first place and how she...2021-05-041h 09Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions020 The Last Circus on Earth by B.P. MarshallWe didn't reverse climate change. The world is a barren husk of what it once was. And yet, humanity persists. Traveling between towns, villages, and cities, a circus cuts through Europe, delivering entertainment. But much there is a darker reality to this circus, and their trek to Asia is either hopeless venture or will be the spark of a new humanity.
That's what Ben Marshall's novel, The Last Circus on Earth, deals with. That and so much more. In this episode, Ben joins me from Tasmania to discuss this gem of a post-apocalyptic novel that is both...2021-04-2759 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions019 Flights of Foundry Con Recap & Excited News!This past weekend I got to attend (virtually) the Flights of Foundry 2021 con. It was fantastic and I feel so energized by it. Why is that? Well, grab a coffee or tea, and let's chat. From networking with fellow speculative fiction creators to jointly launching a new subgenre of science fiction, Flight of Foundry was a remarkable experience, and it is going to have a direct impact on this podcast from now on. Plus, I've got some other cool news I cannot wait to share with you.
Learn more about Flights of Foundry here: flights-of-foundry.org
2021-04-2033 min
The TV Time Machine PodcastEpisode 108: "The Evolution of Sci-Fi in Television"Join Adam, Luis and Sci-Fi Author and special guest Mikel Wisler, as we nerd the F out on SCI-FI television shows! From "Battlestar Galactica" to "The X-Files" to "Star Trek: The Next Generation" to a show called "Captain Video" we have the best round table discussion on Sci-Fi and it's impact on pop culture in TELEVISION. Join us and NERD OUT. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app2021-04-161h 07Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions018 Frank Wu, Analog Sci-Fi Magazine, and Octopi meets AISci-fi author and artist, Frank Wu, joins me for a lively, hilarious, and very informative conversation about how he got his first story published in one of my favorite science fiction magazines, Analog. We also dive into how his award-winning story, "In the Absence of Instructions to the Contrary," which truly one of the best short stories I've ever read. If you are writer yourself, you will want to stick around for Frank's very astute advice.
Check out Frank's website: http://frankwu.com/
Check out Analog here: https://www.analogsf.com/
Watch the...2021-04-141h 47Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions017 Neuroscience and Storytelling - A Conversation with Chris WongWhat can we learn from neuroscience and psychology about the narratives we create, how mailable memories are, and how our drive for survival shapes our response to life? Chris Wong, therapist and adult education specialist, joins me for a lively follow-up discussion to episode 014 about the neuroscience of storytelling. We explore how trauma shapes narratives, how narratives can help us process our experiences, and much more. And, yes, we get into science fiction and wonder how today's growing body of knowledge of around emotional intelligence might inform sci-fi in the future.
Keep up with the latest blog...2021-03-171h 23Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions016 Devs - The Hulu Original Mini Series That Questions RealityWhen my coworker, Mike Palumbo, told me I needed to check out Devs on Hulu because it was "my kind of sci-fi" that stuck with me. Well, I finally checked it out and boy, was he right. So I invited Mike to come on to the podcast to discuss this twisted, suspenseful, deeply philosophical mini series. This is a long discussion meant for folks who have seen the show or are okay with spoilers. We unpack Devs' take on living in a deterministic universe (and if it really thinks we do or not) and whether we live in a...2021-03-101h 40Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions015 Saturn Run - The Political Impact of First ContactThis hard sci-fi thriller stares unflinchingly into the political ramifications of discovering we are not alone in this universe. The discovery launches a new space race with a winner-takes-all approach to securing alien tech and science. What can we learn from this novel and why do I wish more politicians were reading Saturn Run?
Check out my recent appearance in this panel of talented New England authors: https://youtu.be/-M7pM5NxS18
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mikeljwisler/support2021-03-0234 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions014 Why Does Storytelling Matter? - How Researching Neuroscience Convinced MeYes, I love science fiction. But even more foundational than my affinity for this wonderful genre is the fact that I love storytelling. It's what I do for my day job (documentary film) and my side hustle (sci-fi novels and this podcast). So yes, I love storytelling. But turns out that there are deep reasons storytelling has been an integral part of every human society through the ages. It's because storytelling is the native language of our brains. In this episode, I unpack how doing research into neuroscience while writing my novel, Sleepwalker, ended up teaching me just how...2021-02-2335 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions013 The Loop by Ben Oliver - Is this the new Hunger Games?The Loop by Ben Oliver has been called "the new Hunger Games" by some. But does it live up to this bold claim? I checked out this brand new young adult dystopian futuristic thriller. In this episode, I dive into The Loop and discuss what works and what doesn't. I also discuss a couple of graphic novels I just read: Mooncop and Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed.
