Sandy Vee is a Grammy winning French Producer, selling over 120 million singles and records worldwide. He won a Grammy for Rihanna’s first single “Only Girl (In the World)," which debuted at #1 on the top of the U.S.A. Digital Song chart and Billboard Hot 100. It marked the latest career plateau for French producer/songwriter Sandy Vee’s meteoric rise to the top of the pop charts. The song has gone on to hit #1 all over the world as well as reaching gold status in Belgium and Platinum in the (4x) Australia, UK, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, (2x) Sweden, (2x) Switzerland. He was also nominated for Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream for Album of the Year.

In 2011, he was #6 on MusicWeek's Top 40 Songwriters of Quarter 1

In this episode, we talk about:

•  Working with David Guetta on his album One Love

•  Co-produced Rihanna’s “Only Girl in the World” and Katy Perry’s “Firework”

•  Winning a Grammy for Best Dance Recording at the 2011 Grammy Awards for Only Girl in the World and being nominated for Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream for Album of the Year.

• Working with will.i.am ("On the Dancefloor") Akon ("Sexy Chick"), Katy Perry, Sean Kingston, Ne-Yo ("Beautiful Monster"), Britney Spears ("Selfish") with production credits for records with Taio Cruz, Pitbull, Selena Gomez…

• Tips for Songwriters and Producers

• Dealing with the panic attacks after all of his success and what measures he took to change his life

• How long it takes him to make a hit song

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Host:

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle

Winter Dunn is an award winning producer, director and actress. She produced Numa Perrier’s debut feature film, JEZEBEL which premiered at SXSW 2019 and was awarded Best Narrative Feature at the American Black Film Festival that same year. JEZEBEL has been acquired by Ava DuVernay and is currently streaming on Netflix.

Previously, Winter served as a producer / director for media maven Condé Nast Entertainment. Her celebrity video features for Vanity Fair, Vogue, Architectural Digest, GQ, Allure and other media brands have garnered over 60 million views and counting.

Most recently, Dunn directed season one of SoulPancake, Overbrook and 206 Productions’ upcoming docuseries, “All Her with Angela Rye'' for Quibi. Check out Winter Dunn Productions’ debut film, JUNEBUG, which premiered at the 2020 American Black Film Festival, streaming on FoxSoul and Tubi.

She is a 2021 Project Involve Directing Fellow with Film Independent.

In this episode we talk about: 

•  Landing her first PA gig for a Black independent production company 

•  The making of Jezebel from concept and production, to post and delivery 

•  Manifesting Netflix and SXSW for Jezebel, including what it was like when Ava Duvernay's distribution company ARRAY acquired the film in January 2020 and released it on Netflix.  

•  Going to SXSW and how the Jezebel team set themselves apart to sold out theaters 

•  Learning how to be a producer 

•  Working at Conde Nast and understanding how to execute specific brand voices (including her work with Kim and Kanye (Architectural Digest), Billie Eillish (Vanity Fair's: Same Interview, The Third Year), and more. 

•  How creating web series content evolved into creating longer form series and features 

•  Authentic portrayals of POC and the importance of telling Black stories by Black voices 

•  Her thoughts on being a Directing Fellow with Film Independent 

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Host: 

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller 

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM 

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic 

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle

Bob Ellis is an American music executive and manager who has worked with musicians including Billy Preston, Chaka Khan, Meat Loaf, Rufus, Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood and many others. Bob joins the show to spill about the music industry and how social media has impacted the industry and music quality. Stay tuned in to hear the crazy story of how Bob and Michelle met!

In this episode, we talk about:

•  Meeting and representing Billy Preston while working at a PR agency

•  The story behind Rufus and Chaka Khan’s “Tell Me Something Good”

•  Opening Woody’s club that gave a stage to Spin Doctor, Dave Matthews, Red Hot Chili Peppers and other timeless artists in their early days

•  The evolution of music and how technology and Tik Tok has changed tour life and the music industry

•  Producing Chef Roblé and other shows

•  Being in the right place at the right time

•  How to manage different talent personalities

Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Ellis_Silberstein

Host:

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle

Jay Francis is the Vice President of Current Series and Diversity and Inclusion at Disney Television Animation. He has over 15 years’ experience in managing the creative direction of series’ production, and has worked on award winning shows including Phineas and Ferb, Big City Greens, and Amphibia. Jay plays an important role in driving the push for more authentic storytelling that represents the world in which we live.

