Mentors on the Mic: Your guide to pursuing a career in the Entertainment industry
Michelle Simone Miller
Michelle Simone Miller
Join actress and host Michelle Simone Miller and hear from the most interesting people in Entertainment, as well as the inside scoop on all of your favorite films and TV shows. Each week Michelle talks to Directors, Producers, Network Execs, Actors and more, to learn how they started, how they moved up, and any tips they've learned along the way. Mentors on the Mic is the place to find Mentorship without having to ask for it.
Nov 10
Clayton Farris is a Los Angeles–based actor and writer whose sharp comedic instincts and grounded performances have made him a standout across screen and digital platforms. He’s appeared in acclaimed series like American Crime Story: Impeachment , 9-1-1: Lone Star , The Morning Show , and NCIS , while also building a cult following online through his dry humor and deeply relatable sketches. He stars alongside Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, and Julia Garner in Weapons , the highly anticipated thriller from Barbarian director Zach Cregger and A24. In this episode, we talk about: • Finding joy where you can and celebrating wins • Feeling aligned with what he’s doing and how he connects with that energy • His first professional job in LA was a McDonald's commercial. • Clayton's viral series 'The Rich Couple' started from observing real-life behaviors. • How creating his own work contributes to his approach to self tapes and booking • Advice to actors and how he approaches self tapes • How he works on his Tik Tok content and his process to creating short form content • Intense specificity is broad relatability • His thoughts on AI and the change in the industry • His weekly goal for social media • Lightning round including his favorite on set experience, favorite actor he’s worked with, favorite director, • His first professional job in LA was a McDonald's commercial. Guest: IMDb Tik Tok Instagram That One Rich Couple 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 If you like this episode, check out: Becoming... Actor and Director Ben Giroux (with 4.5 million Tik Tok followers) Becoming... Actress and viral Content Creator Courtney Michelle Dlugos (450k on TikTok w/ 20 mill likes)
Oct 27
The Ken Burns documentary series The American Revolution will premiere on PBS on November 16, 2025. This six-part, 12-hour series will explore the war for American independence from the perspectives of various individuals, including political leaders, soldiers, civilians, Native Americans, and enslaved people. These red carpet interviews were conducted by Annika Horne. Interviews include: Emmy-winning Actor John Lithgow (Conclave, Interstellar, Bombshell, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Dexter, The Crown) Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns (The Dust Bowl, The Central Park Five, Benjamin Franklin, The Civil War) Academy Award nominated actor Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea, Ben is Back, Boy Erased, Mid90s, Lady Bird) Award-winning Actor Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Treme, Suits, Selma, Horrible Bosses, Elsbeth) Actress Carolyn McCormick (Law & Order, Candlewood, Mapplethorpe) Ken Burns Website PBS: American Revolution 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 If you like this episode, check out: TRIBECA: Tim Blake Nelson, Andrew Liner and Vincent Grashaw for "BANG BANG" Tribeca: Live on the Red Carpet with the Showrunner, Director, and Actor of "Mother, May I Have a Kidney"
Aug 11
Colombian writer-director Jose Antonio Negret first made waves when his debut film TOWARDS DARKNESS premiered in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival. It starred America Ferrera, and was distributed by MGM. Negret was subsequently named by The Hollywood Reporter as one of their "Top 10 Latino Directors to Watch.' His follow-up was SECONDS APART, a supernatural thriller released by Lionsgate, which was followed by the action film TRANSIT, produced by Joel Silver and Dark Castle Entertainment. Most recently, Negret directed the car heist action/thriller OVERDRIVE starring Scott Eastwood and Ana de Armas (released by Paramount and produced by TAKEN helmer Pierre Morel). In addition to his feature film accomplishments, Negret is also a highly in-demand television director. An alumni of the Warner Brothers' Directing Workshop, Negret has directed episodes for series such as THE LINCOLN LAWYER (Netflix), HIGHTOWN (Starz), CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA (Netflix), PRODIGAL SON (Fox), NATIONAL TREASURE (Disney+), RIVERDALE (CW), MAGNUM PI (CBS), THE 100 (CW), SUPERGIRL (CW), LETHAL WEAPON (Fox), ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC), THE FLASH (CW), SCORPION (CBS), LA'S FINEST (Spectrum), MACGYVER (CBS), FOREVER (ABC), ARROW (CW), and JUST BEYOND (Disney +). Synopsis of SHAMAN - A missionary family travels to rural Ecuador to convert the indigenous population. All is going well until their son ventures into a forbidden local cave and comes back with a demonic spirit in tow. Candice (Sarah Canning) believes that an exorcism in the Catholic tradition will free her boy from the evil bonds that bind him. The local shamans know that this spirit is older than her religion and must be dealt with or the demon will take them all. Trailer Guest: IMDb Instagram 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 If you like this episode, check out: TRIBECA: Tim Blake Nelson, Andrew Liner and Vincent Grashaw for "BANG BANG" Becoming... Oscar Nominated Writer and Director Debra Granik ("Winter's Bone," "Leave No Trace," "Down to the Bone")
