Shows
Mischief and MasteryMake the Set Safe First | George Ellzey Jr. on Creative Burnout, Boundaries, and Leading with CareWhat 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...2025-05-131h 03Mischief and MasteryThe Joke That Scares You | Rey Tang on Risk, Recognition, and Writing Toward SurpriseWhat 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 Hollyw...2025-05-0858 minMischief and MasteryYou Are the Infrastructure: Remsy Atassi on Indie Film, Audience Building, and Real-World DIYWhat 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, ju...2025-05-061h 00Mischief and MasteryWhat Does Your Voice Sound Like? Tim Corpus on Creating and Composing Music Without Losing YourselfWhat 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 Kenn...2025-05-0158 minMischief and MasteryWhen Showing Up Feels Pointless, Do It Anyway | Jorge Salas on Auditions, Adaptability, and Building the Work Brick by BrickWhat 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...2025-04-2951 minMischief and MasteryFollow the Butterfly | Alex Rembold on Quitting the Job, Starting the Jam, and Finding Joy in the WeirdWhat 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 Seco...2025-04-2448 minMischief and MasteryYou Don’t Have to Wait to Be Professional | Madelynn Wierda on Trusting Yourself Before They Tell You You’re ReadyWhat 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...2025-04-2252 minMischief and MasteryWhat If Story Didn’t Require Conflict? Donald Conley on Empathy, Tension Without Trauma, and Stories Without VillainsWhat 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 Ab...2025-04-1756 minMischief and MasteryThe Film Stalled—Then We Started Over | Cassidy Tee & Kristina Mercado on First ChairWhat 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 ind...2025-04-1547 minMischief and MasteryLet the First Pancake Burn | Emma Palizza on Starting Messy and Laughing AnywayEmma 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 compan...2025-04-1050 minMischief and MasteryYou Don’t Need Permission | Shane Dresch on Making It Work Without a Big Budget, a Full Crew, or a Perfect PlanBefore 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...2025-04-0857 minMischief and MasteryWhat If You Didn’t Push So Hard? Elissa Wolf on Curiosity, Casting, and Letting the Work BreatheWhat 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...2025-04-0347 minMischief and MasteryArmin Korsos on Momentum, Documentaries, and Saying Yes Too Soon (On Purpose)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...2025-04-0140 minMischief and MasteryThe Premiere’s Over | Jon Silver on Burnout, Festivals, and Letting GoWhat 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 Sho...2025-04-0157 minMischief and MasteryNobody Prepares You for This Part: Imani Davis on Finishing a Film, Podcasting and Figuring Out the RestSo 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-ev...2025-04-0150 minMischief and MasteryWelcome to Mischief & Mastery with Mishu HilmyCreativity 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.comEmail us anytime at podcast@ohhmaybe.com and follow us @mischiefpod2025-03-2002 min
Hit the Mark!Episode 27: Mishu HilmyPART 2 OF THE BEST FRIEND SERIES. Mishu Hilmy and Mark met back in 301 at UCB and have been absurdly great friends immediately. And they are quite different but are total peas in a pod. We talk about Purpose, journals, and soothsayers. This is a great one with some fun conflict2012-12-281h 06