Join me for a virtual local author's night on February 25, 2021 at 7PM: http://tinyurl.com/sptwamls
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mikeljwisler/support2021-02-0935 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions012 Seveneves by Neal Stephenson - Is the human race worth saving?In one of the most epic sci-fi novels I've come across, Neal Stephenson takes on the long-term survival of the species after a freak event destroys the moon and dooms the planet to an eventual catastrophic rain of fire from the sky that will render the Earth unhabitable for thousands of years. At the core of this type of science fiction are questions about the nature of the human race and if we are really even worth of our survival. But more than just an interesting thought experiment, Seveneves is a harrowing saga of survival, heart, determination, ingenuity, and...2021-02-0235 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions011 The Midnight Sky - Movie Review, Story Analysis, and What It Is Actually AboutHave you checked out the new George Clooney directed film released on Netflix? The movie seems to split audiences. What can we learn from this film? Is it good sci-fi? Is it meaningful? What is the story really trying to get at, anyway? This contemplative sci-fi drama offers more than many of seem to dismiss it have recognized. But is it really an impactful of a film as other might say it is?
Dive into more meaningful sci-fi reflections and check out Wisler's own books at https://www.mikelwisler.com/
Thank you for...2020-12-2956 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions010 The Warehouse - The Economic Dystopian Cyber Thriller Just Around the CornerRob Hart's novel, The Warehouse, got me thinking about a lot of things when I first checked it out last year. It has become even more relevant this year as we have had to hunker down and do most, if not all, of our shopping online. Are we thinking clearly about the corporate and economic future we are fostering with each purchase? What does Hart's novel have for us to ponder as we stare into an immediate future controlled by fewer and larger corporations? Without spoiling the novel, I dive into the frightening themes I found most compelling and...2020-12-2253 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions009 The Matrix - Andrew Gilbert, PhD helps me see how deep the rabbit hole goesIn 1999, this crazy cyberpunk action movie came out, and it blew my mind. Not only that, it has withstood the test of time (and two subpar sequels). It is one of the most philosophically astute action films ever made, and it might just be more plausible than we're willing to admit (the whole "humans as batteries" thing aside). This hilarious episode takes a thoughtful look at The Matrix and tries to sort a few things out. Are you willing to take the red pill with us?
Be sure to check out Andrew Gilbert's podcasts:
Helpful...2020-12-151h 25Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions008 Jurassic Park - The Book that Started It All for MeLet's talk about the movie and book that started it tall for me. Does it still stand up all these years later? Where does Jurassic Park fit into the world of sci-fi? What question is at the heart of Michael Crichton's classic book? How do the book and movie differ in a key way?
Take a peek at my novels, which have definitely been influenced by Crichton: https://www.mikelwisler.com/books-etc
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mikeljwisler/support2020-12-1141 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions007 The Arecibo Collapse - I need some hopeful Sci-Fi right about nowI light of the tragic collapse of the large radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory, I'm needing a bit of a pick-me-up. It can be quite difficult as a science fiction author to remain hopeful about human progress when we allow such an amazing tool for scientific discovery to literally fall apart. In this episode, I go digging for some suggestions on hopeful sci-fi books and movies to check out. Along the way, I notice an interesting trend.
Check out the Votary Films podcast I was a guest on, and which I mention in this episode: https...2020-12-0344 min
Votary PodcastEpisode 6: Mikel WislerEpisode 6 of the Votary Podcast features Mikel Wisler - a long time Votary crew member, author, filmmaker, editor, science fiction lover, and host / creator of the Exploring Tomorrow Podcast. In this episode we basically all end up riffing on sci-fi that we love, why it tends to have some stigma around it as a genre, and what we can learn from great science fiction stories.
Listen to his podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exploring-tomorrow-meaningful-science-fiction-lifes/id1539043725
Watch Videos here - https://www.youtube.com/user/MikelCulchie
Purchase Mikel Wisler's books here...2020-12-0254 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions006 Valerie Valdes - Chilling Effect and Prime DeceptionsWhen I first heard of Valerie Valdes' Latinx Space Opera novel, called Chilling Effect, I just had to check it out. Now that the sequel, Prime Deceptions, is out too, of course I had to dive in and continue soaking in Valdes' interstellar, off-beat, hilarious and yet heart-felt saga. Plus, there're psychic kittens. So there's that. In this episode, I explore what has drawn me into reading Valdes' sci-fi and why I think you should read her fantastic novels too. Learn more about Valerie Valdes by visiting her site http://candleinsunshine.com/
Wanna keep up with my...2020-11-2628 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions005 Andrew Gilbert - Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and How Playing D&D is Good For UsWhy do Sci-Fi and Fantasy get lumped together? Should they be lumped together? In this episode, I bring an old friend and Fantasy expert Andrew Gilbert. From his work teaching humanities and philosophy at Colorado University to playing D&D on his podcast with Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings, Lost) Gilbert knows a thing or two about Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and how we become better people through creating narratives together.
Be sure to check out his D&D Podcast, Goats and Dragons.
On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/goats-dragons-a-dungeons-dragons-podcast/id1459452748
On...2020-11-191h 09Exploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions004 The Martian - Problem Solving is a Super PowerWhy is The Martian a breath of fresh air to sci-fi? Is it really a love letter to science? Who's the bad guy in this story?
This novel and movie helped me survive one of the toughest seasons of my life. Why is that? Well, let me tell you all about it and why I keep coming back to the character of Mark Watney as a role model for perseverance and creative problem solving.
