Mentors on the Mic: Your guide to pursuing a career in the Entertainment industry

Jonathan Mason is a Theatrical or legit agent at Don Buchwald & Associates in NY (film, TV, and theater). In addition to celebrity clients, he also represents actors in some of your favorite television shows, streaming shows, and films. Buchwald is a top tier bi coastal agency with name recognition, offering representation in commercial, print, digital, branded lifestyle, film, TV, theater, literary, social media influencers, and voiceover.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The incredible journey Jonathan took to get to Buchwald, including working as a PA, Background Artist, Assistant at Channel 5 News, Finance, and Casting

• Why our previous Mentor, Kim Graham, is an integral part of his story

• Working at Channel 5 News during the OJ Simpson Trial

• Tips from Don Lemon in the 90s

• Rising from Intern to Agent in 2 years

• Why he was considered "too old" to work as a Casting Assistant or an Agent's Assistant and how he pushed his way through

• Starting in your 30s in a new position in Entertainment and how to pivot

• How Buchwald currently submits actors on their roster

• How and when he pitches his actors

• The biggest lesson I learned from Jon which got me paid

• What he looks for in actors who come in (What CDs does he know, footage, cd recommendations)

• What’s he's seeing now and where he’s seeing production pick up

Resources:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/agentdbamason?lang=en

Buchwald Website: https://www.buchwald.com/

Recommendation: If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.12 with Casting Associate of Homeland, Kim Graham.

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

Kim Graham has been the Associate Casting Director for the Emmy award winning casting office of Judy Henderson Casting since 2003. She casts for Film, TV, Commercials, Theater, and more. Most notably, Kim cast all seasons of Showtime's critically acclaimed, award-winning Homeland, starring Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin. She has also been an independent Casting Director on numerous projects.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How she toured opera as a competitive singer and why she quit

• Her journey from casting intern to associate

• Being introduced to one of her icons, Julie Andrews

• What she pulled from her waitressing experiences to casting projects

• What it was like to cast Homeland with actors from all over the world

• Casting me in Homeland and why my episode's storyline was so memorable

• Great advice for actors including how to approach auditions, how to approach Co-stars vs bigger roles, advice on how to slate and more

• What advice she would tell her younger self about auditioning

• Answers some of your questions posted on Social Media including: What's the best way for a post grad to get out there? What agents does she usually see actors from? What are bad habits of actors she most commonly sees at auditions?

Resources:

Website: https://www.kimberlygraham.net/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-graham-6953697/

Condensed On Camera Intensive class: https://www.kimberlygraham.net/events/condensed-on-camera-intensive

Contact Kim for additional info on classes: https://www.kimberlygraham.net/

Recommendation: If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.13 with Talent Agent Jon Mason at Buchwald Agency.

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

Matt Witten is a Playwright, Novelist, TV writer, and Teacher. He started writing plays, with The Deal winning a Clauder Playwriting Competition in 1989.  He's written four novels starring amateur sleuth Jacob Berns, include Breakfast at Madeline's, Grand Delusion, Strange Bedfellows, and The Killing Bee. His next book, The Necklace is coming out next year with his book already optioned by a huge production company.  He's written for a long list of Television shows, including Law & Order, House, Medium, Supernatural, Pretty Little Liars, CSI Miami, Women's Murder Club, JAG, and more. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• How he got his first literary and TV agent, with substantive tips for unrepresented writers

• A trick that helped him in his pitch meeting for Law & Order

• How a writer's room works for a Television show and the importance of a RBI

• Hierarchy of a writer's room

• Whether actors inspire writers and whether writers write with an actor (or someone) in mind

• How he went from tv show to tv show and what the hardest part of his tv career was

• What he liked about writing for Pretty Little Liars and why it was different than writing for other shows

• Some advice for actors, including what he looks for in casting the roles he writes for (what stands out)

• His new book The Necklace coming out next year and what big production company has already optioned the movie rights

Check out our Facebook page for more of Matt's episode!