Aug 11
Adam Finberg's STAR PEOPLE starring actor and recording artist Kat Cunning (The Deuce, On Swift Horses), McCabe Slye (Destroyer, Fear Street Trilogy), Connor Paolo ( The Last Stop in Yuma County, Revenge, Gossip Girl), Eddie Martinez (The Sinner, Night Swim), Bradley Fisher (Westworld), and Adriana Aluna Martinez (Duster) will open in theaters July 25, with a VOD release to follow nationwide on all major platforms on August 12. Synopsis of STAR PEOPLE - On March 13, 1997, thousands of people in Arizona witnessed the largest mass UFO sighting in U.S. history—now famously known as The Phoenix Lights. Among them was 10-year-old Claire, who felt as if the lights called to her. Years later, Claire ( Kat Cunning ), now a photographer, is still chasing that moment, hoping to capture the lights on camera and finally make sense of what she saw. When a mysterious tip leads her deep into the Arizona desert during a deadly heatwave with her UFO streamer boyfriend ( Connor Paolo) and troubled brother ( McCabe Slye) in tow,they encounter a vulnerable immigrant family whose plight complicates her mission. As tensions rise, Claire searches for the answers she seeks on terra firma and among the stars. KAT CUNNING (CLAIRE) is a true multi-hyphenate—actor, writer, singer, songwriter, and director—whose range spans Broadway, immersive theater, film and television. They are known most recently for the role of Gail in ON SWIFT HORSES, (Jacob Elordi, Daisy Edgar Jones), Reina Rein in Rapsh!t (Issa Rae), and the Netflix hits, Purple Hearts (Nicholas Galitizine), and Trinkets. Cunning credits The Deuce (James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal) as their break-out role on screen, but their performance career began in concert dance, for which they hold a BFA from SUNY Purchase. As a musician, Cunning is known for their traffic stopping voice and LGBTQ advocacy. They areset to tour “Glass Jaw,” (their debut EP) this fall. CONNOR PAOLO (JUSTIN) can currently be seen in Francis Galluppi's award-winning film: THE LAST STOP INYUMA COUNTY and on the festival circuit in Vivian Kerr's feature: SEANCE and J. Zachary Thurman's: THE DEMON CORE. Upcoming films include Tyler Shields': CHAPTER 51, currentlyshowing in select IMAX screenings, and Kim Caicedo's debut feature: SHEEPWELL. Select past film work includes: AMBUSH, THE YOUNG WIFE, A CREATURE WAS STIRRING, FLOCK OF FOUR, the STAKE LAND films, SNOW ANGELS, ALEXANDER and MYSTIC RIVER. Select TV work includes: Revenge, Gossip Girl, Electric Dreams, Fire Country, The Resident and The Brave.Guest: Kat Cunning - Instagram Wikipedia Website IMDb Connor Paolo - Wikipedia Instagram 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 If you like this episode, check out: Tribeca: Luke Kirby and Daniel Serafini-Sauli for World Premiere of Terror Keeps You Slender Tribeca: Dir Jon S. Baird and Writer Steven Rogers for World Premiere of "Everything's Going to be Great"
Aug 4
Jessica Daniels is an Emmy and Artios Award-winning casting director for film and television, with credits including Will Trent, Dying for Sex, The 40-Year-Old Version, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, and 30 Rock. A New York native and former VP of Casting at Walt Disney Television Studios, she has spent over two decades championing talent. Jessica is passionate about storytelling and sees casting as an essential mechanism for shaping culture. In this episode, we talk about: • Introduction to Entertainment: Jessica Daniels began her career in the entertainment industry at Backstage Magazine, where she wrote and edited casting notices and conducted interviews. • Interest in Casting: Her interest in casting was piqued after creating a top 20 list of film casting directors, which led her to pursue a career in casting. • Career Path: Jessica transitioned from editorial work to becoming a casting assistant, eventually working on notable projects like "Garden State" and "The Carrie Diaries” (the latter she thought of as a breakthrough series for her). • Casting Philosophy: She emphasizes the importance of matching energies and representation in casting, often advocating for actors she believes in. • Challenges and Insights: Jessica discusses the fast-paced nature of casting, the importance of being prepared for pitch meetings, and the balance between casting known actors and discovering new talent. • Current Work: She is currently working on two feature films and preparing for the next season of "Will Trent." • Advice for Filmmakers: Jessica advises filmmakers to make roles appealing to actors and to consider hiring a casting director to open up the world of possibilities for their projects. • The High of Casting: When a difficult deal closes or she finds the right person for a role. • Auditions: The benefits of submitting early and whether it’s a necessity. • Lightning round: How to Deal, Garden State, Royal Pains, 30 Rock, Coach Carter, Will Trent, Elekra, Ice Princess, Single Drunk Female Guest: IMDb Linkedin Instagram 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 If you like this episode, check out: Becoming Casting Director Erica Hart ("THAT DAMN MICHAEL CHE," "GODFATHER OF HARLEM," "THE BOLD TYPE") Close Up with Casting Director Tara Rubin (Aladdin, BOOP, Death Becomes Her, Six, The Outsiders) Close Up with Casting Director Paul Schnee (Barden/Schnee casting: "Pitch Perfect," "Sisters," "Palm Royale," "Winter's Bone")
Jul 28
Join us as we delve into the fascinating career beginnings of Luke Kirby and Daniel Serafini-Sauli. In this episode, they share their first steps into the entertainment industry, with Daniel recounting his role in the Tony Award-winning revival of "A View from the Bridge" and Luke narrating a documentary for the National Film Board of Canada. Their stories reveal the challenges and triumphs of breaking into acting, offering a candid look at the paths that led them to where they are today. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about passion, perseverance, and the art of storytelling. In this episode, we discuss: • Introduction to Luke and Daniel : Explore their early career experiences and how they entered the entertainment industry. • Challenges and Triumphs : Hear about the ups and downs of their careers. • Passion for Storytelling : Learn about their shared love for storytelling and how it has shaped their careers. • Future Aspirations : A glimpse into what Luke and Daniel hope to achieve next in their careers. • The Film: How Daniel put the crew and financing together for this three day shoot Guest: Luke Kirby's IMDb Wikipedia Daniel's IMDb Instagram Terror Keeps You Slender Tribeca page 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 If you like this episode, check out: 5th Anniversary Episode - Tribeca Festival Favorites (Best Feature Film, Short film, Doc, Pilot, Talk) Tribeca: Live on the Red Carpet with the Showrunner, Director, and Actor of "Mother, May I Have a Kidney" Tribeca: Dir Jon S. Baird and Writer Steven Rogers for World Premiere of "Everything's Going to be Great" TRIBECA: Patricia Arquette and Camila Morrone on the U.S. Premiere of "Gonzo Girl"
Jul 21
Happy 5 Year Anniversary Mentors on the Mic Episode! For our 5th Anniversary, I am sharing a solo episode where I discuss some of my favorite films, short films, pilots, Talks, Tribeca X panels, and Docs that I saw at Tribeca 2025. Some of these projects will be featured with interviews in the podcast, including Gonzo Girl , Honeyjoon , Dead Language , Seasoned , Mother, May I have a Kidney , Everything's Going to Be Great , and Terror Keeps You Slender . If you listen to this episode, please say Hi on social media! Please write a review and rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts! 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 If you like this episode, check out: TRIBECA: Patricia Arquette and Camila Morrone on the U.S. Premiere of "Gonzo Girl" Tribeca: Dir Jon S. Baird and Writer Steven Rogers for World Premiere of "Everything's Going to be Great" Tribeca: Live on the Red Carpet with the Showrunner, Director, and Actor of "Mother, May I Have a Kidney"
Jul 14
EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE GREAT in Theaters now! Director Jon S Baird Writer Steven Rogers The Smart family's life takes a dramatic turn when tragedy forces them to confront their oversized dreams, struggles with identity and chaotic regional theater life. As theater manager parents ( Allison Janney and Bryan Cranston ) work to support their two sons — a hunky football star ( Jack Champion ) and his flamboyant, theater-loving younger brother ( Benjamin Evan Ainsworth ) — unexpected circumstances compel them to move in with Janney's estranged brother ( Chris Cooper ). What begins as a temporary arrangement soon unravels years of familial tension, prompting each member to reevaluate their place in the world and in their relationships. Director Jon S. Baird orchestrates this warmly observant comedy-drama with a perfect balance of sharp humor and poignant family dynamics. The powerhouse cast delivers nuanced performances, with Janney and Cranston demonstrating once again why they are among the most versatile actors working today. Their chemistry grounds the film's journey through artistic ambition and life's unexpected detours, while Cooper adds layers of complexity as the long-estranged brother. Beyond its headline-grabbing ensemble, the film's tender exploration of how families navigate change and disappointment resonates with authenticity as these deeply human characters stumble toward reconciliation and renewal in this stirring celebration of life's messy beauty.—Jarod Neece Director Jon S. Baird ("Filth," "Stan & Ollie," "Babylon") Screenwriter Steven Rogers ("I Tonya," "P.S. I Love You," "Kate & Leopold," "Hope Floats," "Love the Coopers," "Stepmom") Guest: IMDb Website Mother, May I have a Kidney? - Tribeca 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 If you like this episode, check out: Close Up with Casting Director Paul Schnee (Barden/Schnee casting: "Pitch Perfect," "Sisters," "Palm Royale," "Winter's Bone") TRIBECA: Patricia Arquette and Camila Morrone on the U.S. Premiere of "Gonzo Girl""Wicked," "The Gilded Age"
