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

Live from two Red Carpets of the Hamptons International Film Festival 2026. In this episode, I’m joined by Director and Writer Tony Gilroy and Editor John Gilroy for ⁠Behemoth⁠! where we talk about their experience with music before working on this film, working with 9 different composers on this project and working to patch that into a cohesive story, and not being precious in the editing room. I also catch up with Director Ron Howard on the red carpet for Avedon,⁠ where I asked him about taking a lifetime of experiences in a subject like Avedon and forming one cohesive story. Basically, the theme is cohesion in storytelling. Special thank you to everyone involved at Frank Publicity for helping to make these red carpets happen. Time Stamps: 5:37 - Red Carpet Interview with Tony and John Gilroy 10:05 - Intro to Ron Howard on the red carpet 10:20 - Red Carpet Interview with Ron Howard Tony Gilroy is an acclaimed screenwriter, director and producer whose work spans film and television. He is the creator, writer and executive producer of Andor, the award-winning Star Wars series. His film credits include Michael Clayton, which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, the first three Bourne films, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Duplicity and State of Play. John Gilroy is an acclaimed film editor and producer whose work spans independent cinema, major studio films and television. His credits include Michael Clayton, Nightcrawler, The Bourne Legacy, Pacific Rim, Warrior, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Salt and Suicide Squad. He earned a BAFTA Award nomination for his editing of Michael Clayton and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Nightcrawler. Ron Howard is an Academy Award-winning director, producer and actor whose career spans more than six decades in film and television. He won Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture for A Beautiful Mind and is known for directing acclaimed films including Apollo 13, Frost/Nixon, Cinderella Man, Rush, Splash, Parenthood and The Da Vinci Code. As a child actor, he starred as Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show and later as Richie Cunningham on Happy Days. He co-founded Imagine Entertainment with producer Brian Grazer. Host: Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MentorsontheMic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @MichelleSimoneMiller⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MentorsontheMic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MichelleSimoneM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook page:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcasts/mentors-on-the-mic-your-guide-to-pursuing-a-career-in-the-entertainment-industry⁠⁠⁠ Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read BTS behind the carpet on our ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you like this episode, check out: Red Carpet: Jesse Eisenberg, John Tarturro and Noah Segan (Hamptons International Film Festival) Tribeca: Red Carpet w/ Dir. Alex Vlack, Producers Zach Spicer and Gordon Strain (Pigasus Pictures), Producers/Actors Fiona and Sophia Robert, actor Max Cortezi for the World Premiere of The Revisionist (Video on Spotify) Tribeca: Director and Writer Rob Burnett for World Premiere of IN MEMORIAM

Live from two Red Carpets of the Hamptons International Film Festival 2026. In this episode, I’m joined by actor John Turturro and director Noah Segan for The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, where we talk about the physicality of John’s role and how he approached bringing the character to life. I also catch up with Jesse Eisenberg on the red carpet for The Debut, where he discusses his experiences in the theater and what it was like to write from the perspective of a middle aged woman. Special thank you to everyone involved at Frank Publicity for helping to make these red carpets happen. Time Stamps: 5:07 - Red Carpet Interview with John Tarturro and Noah Segan 7:59 - Intro to Jesse Eisenberg from the Red Carpet 8:21 - Red Carpet Interview with Jesse Eisenberg Host: Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MentorsontheMic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @MichelleSimoneMiller⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MentorsontheMic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MichelleSimoneM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook page:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcasts/mentors-on-the-mic-your-guide-to-pursuing-a-career-in-the-entertainment-industry⁠⁠ Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read BTS behind the carpet on our ⁠Substack⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you like this episode, check out: Tribeca: Red Carpet w/ Dir. Alex Vlack, Producers Zach Spicer and Gordon Strain (Pigasus Pictures), Producers/Actors Fiona and Sophia Robert, actor Max Cortezi for the World Premiere of The Revisionist (Video on Spotify) Tribeca: Red Carpet w/ Actors Marc Maron, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Saydee Dickinson, Mila DeGray, Merrick Hanna and Composer Will Bates for the World Premiere of In Memoriam (Video on Spotify) Red Carpet with John Lithgow, Ken Burns, Lucas Hedges, Wendell Pierce, and Carolyn McCormick