He answers the questions:

1. What are his thoughts on TV writing Fellowships and Festivals?

2. When writing a script, do you go with your gut or what you think people want to hear?

3. How do you approach writing for women?

Resources:

Website: https://mattwittenwriter.com/

Wikipedia for Matt Witten: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Witten

Books: https://www.amazon.com/Matt-Witten/e/B00AG1DXKW%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0936976/

Recommendation: If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.18 with Executive Producer and TV Writer David Grae (Madam Secretary, Joan of Arcadia, Without a Trace, Gilmore Girls)

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

Ron West is a co-founder and principal of Thruline Entertainment, a prominent Management and Production company. Thruline manages incredible actors and writers including Oscar Winner Alison Janney, Eric Stonestreet, Michael Cera, Sarah Silverman, Rob Estes, Lindsay Sloane, Annie Mumolo (Bridesmaids), six time Emmy award winner Barry Julien, director Zak Hilditch (1922), and more. Many Thruline clients have been honored with nominations and wins at the Academy Awards, BAFTAs, Golden Globes, the Emmy Awards, Tonys, Writers/Directors/Screen Actors Guild Awards, and The Grammys, to name a few. As a production company, Thruline produced 'The Great' on Hulu (Starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult), Steven Soderbergh's new Quibi show 'Wireless,' the hit USA dramedy 'Psych,' to name a few.

In this episode, we talk about:

•  Starting in the Mailroom at ICM Agency, including driving around a young Natalie Portman and her mother to different Studios

•  Becoming an agent after only 1 year and 9 months, followed by VP, Head of Television Talent at ICM (youngest Agency dept head)

• Why he decided to create Thruline Entertainment with his partners

• What makes a good Agent, why he was good at it, and why he likes being a Manager instead

•  Why he decided to create Thruline Entertainment with his partnerss being a Manager instead

•  How much, on average, he devotes to management, administrative, development and reading scripts

•  How he decides what productions and scripts to work on

•  How he stood out at ICM

•  What makes him different as a Manager and then how he attracts the sort of clients that he wants

Resources:

Website: https://thruline.com/

Trailer for 'The Great' on Hulu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJGedvRfHYg

Trailer for 'Wireless' on Quibi: https://www.looper.com/243703/wireless-trailer-teases-steven-soderberghs-quibi-thriller/

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1930137/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1

Recommendation: If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.1 with Emmy winning Producer and Director Stan Brooks.

Host:

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com

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

Kristin Hanggi is a Theater, Television, and Film Director, as well as a Writer, Teacher, and poet. She is well known for directing and developing the international smash-hit Rock of Ages, which received five Tony Award nominations. Kristin was only 31 when she received her Tony Nomination for Best Direction of a Musical. Since then, she traveled the world directing productions of Rock of Ages all over the world. Recently, she has directed Episode 6 of Julie and The Phantoms, which came out on Netflix last week, Thursday, September 10th. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• The story of how she got the call that she was on the list of possible directors for Julie and The Phantoms while on vacation in Italy (including a zoom interview with Netflix and call with Kenny Ortega)

• Stories about how she would get the resources to put together a production without a high budget

• Her experience directing Pussycat Dolls at The Roxy at 24, with celebrities like Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera, and Charlize Theron

• How she started having ideas for a musical about rock and roll (which led into Rock of Ages)

• The craziest weekend that involved a breakup, funding falling through for a show, and a call that started Rock of Ages

• Creating during the pandemic

• How it felt to be nominated for a Tony award for Best Director

• How she manifested people and opportunities in her life

• What realization propelled her to directing more film

Resources: 

Kristin's Instagram and Twitter: @hanggiLove 

Website: https://www.kristinhanggi.com/ 

Create Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1075015782555354 

Pre-order Kristin's book - https://www.amazon.com/God-Sex-Musical-Theatre-Meditations/dp/194934228X 

Julie and The Phantom on Netflix - https://www.netflix.com/title/80230534 

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1539392/ 

Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristin_Hanggi 

Recommendation: If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.21 with TV Director Linda Mendoza (Scrubs, The Good Place, Yearly Departed, Black-ish).