In this episode we talk about:

•  The key to a great pitch

• Transitioning from independent animation production to recruitment for primetime animation television

•  How accessible a career in animation can be

•  Working for Disney and how the company has embraced Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in development

•  His first internship at a local ABC affiliate in Boston

•  His first animation internship at DIC Entertainment

•  Leaving his job to launch Little Gangster Entertainment

•  Animation networking opportunities for VO Actors, Animators and more

•  Finding a lucrative kickstart creating video games using what he learned from animation

•  The importance of diverse and authentic storytelling through animation

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-francis-81a3002

Host:

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM

Mentors on the Mic Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle

Jenny Ravitz is a NYC-based casting director at Jonathan Strauss Casting. She is currently casting shows including NBC's hit shows Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med. She has years of knowledge of the casting industry after working at some of the top casting offices in New York City. Jenny is here to share her journey and provide an inside look at what it is like to help create a Chicago universe that reaches over 8 million home viewers per episode.

In this episode, we talk about:

•  Finding her passion as a Casting Director through working as an Assistant Director

•  Working 80 hours a week while interning at Telsey + Company and Cindy Tolan casting offices and bartending at a local sports bar

•  The movie that connected Jenny and Michelle for the first time

•  The important role of identity, visibility, and authentic representation in casting

•  An inside look at how Jenny reviews auditions, makes selects, and presents an offer

•  How agent pitches can help or hurt an actor (and if she reads all of them!)

•  The benefit of self tapes over actor reels

•  Whether she likes slate shots

•  The national reach of the shows she casts

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5989503/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennyravitzcasting

If you like this episode, check out Episode 2.2 to hear about Emmy winning Casting Director Julie Schubert (The Departed, Marvel shows on Netflix, Devil Wears Prada, etc)

Host:

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM

Mentors on the Mic Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle

Chris Mann is a vocalist, musician, and actor who has performed as the lead in just under 700 shows of “The Phantom of the Opera” during his first major acting debut. He got fourth place on The Voice in 2012 and has continued to soar through the music industry with Billboard charting releases of his studio albums Roads, Constellation, and his most recent release, Noise. Chris joins the show to share how he has achieved his success despite facing devastating setbacks along the way.

In this episode we talk about:

If you like this episode, check out Episode 2.1 to hear about Emmy nominated Musician and Composer Beau Black (Disney's The Lion Guard, The Mickey Show, etc)

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Mann_(singer)

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4985711/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3

Website: https://chrismannmusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialchrismann/?hl=en

Host:

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM

Mentors on the Mic Facebook page

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle

Jill Hoppenheim is the owner and creative director at Bagg Street Productions, an award winning creative content agency known for creating captivating marketing campaigns, branded content, and  scripted series for TV/Film including 24, Homeland, The Handmaid’s Tale, Glow, Family Guy and more. Jill has over ten year’s experience in entertainment marketing and breaks down her track to success.

In this episode we talk about:

If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.14 to hear about Award Winning Producer Damon Lee.

Resources:

Website: https://www.baggstreet.com/

Imdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1673836/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-hoppenheim/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baggstreet/

Host:

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM

Mentors on the Mic Facebook page

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle

13:57 starting a company is like a newborn you couldn’t take your eyes off of it

37:45 2 things that she learned and reminded and kept with her

38:38 your greatest thing as a producer to have is material. you have to love it

41:20 - be creative in pitching and getting meetings

Julie Schubert is an Emmy award-winning Casting Director. She has brought some of the best actors to beloved movies and shows. Some of her most notable credits include House of Cards, Daredevil, Luke Cage, Manifest, The Departed, The Devil Wears Prada, 50 Shades Darker, 50 Shades Freed and more. Julie has climbed the ladder from intern to director and is joining us to spill some of her secrets to success.

In this episode we talk about:

Resources:

IMDB

Emmy Awards and Nominations

If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.12 to hear about Casting Director Kim Graham (who cast me in SHOWTIME's Homeland)

Host:

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM

Facebook page Website Youtube

Beau Black is currently writing music for 3 shows and 2 TV Features for Disney. He is an Emmy nominated composer, songwriter, musician, voice actor, and producer.  

In this episode, we talk about:

•  Being nominated for a 2017 Daytime Emmy Creative Arts Award for composing the song “Sisi Ni Sawa” from The Lion Guard

•  Writing music for Commercials including m Commercials such as Aveeno (with Jennifer Aniston), Sally Hansen, HP, Google Play, Mercedes, Target, Samsung, McDonalds, Wendy’s

•  Working on music for Miles from Tomorrowland (opening song), Penn Zero: Part time Hero (composed with Ryan Shore), The Lion Guard —> went to Number 2 on Billboard’s Top Soundtrack Albums chart, Mickey and the Roadster Racers, The Rocketeer (2019 TV Series) 11 episodes, Mickey Mouse Mixed Up Adventures, Jake and the Neverending Pirates

•  Composing 93 songs for Disney's The Lion Guard

•  Music Video for theme song for The Lion Guard with over 9 million views

•  First album "Meant to Be"

•  Singing on stage for thousands as a kid with his Dad, Jay Black from Jay and the Americans (responsible for "This Magic Moment" and "Cara Mia")

Resources: 

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beau_Black

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6872541/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/beaublack5

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQt9M4E4nXA

Host:

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle