Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Creativity isn’t tidy—it’s risky, chaotic, and full of surprises. It’s full of breakthroughs and breakdowns, moments of flow and moments of doubt. Join Mishu Hilmy for unfiltered conversations with artists, filmmakers, musicians, and fearless makers who thrive in the unknown, embrace imperfection, and create at the edge of possibility.
This is your front row seat to the self-doubt, unexpected wins, and messy emotional work of making something real. But craft isn’t just about feeling—it’s about problem-solving, process, and the devotion behind mastery.
Subscribe now for weekly episodes that celebrate the unpredictable, the playful, and the deeply human side of making things. Join the mailing list at mischiefpod.com
Email anytime at podcast@ohhmaybe.com and follow us @mischiefpod
Welcome to Mischief in Mastery where we embrace the ups, downs, and all around uncertainty of a creative life and that steady and sometimes not so steady journey toward expertise. Each episode we talk candidly with people I know, people I don't know, folks who produce, direct, write, act, do comedy, make art, make messes, and make meaning out of their lives. You will hear guests lay out how they work, what they're thinking about, where they get stuck, and why they snap out of their comfort zones and into big bold
risky moves. So if you're hungry for honest insights, deep dives into process philosophies and practical tips, plus maybe a little mischief along the way, you're in the right place. For more, visit mischiefpod.com. Hey everyone, it's Mishu and welcome back. Today we are talking to Cassidy T and Christina Mercado. Both are out in Chicago making work. Cassidy's filmmaker and screenwriter born and raised in the metro Detroit area, currently out here in Chicago.
She graduated from film school in 2019 and is doing the work trying to build a body of work and Christina Mercado, a film producer, educator and teaching artist. In the episode, we sit down and chat. We talk about starting a production company, the false starts and humility of crowdfunding and, you know, bringing their latest project, First Chair to Life, a lovely short film. So we'll see how that goes. And yeah, we get into the typical balance of artistic vision with
budget and production logistics and you know what the success look like for them. I'll add their info in the show notes. You can follow them on Instagram at Cassidy T. Posts and Christina at Christina V. L. G. 14. So here it is Christina, Cassidy and myself. Hope you enjoy.
Cassidy Tee (01:51.726)
So I have been working on First Chair since October of 2023. So it's been a minute now that I've been working on it and we're really excited. It's an interesting thing for me because I originally ran a campaign in June and it completely was like, the timing was wrong. The platform wasn't the right one to use.
It was kind of a trial and error. And I remember being so upset because I'm like, what, like, like, what do I do now? Because I can't make my film without it. And like, I was like, it's so embarrassing to like do it again. And I remember I was talking to my dad, actually, he's like, that should be the last thing on your mind. And I was like, oh, and it got me there. So I ran it again. I have known Christina for a while now. So I
reached out to her and she was already on the project, but I was like, did you want kind of a bigger role? And she was like, yeah. So now she's executive producing alongside Annie Crowdsour, who's also helping us with crowdfunding, just raising funds in general. She's great at that. So much better this time around already at 50%. So we're feeling really good about that. So
And we're filming at a better location than before. We're filming at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building downtown. So it kind of worked out really well. Like timing really played a big part in this. So luckily this time around, it's been much, much better. So that's on my mind is getting this done. In between that, you said you have about a hundred days left. In between that, I'm also working on another film.
that I'm short film that I'm directing in three weeks. So it's just busy, busy, but I love it. I, you know, couldn't be more happy. Like what a privilege it is to like not have any time for myself, but it's with everything that I want to do. So you're here.
Kristina Mercado (04:00.546)
Take a plate.
What made the initial platform for crowdfunding? What made it like not necessarily a success?
Yeah, the first time around, we, I had no idea what, how the best ways to crowdfund were. kind of just like jumped in and was like, we'll post it and like people will donate, right? No, they won't. So the first time around, we uploaded it with like no steps beforehand, like just kind of went in, posted it. looked really good. And
There's a video I made, like a short one to kind of describe what we had going on. But the second time around, I learned through Annie and Christina that the best part that you'll notice with crowdfunding is before you even post it. So that's where you get the most stuff is letting people know you're going to be posting one and you're going to be like, kind of like,
in a way annoying them, but like telling them that you should expect something to come through. so that they can kind of keep an eye out because people get emails all the time and like, they're not, let's say they do donate and they want to donate. They don't donate right away. So like you kind of need to like give them time and it helps when you let them know before it's even posted. So that helps. It's also been nice to, I was really like nervous and like,
Cassidy Tee (05:36.064)
embarrassed the first time that we posted it. was like, I don't want to. In my head, I'm like, I'm begging people for money and you're not not doing that, but you're not supposed to say that's what you're doing. it's like, I like didn't talk about it ever. I rarely posted it. I was like, kind of just put it up and then was like, people will like see it and donate. So you kind of this time around, I like created an Instagram page for I've been posting we
actually do things like Christina and I went to two different events yesterday and two different events on Friday just to kind of get the word out and like support the people that are in the project. So it kind of is nice that we give to them and then they are like, it's nice because then they'll see our stuff because we saw them and then they'll repost it. And it's good to just get out and like spread the word. I did not do that my first time rookie mistake. So it's good to talk about the things that you're doing and working on.
when you're doing them, which is really nice.
I feel too that we are giving key players more support in what they're working on. And that has been a great pleasure, a lot of fun. Like as she had mentioned, we had gone through a few events. We plan to go more to support. So we went to see Jason Ellis, right? Yesterday he was working, but he's one of the composers that is working on original music for our film. And it was such a delight to be able to say hi.
Yeah, it's good to support because you show up for people and they'll show up for you. It's kind of self-explanatory, it's shocking that not a lot of people do that. Like you kind of can't expect people to work for you in the indie world for not that much pay and then not pull through for them. Like it's not fair. So we've been going to a bunch of stuff to just support people and that's been extremely helpful.
Mishu Hilmy (07:28.046)
You're using the same platform just like the previous issue was you just kind of launched it without telling anyone. So was the first time also Crowdfunder or Spark or Indiegogo?
It was Seed and Spark on the first one and then CrowdFunder on the second one. Only because CrowdFunder, you like have to have like a stop date on it while with CrowdFunder we have one on there, but you can keep it going for as long as you want. like that's something that also has helped a lot.
Yeah, certainly seen this park have like a little bit more of a barrier of entry, whether it's like an orientation and a review process while other platforms it's like, Hey, you have the assets, you can just, you know, start it.
Definitely, yeah, which is nice about that.
Wonderful and then like I think you mentioned it and I want to these kind of explore a little bit like the Embarrassment of this wasn't a successful launch and you're like, okay, this is going down It was like five percent of the gold point whatever the goal was your friends see it your family sees it Then there's that insecurity like I don't even know if I'm gonna start it again So it sounds like you know talking to you know a parent or a trusted friend or person helped
Mishu Hilmy (08:34.038)
you kind of push through it, was there any anything else that like you did to navigate either your disappointment, your embarrassment, your shame or what have you that also helped you push through the threshold of like, I'm going to do it again. And what was sort of the timeline of making that decision over?
It was June when it was like end of May when we launched it 2024, so just this past May. And then to kind of get back going again was really the people involved because when I had sent out like, hey, filming being pushed back, like an email to all cast and crew, everyone was like, man, like let us know when it's back up. And our lead, James Sanders, who's a very talented musician here in the city.
kind of never like went away, like kind of stayed in contact and like would always be like, hey, just so you know, cause like we also have, we have an entire orchestra in the film. So that was extremely tricky of course, to get people to agree with that with like union things and whatever. And then it's like tricky to like, you know, make it volunteer based. That way we can kind of go sneakily through it to film with everybody.
and he was always like, I know these people, these people, these people, these people, recommend reaching out to people and like would keep me in contact with people. So it never really like went away where it was like no work at all. And, that I think is what kept it the momentum going because if I, if no one had like kept in contact with me and like, if I didn't see Christina, like I see Christina all the time. So if I hadn't seen her for like months, it would have been like.
under the radar wouldn't have felt like people cared. Not that I do it for other people, but it's good. It feels really good when you're working with a casting crew who is very enthusiastic about the work. It makes you feel like you're on top of the world. You're like, yeah, this is the coolest thing ever. So that really, really helped that people kept in contact and were like, well, when is it coming back?
Cassidy Tee (10:44.056)
Hey, I know this person who was kind of wanting to get involved and I know this person and then whatever. so yeah, kind of, the embarrassment was like in the shadows at that point. Kind of like, it doesn't matter. Like, my God, who gives a shit that you're embarrassed? Like, that's not, who cares? Like it's, it's not like it's the biggest deal on the earth and like crimey river. So it's like, that was just more in the shadows when it, when I was like, people actually care and are still waiting for this project to like pick.
back up again. So that kind of fueled it to keep going again.
Christina what what made it for you because it's not like you initially had lesser involvement What what were the conversations or what was the tipping point for you to maybe? increase your responsibility or your role or your relationship with the
Around this time, I had discussed with Cassidy about creating a production company. knew acting wasn't going to be something that I'd want to do, but I definitely wanted to do something in film. I had done a lot of different roles in the past, so I had a very busy year. I had worked on about six other films. And I think from being on set, producing kind of called to me a lot more. So being able to contact Cassidy and her willingness to already put me on
I felt so comfortable asking her about advice on it. I feel like we're both a little more green, but maybe that's just a humble kind of opinion. I think we have worked on a lot so far in the about a year that we've known each other already, so maybe we're not that new. But I asked her about it, she said, that sounds like a really good idea. Can you come to a meeting with me? We kind of just kept talking about it, kept getting ideas, and she said,
Kristina Mercado (12:29.678)
Can you be the producer on this? I'm like, yes, of course. like, honestly, if Cassie would ask me anything, I'd be like, whatever you want. Let's eat cotton candy at four in the morning just because. Okay, that's fine. I'll get in my car.
So you formed a production company. this is just LLC in Illinois. Did you choose a different entity type? For you sort of transitioning into a commitment to the producing, right? So like maybe you've had different backgrounds, different elements, whether it's in filmmaking or theater, acting, performing, you know, below the line. What do you like, what do you enjoy most about producing? What do you find UPM stuff, line work, like which elements of producing are you most kind of tapped into right now?
So far right now it is the focus on getting whatever needs to get done happening. if it is going to events, if it's networking, if it's looking at photos, taking photos, like all of that has kind of just been interesting. Getting into seeing how this all works still, I would not say no to trying anything out.
And then this first chair Cassidy, this written by you or just directing by you? Like what's, what's the origination of this story? Where's it coming from?
written by somebody else who came to me with the idea. And I was, we kind of went back and forth for about like five months with how, cause I really loved the idea, but I needed some type of like way to make it feel like something I want to work on. So I was like, we kind of need an element that's like black mirror and why light Sony and we kindly finally came to a conclusion and it's like,
Cassidy Tee (14:07.8)
totally something that I'm excited to tackle because it's a little bit outside. It's a much bigger production that I've worked on, that I've directed. So I'm really, really excited to get started on this level of production and this many crew and cast members.
Was this someone you had a relationship with in the past or a kind of a cold, you know, friend of a friend, you read this script, like what, what were the criteria for you to go? I'm interested in this. I'll keep up the conversation. Maybe we add some conceptual elements, right? It's like what, what initially hit you in the gut to go, yeah, I'm interested. I could see myself making this.
No, I don't know this woman that well. I mean, we spoke for about like five months, but I found the tagline of one of her scripts online, a different one online. And so I like found her email and was like, I don't know if you're trying to sell this or what exactly you're looking to do with it and like why it was posted. And I was like, I'd be willing to read that if you're interested, because
I would love to try directing something that I didn't have direct involvement with the idea. So she sends me that script and I was like, okay, I like it, but it's not, that didn't feel like me. So then she sends me three other scripts and the first two of those, was like, then the final one I read, was like, this one takes a turn that you don't expect. And I was like,
this is cool, there any way we can talk, are you open for changes? And she was like, yeah, definitely. This would be something I'm down to. her name's Sarah. Sarah was down to change a little bit of things and make it feel more like something I'd wanna do. And luckily, it took months, but we finally got to a conclusion on a story that I can't wait to make. It's gonna be spectacular.
Mishu Hilmy (16:07.97)
So how are you navigating the expectation setting with this creative relationship, right? It's their text, but you're visualizing it, you're directing it, you've had several months of revision discussions. Did you have an explicit conversation on expectation setting or balance and boundaries of how this will inevitably evolve, including in the edit, including on production?