Host: 

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller 

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM 

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com 

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

Serena Kerrigan, also known as Serena F*cking Kerrigan, SFK, and “The Queen of Confidence,” does not wait for someone to give her a role, she creates that role for herself. This incredibly popular Content Creator, video producer, and Confidence Coach has amassed an engaged and loyal following of 70k+ on Instagram and 150k+ on Tik Tok. Only a few months ago, she created, produced, and hosted Let’s F*cking Date, the first reality show on Instagram Live, which The Today Show called a "Must Watch" and Guest of a Guest called "Better than the Bachelor."

Please note that is episode is explicit and has some cursing.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Where and how she came up with her SFK persona

•  Where and how she came up with her SFK personaDate, which starts on Wednesday, September 9th

•  How she grew her loyal and engaged social media following

•  Creating massive amounts of content while at Refinery 29, including the first bilingual show Celebrando with Serena series and later, the Ask Serena series

•  The story behind when she knew she had to leave her job at Refinery 29

•  How she auditioned for her first job as the voice of a character on Go, Diego, Go! on a voicemail

•  Whether she would ever think about making her own kid’s show

• The incredible diversity portrayed in Children’s programming and why it’s important to have authentic casting

•  Manifesting all of her success and why it’s important to be confident and say your dreams aloud

•  The incredible advice she got from her father about creating her own opportunities

•  Tips for how to build your Confidence

•  What she tells herself after losing out on a personal or professional opportunity

Resources:

Website: https://www.serenakerrigan.com/

Instagram: @SerenaKerrigan @Letsfuckingdate

Book a Coaching Session with Serena: https://square.site/book/857PGFV26S609/sfk-lfg

Pre-Order her Let's F*cking Date Card game: https://letsfuckingdate.com/products/card-game

Recommendation: If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.19 with E! Correspondent and Host of Rotten Tomatoes and Dodger Stadium.

Host:

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com

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

Arun Narayanan is an Editorial Analyst of Metadata Research and Development at Netflix. He started as an intern for Avi Arad Productions and Michael De Luca Productions while getting his Masters in Film and Television Productions at USC. After many freelance jobs including Background work, quality control for DVDs, media technician work, editing, production, and writing, Arun has always aspired for balance between his practical and creative pursuits. Now he splits his time between his career at Netflix and his writing.

In this episode, we talk about: 

• How he collected, categorized and analyzed metadata for Disney (including Star Wars and Marvel movies, Black-ish, Greys Anatomy, etc) 

• What is metadata and tagging and how do large Networks like Disney and Netflix utilize it? 

• What he is currently working on at Netflix 

• His short film at USC called Jonas and the Machine with Robert Funke (writer/creator for On Becoming a God in Central Florida starring Kirsten Dunst) 

• Cool internships with Avi Arad Productions (The Amazing Spiderman, Iron Man, X Men) and Michael De Luca (The Social Network, Captain Phillips, Moneyball) *** I'd like to clarify here that although he was an intern for Michael de Luca during the time of filming Captain Phillips, he did not work on it, as I refer to in the episode.

• Writer of the Movie TIME CAPSULE with PixL featuring Reginald VelJohnson and Chris Kattan 

• His awesome web series Arun Considers 

• How he hated his first job at Pepsi Co, despite the great pay and company car 

• What he learned from the MFA program at USC 

• How he got his agent 

Resources: 

Arun's Instagram and Twitter: @arunconsiders 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arunconsiders 

Website: https://www.arunconsiders.com/ 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/narayananarun/ 

Jonas and the Machine: https://vimeo.com/40645082 

Pork Fried Rice: https://vimeo.com/33809973 

Occupied:  https://vimeo.com/34244232 

*** CORRECTION - In the Intro, I referred to Arun as the 'human behind the algorithm' and that 'he and his team' work at Netflix. I would like to make it extremely clear that Arun is 'one of the humans behind the algorithm' and he is 'part of a team.'

Recommendation: If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.6 with VP of Content Acquisitions and Co-productions at Cartoon Network and Boomerang.