Susannah Flood received a Tony nomination this season for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play, for her work starring in Liberation on Broadway. She reprised the role she originated Off-Broadway, where she received Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards as well as a Lortel Award nomination. The play also received the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Onscreen, she most recently delighted television audiences as Amy Schumer’s sister in two seasons on Hulu’s “Life & Beth”. Prior to that she was best known for playing fan-favorite Kate Littlejohn in two seasons of the Shondaland/ABC series “For the People.” In film, she can be seen in Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut “The Chronology of Water”. Most recently she shot a major recurring role in the  Netflix limited series “Rabbit Rabbit” opposite Adam Driver and Regina Hall. A fixture of the New York theatre scene, Susannah received an Obie Award as part of the cast of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ The Comeuppance at Signature Theatre. Other credits include David Cromer’s production of The Counter at Roundabout, the Broadway productions of Birthday Candles opposite Debra Messing and The Cherry Orchard,  Staff Meal (Playwright’s Horizons), Make Believe (Second Stage), Will Arbery's Plano (Clubbed Thumb), The Effect, Tribes (Barrow Street), Ivo Von Hove's Scenes From A Marriage, Love & Information (NYTW) and Mr. Burns (Playwrights Horizons). She will next return to the stage in a limited run starring in Marin Ireland’s critically-acclaimed Pre-Existing Condition Off-Broadway. In this episode, we talk about: • Susannah’s first role in the entertainment industry • Replacing an actor in Tribes at Barrow Street Theatre • Making the leap from Off Broadway to Broadway in The Cherry Orchard • Booking her first television role on Chicago Fire and having Casting Director Jonathan Strauss in the audience of her show • Becoming a series regular on Shonda Rhimes' For the People on ABC • Working with playwright Bess Wohl on Make Believe and Liberation • Connecting with an audience every night on Broadway • Approaching a role shared with other incredible actors like Lupita N'yongo, Edie Falco, Phillipa Soo, Hari Nef, and Whitney White in Pre-Existing Condition • How Susannah approaches a new character and script • Finding your strengths and instincts as an actor • Her upcoming Netflix project Rabbit, Rabbit Links to Georgia Oakley: ⁠⁠IMDb⁠⁠ ⁠Playbill ⁠⁠Wikipedia⁠ ⁠Susannah Flood's Instagram Buy tickets to see Pre-Existing Condition⁠ Host: Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MentorsontheMic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @MichelleSimoneMiller⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MentorsontheMic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MichelleSimoneM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook page:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcasts/mentors-on-the-mic-your-guide-to-pursuing-a-career-in-the-entertainment-industry⁠ Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you like this episode, check out: Becoming... Artios-winning Casting Director Karlee Fomalont ("A Complete Unknown," "Friends From College") Actors Kat Cunning and Connor Paolo for the film STAR PEOPLE Tribeca: Luke Kirby and Daniel Serafini-Sauli for World Premiere of Terror Keeps You Slender

Director Georgia Oakley brings a fresh take to Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles as sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. After their family loses its estate, the sisters navigate love, heartbreak and societal expectations while balancing reason and passion. Also starring Caitríona Balfe, George MacKay and Fiona Shaw, the film arrives in theaters October 16. Georgia Oakley (Director) Georgia Oakley is an award-winning writer and director. She most recently wrapped production on a new feature adaptation of Jane Austen’s SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles, George MacKay, Caitríona Balfe, Fiona Shaw, Herbert Nordrum, and Frank Dillane. Working Title and November Pictures produced the film for Focus Features. It is set to release theatrically in the US on October 16, 2026. Her debut feature Blue Jean had its world premiere at the 2022 Venice Film Festival where it won the People’s Choice Award and the Valentina Pedicini Award. Georgia was nominated for Best Debut at the BAFTAs for the film, and won the BIFA for Best Debut Screenwriter, one of four BIFAs Blue Jean was awarded. She was selected as a BAFTA Breakthrough that year. Georgia’s short films have screened at dozens of international festivals including SXSW, Tribeca, New York Film Festival, and Galway Film Fleadh. She has participated in talent development schemes including iFeatures, the BFI Flare & BAFTA mentorship scheme, where she was mentored by Desiree Akhavan, BFI Network x BAFTA Crew and the 2018 edition of Berlinale Talents. She is currently writing an original feature for BBC Film, as well as adapting two short stories: Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata for Tessa Ross/House Productions and Film4; and Pillory for Michael Parets/Sinestra and Fremantle. Links to Georgia Oakley: ⁠IMDb⁠ Website ⁠Wikipedia Sense and Sensibility Instagram Host: Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MentorsontheMic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @MichelleSimoneMiller⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MentorsontheMic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MichelleSimoneM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook page:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcasts/mentors-on-the-mic-your-guide-to-pursuing-a-career-in-the-entertainment-industry Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack: https://michellesimonemiller.substack.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you like this episode, check out: How to become a DIRECTOR (and other lessons from Season 1 Directors) Linda Mendoza - From page to Comedy TV/Film Director of Scrubs, The Good Place, and more Tribeca: Director and Writer Rob Burnett for World Premiere of IN MEMORIAM

Michelle sits down with Mackenzie Newcomb, founder of Bad Bitch Book Club, to talk about the Amazon adaptation of The Love Hypothesis and why the film worked so well for readers. They also dig into how Bad Bitch Book Club grew from a tiny Facebook group into a 50,000-member reading community with chapters, events, and retreats across North America. They discuss the business behind book clubs, what makes a romance adaptation succeed and which changes worked, and didn’t work, from page to screen. Mackenzie shares what she thinks made the movie such a strong adaptation, along with the book-to-screen projects she’s most excited about next. Key topics Mackenzie’s pivot from influencer and celebrity marketing at Petrosian Caviar to building Bad Bitch Book Club as a side project that became a full-time business. How hotel front-desk work taught her resilience and hospitality, while luxury-brand marketing shaped the club’s retreat experience. How Bad Bitch Book Club serves about 50,000 members through online book clubs, in-person city chapters, and monthly reading retreats. The club’s intentional growth, with community coordinators running local groups under clear guidelines and flexible expectations. How events are funded, including low-cost book swaps, publisher partnerships, and ticketed screenings. Why the adaptation of The Love Hypothesis captured the spirit of the book, including its chemistry, fake-dating trope, and key scenes readers were waiting for. Standout performances and the film’s handling of emotional beats and comedy. Meaningful book-to-screen changes, including Olive’s more grounded styling, Adam’s softer characterization, and visual storytelling that shows growth. What felt missing: some of Adam’s supporting relationships and a more satisfying confidence arc for Olive as she learns to advocate for herself. Why the book resonated with readers, including its accessibility, appeal to demisexual readers, and STEM romance setup. Upcoming adaptations Mackenzie is excited about, including projects from Kennedy Ryan, The Nightingale, and Fourth Wing. Resources & Links: ⁠More BTS from My Substack Connect with Mackenzie: Mackenzie's Instagram Bad Bitch Book Club's Instagram Bad Bitch Book Club Website Mackenzie Newcomb is the founder of Bad Bitch Book Club, a community of readers with over 50,000 members worldwide. Best known for their viral summer camp experience, BBBC has helped countless readers find friendship and connection through books. She lives in Manhattan with her husband, rescue dog, and three year old son, Sebastian.