Yeah, totally. Because she had actually given someone a script before they paid her for the script, made it, made the film and everything was good to go. And she saw it and then she wasn't credited for it. So she was very particular that it gets credited. So we wrote up a contract is definitely 100 % her story that was just tweaked for my liking, which is such a
I feel like that's such a privilege for someone to do that. yeah, completely credits to her totally. yeah. There's no issues there. And I know that in the contract, I had included a little snippet about like, if I'm interested in making this into a feature, like that would be okay. And then she was like, totally. then even with like, I added
a scene in myself, like I wrote in a scene to kind of break up some tension that I felt was in there. And that was totally fine. She read that and was like, this is great, great, great addition. So it's definitely a good relationship where it's didn't feel very corporate, where it was like, sign this contract and get it back to me and it's yours. was very much like, do as you please, just please credit that this was my idea. And I was like, a hundred percent totally like there's no problem there.
definitely be credited but in terms of like the ownership of the short film you know is it your production Christina that owns it who has the kind of the the ultimate sort of intellectual property of this particular thing so you can you know put it on YouTube because of the festival
Kristina Mercado (18:10.83)
My name's going to be on there, but it's going to be primarily Cassidy's.
It's a tight on topic production company that's running it. So that'll be in, know, credits and stuff, like for festivals and things like me, like when we go out, we don't talk like tight on. It's sure production companies tied on topic. So it's not, hi, we're here from tied on topic to talk about this Cassidy. And we're here to talk about her film and I'm helping out. So it's not too much like that, but in the future.
Christina, we aren't ready for what you're about to come up with. I can't wait for Tide on topic to get more flames going with that one. The fire started.
Did you do any principal photography yet or are still just waiting for the crowdfunding? Because it sounded like you had some plans to do some shooting or have you already done some shooting or not yet?
No shooting has been done yet. We film February 2nd and 3rd. Yeah, we're doing a bunch of a couple pickup shots because filming an entire orchestra, don't have with an indie filming, you know how it is. We don't have the amount of time we need to like get like like close ups of different instruments playing and like harps. So we are going to do pick up shots. We're going rehearse, which is also on a fantastic stage. So just, know.
Cassidy Tee (19:32.846)
Indie filmmaking is always like you can't do exactly what you want always, but I'm OK with doing pick up shots of all of that.
mention you have a short that you're going to be shooting in about three weeks so is that at the start of the new year or like a little bit after Christmas what's what's you know been the build up of that like Christina are you also involved or is this more of a quick and dirty thing that just kind of came up
Definitely still involved. I will try and be as involved with whatever Cassidy has going, like I said. So definitely involved.
Yeah, it's a little bit of both. it was kind of quick. It's very, very skeleton production. They're very opposite. One is very much first chair is very much about modern technology and the future of AI and live performance and kind of what that means for the future. And then the one that's filming in a few weeks is called bedrock. And that one's very gritty, gory.
horror-y about a guy who gets laid off from work and is in a binge gambling, beer addicted, like psycho dream where he like literally rocks in his bed. So it's very opposite, both my style, they're just told a little different, which I love. So I'm excited. This one's very skeleton crew with people that I'm close with from
Kristina Mercado (20:43.704)
day.
Cassidy Tee (21:01.186)
My other film I worked on and they read it were like, this is gnarly, let's get started. And now when I wrote From Start to Finish, was actually my actor from my first film, What's End, came to me at a premiere and was like, I have this idea and I think you'll really like it. Can I tell you? And I was like, yeah. We're like at a burlesque show before it started. He's like, it's about this guy literally rotting in his bed, whatever. And I immediately started writing it the next day.
Here we are. it's very much like more so less like high end and more so just fun and because we can and I feel it. Cause I, cause I want.
Yeah, of course. So in terms of writing, you know, got this initial pitch and then you write it. Is this just a one person thing? Like what's been the casting process? What, Christina, in terms of like prepping for this production, it seems like the idea originated from someone and then you wrote off that, you know, what's the scope? What's the extent? know, is it a six pager? I'm just curious, like, and the timeline of getting it from the idea to the script to casting and pre-growth.
This was only like a few months ago. So it's really a four month progress. And then the guy that gave me it, Sam, Samuel James Howard, he's also starring it. So I got the privilege to like write it for him, which I'd never done before, which was super, super nice. I understand why directors do that and work with the same actors because it makes it so much easier to write a character for them. And so it's.
Just him and then one other actor who like we mentioned at the beginning is someone I met on another set but we've gotten so close because I've gone to so many events with him there and like ran into him and like just supported the stuff he's done and vice versa. yeah, Dylan Carey is hilarious comedian and so he fits the role perfectly. So he was very
Mishu Hilmy (23:04.342)
I know I'm from
Groove Box. I love him. So he was quick to jump on because he's like, I love a little, warmy character and he's playing like the TV host on like the gambling show. It's set in the back. So it's very, it should be fun. I'm excited for that one. But yeah, Christina is kind of my just like assistant on that one because it's very like literally like
four people on set at a time, including Sam, who's doing the effects with like, cause it's going to be all like gory and stuff. So he's helping out. So it's very, very small crew with that one. So Christina is just getting tagged along as like, this is fun. And she's been location scouting with me, which has been really fun too.