Host: 

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller 

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM 

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com 

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

Adina Pitt is the Vice President of Content Acquisitions and Co Productions at Cartoon Network and Boomerang. She started as a PA on a movie in Puerto Rico, moving her way through wonderful internships and a Masters in Early Childhood Development and Educational Communication and Technology from NYU. This proved perfect for her goal to work in Children’s Entertainment. After 10 years at Nickelodeon, Adina found her home at Cartoon Network.

In this episode, we talk about: 

• The difficult process of getting that first paying job 

• Why she decided to get her Masters 

• Why she stayed in NY after grad school (as opposed to returning to Puerto Rico) 

• What is programming acquisitions and how she got into it 

• How she looks at content and what makes shows specific or differential for the Network 

• Working at Nickelodeon for 10 years 

• Discussion of why reboots are so meaningful and popular 

• Gender disparity in the workplace and the importance of women supporting women 

• Advice on Networking and acquiring Mentors 

• Evolution of Children’s programming in Puerto Rico 

• What she misses most about working in her office 

• Working on the music cue sheets for Degrassi or proposals for Arthur 

• Filling live audiences for Where in the World is Carmen San Diego 

Resources: 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adina-pitt-4a86334/ 

Recommendation: If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.7 with Writer and Editorial Analyst at Netflix.

Host: 

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller 

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM 

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com 

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

David Pepose is a Ringo award-winning Graphic Novelist, sporting two successful Comic Book series "Spencer and Locke" and "Going to the Chapel." He started out as a Temp at DC Entertainment, before transitioning to a Literary Assistant at Heroes and Villains Entertainment and writing Reviews for Newsarama (the ESPN of Comics). He also learned a lot from his time writing press releases at CBS about what it means to have a slow build as a writer. David takes us in on the exciting world of Comic Books, complete with his first experience at Comic Con and getting optioned very quickly into the launch of Spencer and Locke (film rights).

In this episode, we talk about:

• How he sold his first graphic novel "Spencer and Locke"

• An exclusive first look at his upcoming new series The O.Z.  + Kickstarter bit.ly/TheOZComic

• His first experience at Comic Con

• The initial rejections of his comic book, including "This is the best pitch we'll never publish"

• The Production of Comic Books, as well as the breakdown of the different markets

• How writing press releases for CBS and comic reviews for Newsarama helped him with writing his books

• Some of the great incentives his kickstarter is offering

• Little teaser for future of film or additional adaptations

• The fun story behind the inspiration of his second series, Going to the Chapel

• Being nominated for Ringo Awards against the heavy hitters of the industry (achievement in comic books)

• How he got his first illustrator

• Breaking 400+ pages of comics scripts written this year

Resources:

David's Instagram and Facebook: @davidpeposecomics

Twitter: @peposed

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peposed/

bit.ly/TheOZComic

Recommendation: If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.11 with TV Writer and Novelist Matt Witten.

Host:

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com

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

Kerri Berney is currently the Director of Multi-platform and Strategic Research at NBCUniversal Media. Kerri is a badass career woman who has worked in several areas of the Television industry including production, public relations, development, and at a literary agency. She shares with us her journey from an intern for Stan Brooks (Episode 1), to a Literary Assistant at Dytman & Associates, to Scholastic Entertainment, to Sony Pictures Television, to Oxygen Media Network, to VH1/VH1 Classic/CMT, to her current home at NBC.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The responsibilities of a Director of Multi-platform and Strategic Research at NBC

• How she landed her first internship at Once Upon a Time Films for Stan Brooks

• Shutting down her life in LA to drive cross country alone for a job at Scholastic Entertainment

• Working Comic Con - How she took the initiative to read and pitch comic books

• Making the decision to go back to school to get her Masters in TV-Radio-Film at Syracuse

• Starting her first real job in Research at Oxygen Media Network

• Attending the Glee Concert with the Network Executives

• Having to try out for her position when the company was taken over

• Thoughts on the future of Television 

Resources:

Kerri's instagram: @newyorkerinewyork @klberney

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerri-berney-718137/

Recommendation: If you like this episode, check out Episode 1.10 with Hollywood Producer and Manager Ron West.

Host:

Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller

Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM

Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com

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