Adam Savage interviews Andy Weir: https://youtu.be/5SemyzKgaUU
Adam Savage, Astronaut Chris Hadfield, and Andy Weir Q&A...2020-11-1347 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions003 Arrival - Time and Living Moment by MomentLet's dive into one of the best science fiction movies ever made, Arrival. It's parallel stories unfolding outside of linear time give us a lot to unpack as I reflect on why it meant so much to me to see this film the moment it came out and dive into why it remains utterly relevant in uncertain times. What will we let dictate our choices? Fear? Love? Let's discuss.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mikeljwisler/support2020-11-0644 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions002 Contact - Science, Religion, and the Scale of the UniverseHow can a novel written by a scientist during the Cold War still be so moving and incredible? How could it give birth to a lasting science fiction movie that has aged well? Let's dive into Carl Sagan's "Contant." This authentically rendered exploration of humans coming into contact with intelligent life from beyond our solar system was one of the first profoundly philosophical movies to make a lasting mark on my soul. Let's dig into why that is and why we need more stories like "Contact" in our current age of political and religious divisiveness. What can we learn from...2020-11-0551 minExploring Tomorrow: Meaningful Science Fiction and Life's Big Questions001 Annalee Newitz - Autonomous & The Future of Another TimelineLet's explore the first two novels by Annalee Newitz. From a big-pharma-controlled futuristic world with autonomous robots to a twisted tale of time travel, Newitz is a fresh voice in science fiction literature that is worth check out. Whether addressing corporate greed, ethical questions around human-robot coexistence, or giving us a deep glimpse into a world reshaped by those who would subjugate and silence women, Newitz books are rich with themes worth exploring.
Read more at www.mikelwisler.com.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mikeljwisler/support2020-11-0420 min
Discover Top Full Audiobooks in Science Fiction & Fantasy, ParanormalUnidentified by Mikel J WislerPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/422130to listen full audiobooks.
Title: Unidentified
Author: Mikel J Wisler
Narrator: Kate Paulsen
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 5 hours 52 minutes
Release date: February 19, 2020
Genres: Paranormal
Publisher's Summary:
Troubled FBI agent Nicole Mitchell just got a second chance to solve her most haunting case.Mitchell is brought back from administrative leave when a disturbing series of kidnappings terrifies a small town. She is certain that a serial kidnapper is exploiting local fears of UFOs and stories of alien abductions to hide in plain sight. Desperate to uncover the truth, Mitchell enlists the help of a skeptic...2020-02-195h 52
Discover the Best Audio Stories in Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science FictionUnidentified by Mikel J WislerPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/422130 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Unidentified Author: Mikel J Wisler Narrator: Kate Paulsen Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 5 hours 52 minutes Release date: February 19, 2020 Genres: Science Fiction Publisher's Summary: Troubled FBI agent Nicole Mitchell just got a second chance to solve her most haunting case.Mitchell is brought back from administrative leave when a disturbing series of kidnappings terrifies a small town. She is certain that a serial kidnapper is exploiting local fears of UFOs and stories of alien abductions to hide in plain sight. Desperate to uncover the truth, Mitchell enlists the help of...2020-02-1905 min
Get Best Free Audiobooks in Mystery, Thriller & Horror, SuspenseUnidentified by Mikel J WislerPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/422130 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Unidentified Author: Mikel J Wisler Narrator: Kate Paulsen Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 5 hours 52 minutes Release date: February 19, 2020 Genres: Suspense Publisher's Summary: Troubled FBI agent Nicole Mitchell just got a second chance to solve her most haunting case.Mitchell is brought back from administrative leave when a disturbing series of kidnappings terrifies a small town. She is certain that a serial kidnapper is exploiting local fears of UFOs and stories of alien abductions to hide in plain sight. Desperate to uncover the truth, Mitchell enlists the help of a...2020-02-1905 min
Sci-Fi Saturday NightTalkCast 350 – George O’Connor at the PKD Film FestivalHealed
When one of our friends has a showing of his short film at The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival, Its really time to celebrate. This ‘cast is a celebration with George for the inclusion of his film Healed in the festival. It will be shown Monday May29th. at 2pm in The Courthouse Theater venue. We talk about everything about the film, the festival, his Metal Band and buying tin futures in Sri Lanka. We are all so happy for his success and also his impending inclusion in the SFSN 5 Timers Club.
Geor...2017-05-2100 min
The Studio Cellar4-8-2013 - Work Flow With Special Guest Mikel WislerThe Studio Cellar welcomes filmmaker Mikel Wisler as we dive into media workflow. Jim and Tom talk about some helpful tips when tackling workflow and Mikel talks a bit about his personal projects, past, present, and future!2013-04-0840 min
The Studio Cellar4-8-2013 - Work Flow With Special Guest Mikel WislerThe Studio Cellar welcomes filmmaker Mikel Wisler as we dive into media workflow. Jim and Tom talk about some helpful tips when tackling workflow and Mikel talks a bit about his personal projects, past, present, and future!
Mikel WislerStories By The RiverThe River Film Forum2013-04-0800 min