How many locations does this page count? It seems like you have a TV show set, you probably have an interior bedroom, what's the page count, location count?
It's 18 pages. So it's a bit, you know, a little bit more than a little guy, but fully in the apartment. And then we have a scene, we have like a dream sequence where it's on a stage. And then we also have a, um, the TB host in his stage as well. Those are same locations only two bedroom. then this like stage.
Cassidy Tee (24:24.974)
that we rented. But we've had to look at so many stages because our entire, my entire career, I've been looking at stages with Christina because every film I have someone is on a stage at one point. So I don't kind of talk to my therapist about that one. I'm not sure why that is in all my writing. But yeah, so far, so good. And I'm excited for that one. Both of them. They're just happening quick.
I can't find the stage you know is it a mix of is it mixed budget and study cuz stages they have shows usually not in the afternoon so you can easily shoot in the morning cuz it's blacked out but what what's been the major indicator for this this is the stage in this will work out for us for both of you.
Also pricing has been kind of a point, do we want to choose price over location? And we have decided location is a lot more important than the price. So those two factors have been kind of our points to look at.
And it's interesting because we were like, this will be simple. We'll film at like a school auditorium. Like they kind of are on the, they kind of got us up there, an upper hand, because they know that filming people can like come with a lot of money depending like not necessarily our productions like that, but other ones. So there'll be like way more expensive than somewhere like the fine arts building. it's like some of these.
schools were a little insane, but we've looked at so many because we're like, why wouldn't a school be, why wouldn't they volunteer their space to kind of whatever? Nobody volunteers anything in Chicago.
Mishu Hilmy (26:02.126)
It's also I mean schools. It's like very high-risk right like you need insurance They have students like and like the window is usually summer. So it's like very difficult I would just pitch to you if you haven't thought of it already Churches that have auditoriums are like a much easier way because you can get the aesthetic of like rinky-dink or like kind of run down a auditorium then you know
That's where we are filming is in a church. But in them, we have to like talk the price down. I'm like, yo, I get it though. They're hustling. But I was like, damn, I can't with these hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of dollars. And like, I get it though. I get it. Why wouldn't, why wouldn't they accept money like that?
Yeah. Do you find that you have like a genre that you're preferred? Because it sounds like, you know, you have this maybe horror comedy or body horror type element with this bed-rout one. And then it sounds like first chair is a bit of maybe a sci-fi horror or sci-fi. So like what's the genre that you're currently like most consistently, you know, thinking or creating?
It's really thrillery and kind of, I just love a mental like, fuck, brother, lack of words, like a mental like mess up where you kind of are like, what's reality and what's fiction. And I like to go along that line of things. And Christina's very,
everything I write she'll read, which is such a nice thing. Like I could not be more grateful for Christina for reading myself that I write because it's just a bunch of shit sometimes. And she's very much like this works for you for like the thriller aspect and this actually made sense. And yeah, I guess I kind of just like a genre that's not very ooey gooey lovey dubby. Everything works out in the end because I feel like the movies that don't
Cassidy Tee (27:59.742)
work out in the end and everything's kind of messed up or like it's like realize that the world is evil is like entertaining to watch and it like stays with you a little bit and kind of just kind of can change your outlook on things even if it's for 20 minutes after you finish the movie or you know five seconds after the while the credits are rolling huh that's kind of kind of my genre which is really fun to write and and
have other people watch and read and see what their thoughts are.
Then Christina, for your production company, do you have a mission or what sort of fare are you hoping to build the slate up?
I do really like the indie scene, possibly because I don't know any better. But I do like the indie scene. I do love the Chicago area. I really want to build onto that. Maybe getting some Latin roots, you know, to kind of show up a little more. It's a privilege that kind of already sets all together with Fresh Chair because our lead is Tiz.
Dominican? Yeah.
Kristina Mercado (29:03.832)
So I think that already kind of hit all of the checkpoints right there as a first. So more of that. I like that.
