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By Michelle Simone Miller
4.9
171171 ratings
The podcast currently has 138 episodes available.
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
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
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
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
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
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:
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
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:
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
Click here to join our Mailing list.
B-roll Videos: Edited byGetty Video @ Getty Images
"Sacramento" Premiere - 2024 Tribeca Festival (EPK Clips HD)
Video Available on Spotify.
This year, I achieved one of my goals of covering a Film Festival for my podcast.
I interviewed big actors, incredible filmmakers, Tribeca programmers, and enjoyed myself immensely.
In this special 4th Anniversary episode of Mentors on the Mic, I share:
• What made me feel more confident and relaxed at this Film Festival in comparison to others
• How I booked red carpets and big interviews with Lisa Edelstein, Margaret Cho, Gina Torres, Mark Duplass, Katie Aselton, Tim Blake Nelson, and more
• How I just missed interviewing Michael Cera and Jesse Tyler Ferguson
• My tips for anyone planning to attend a Film Festival
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
Video edited by Gideon Friedman
Susanne Scheel is a New York-based casting director with a Bachelor of Science in Film and Television from Boston University. Susanne has won three Casting Society of America Artios Awards for Excellence in Casting and has been nominated for nine more. Susanne has had the honor of collaborating with several visionary creatives including Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Frances McDormand, Barry Levinson, George Clooney, Kasi Lemmons, Ryan Murphy, Jim Mickle, Cherien Dabis, John Lee Hancock, Peter Chelsom, Celine Song, Dean Craig, Bjorn Runge, Xavier Manrique, Danya Taymor, Patrick Wilson, and Whitney White. She has worked for and with some of the industry’s top casting directors including spending the last ten years and counting working with Ellen Chenoweth.
As a casting director, Susanne’s debut feature film “The Wife”, starred Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce, Christian Slater, Annie Starke, Max Irons, Harry Lloyd, and Elizabeth McGovern. More recently, Susanne co-cast Celine Song’s “Past Lives” with Ellen Chenoweth. “Past Lives” premiered this year at the Sundance Film Festival and also screened at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival.
In this episode, we talk about:
• Her first casting internships in Boston and her first assistant role in LA
• Vivid memory of working with the Coen brothers and asking her “What do you think?”
• Going to LA for periods of time for a project and what coast she prefers
• Why there are more female CDs then male CDs
• Casting the Oscar-nominated film Past Lives and the challenges COVID and the time difference to Korea posed
• How many actors get called in for an average day player role
• Tips for actors for auditions
SAG-AFTRA Foundation panel - Casting Directors for Oscar Best Picture Nominees Barbie, American Fiction, & Past Lives
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
I had the opportunity to go LIVE on the RED CARPET at Tribeca for three movies. The first was interview the Duplass family for their film "Oh, Christmas Tree."
This 11 minute short film was shot in their cabin in upstate NY. It truly was a family affair, written by Mark Duplass to star in with his daughter Ora Duplass, and directed by Katie Aselton, Mark's wife and Ora's mom.
I asked them a couple of questions about shooting this short film and working together. It was Ora's first time in a film, so I asked her about her preparation for this role and whether it felt performative to ask with her Dad.
I also asked about advice for filmmakers. I truly found this particular short very inspiring. They shot this as a family, with only one extra person to record sound.
I was able to tie in a fun question at the end!
Synopsis: It’s been a bit of a year for 16 year-old Claire and her father Ben. All they really want to do is put it behind them. But Christmas is here and their silly holiday traditions are staring them dead in the face, practically taunting these
Mark Duplass - Mark is a filmmaker, actor, writer and musician. His credits include Bombshell, Safety Not Guaranteed, Tammy, The Mindy Project, and Charlie "Chip" Black on The Morning Show. Wikipedia IMDb
Katie Aselton - Katie is an actress, director and filmmaker. Her acting credits include Bombshell, The Morning Show, Old Dads, Veep, Book Club, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Host:
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
Click here to join our Mailing list.
Nicole Frail is a senior editor at Skyhorse Publishing, a traditional publishing company based in New York City. She has been with the company more than a decade and currently works on both adult and children's titles in both fiction and nonfiction categories. She has worked with debut authors and illustrators, as well as New York Times bestsellers, James Beard Award winners, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musicians.
In this episode, we talk about:
• Getting a full time publishing internship in NY from outside the city
• What goes into the role of an editorial assistant and getting that promotion only a couple of weeks into her internship
• Whether it's important to have challenging words in books for that age range
• What makes Skyhorse different from other publishing houses
• How long it will take an author to see their book printed through traditional publishing (often 12-18 months) but that Skyhorse can get it out faster in certain instances
• Advice to promote your book and whether they look for a high social media following and engagement
• If it’s worth getting illustrations for your book when submitting
• Self publishing vs traditional publishing
• Advice to authors for querying including synopsis, log line, and bio (why are you coming to me in first paragraph) and comparative title advice
*Note: We recorded this episode a few months ago. As of July 3rd, 2024, Nicole is no longer at Skyhorse. She is devoting her time to her small business, Nicole Frail Edits.
Guest:
Website
Contact Nicole Frail
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
Click here to join our Mailing list.
The podcast currently has 138 episodes available.
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