I was just talking with one of the programmers, Raul Benitez, who does like Chicago International, Cuff, Midwest Film Festival, and he's working on a project about the history of Spanish speaking, Spanish language exhibition in Chicago. think there used to be hundreds of theaters up until like the eighties, Spanish dedicated.
exhibition, Spanish language exhibition. Nowadays, there, I don't think there's one single dedicated theater chain operating in Chicago that's solely focused on importing, you know, movies from Mexico or Spain or South America that are doing that. So do you find that like, you know, people think like 20%, 30 % of Chicago speaks Spanish or is of, you know, a Latin origin? Like, how are you finding that community of people who are either writing scripts?
or blending genre in that language or that world.
We're slowly getting more and more aware of those that are in the arts that do have that Latin root or, you know, Hispanic or things of that nature. it's, they're, they're, they're sprinkle, but maybe we're not going to enough of those places. But it's not like they don't exist at all. It's just about exploring them.
Mishu Hilmy (30:25.806)
Would that be like a priority for your production company or right now you're you're not quite sure you're just like open
I'm definitely open. I also appreciate the fact that Cassidy has a primarily women-based team, which is really great. We have found some great women so far to work with and be around, and that is probably maybe a little higher up on my scale.
Do you have it processed currently? I'm not too sure when you formed your production company, if this was over the summer when you're like putting up first chair for its second run. Like structurally process wise, what's your funnel? What's your approach to either building out crews, developing relationships for crews or finding pieces or projects to create?
haven't really explored that much yet. Hanging out with Cassidy every weekend since we've decided we're going to get back on it has been priority. Not in bad way, of course. It's just getting networking from there and that way has been a pleasure.
And then Cassie, do you also have a production company in LLC for your sort of directing your work for hire your for the services of, are just, just you right now?
Cassidy Tee (31:37.122)
Just me, just do it. Just writing and directing and I'll see what kind of happens with that. Yeah, I'm not sure what's to come. I know with these two coming up, the film's coming up, I'm excited to see kind of what snowballs after this. But I'm excited with so many people we've met and so much stuff we've done like this film's such a blessing because we are doing something at every minute of every day with the privilege of this film.
So it's great. I'm having a blast so far.
process wise, because you're not quite on production yet, you know, what for you, Cassidy, is where you're currently most engaged in terms of processes, pre-production, production, post-production, exhibition, what's most engaging for you? then, know, Christina, can also answer.
most engaging for me, like where I'm spending most of my time or like what takes
Like what you're like what you're present with like what's actually engaging in the sense that the process you know brings you to a flow state or you're not like begrudging it not so much what's like taking up most time but like what you're actually you know enjoying your present
Cassidy Tee (32:45.612)
Yeah, right now it's nice because now this past week I've been able to do actual shot lists and direct for things where I'm like, this is what I want. And I have all my reference and stuff from months and months months ago, but it's nice to go back and be like, actually, I don't really want to reference Whiplash just because it's a music movie. I want to reference something else like this.
and go like that. It's been nice to put my director hat on in pre-production instead of the crowdfunding thanks to Christine. While that's most of it with pre-production for indie filmmaking, but right now it's nice that I can actually go through and I've been doing like meetings every other day just to kind of be like, so this is the flow we want. This is the look you want, know, honestly look at the script and be like, all right, spend some time since we've looked at this.
Is this still how we want to tell the story? our lead, name in the film is Charlie. So like, is this still Charlie's story or is this more of the technology side? Like, are we wanting anamorphic lenses because it's more advanced or are we wanting to stick with like the old, tried dread true lenses? And it's nice to do that aspect because that's the part that I love. So.
The...
The pre-production right now has been super, super nice because I get to do all the crowdfunding and like, and leave that to the producers to kind of handle and, and now actually deal with like, this is what we want here. And this is how long it should take. And this is whatever. So that's the part I love is like getting to take a step back for a moment and, put my hat.
Mishu Hilmy (34:32.396)
And Christina, you, are you most present and most engaged with?
I have been having a lot of fun finding the next place to introduce the film. Getting to talk to other people and accidentally getting some feedback that ends up being pretty essential or giving us more to think about. And it's not something that we are dreading either. It's just like, know what, that is a really good idea. We like it and then we kind of move on. With Cassidy, it's everything happens very fast, which is great because you hear people all the time like, oh, I wish I a director. I wish it's like, we'll do it then.
And with Cassidy, this is what I'm doing, we're doing it. Okay, great. Okay, but I don't think I like doing it right now. I'm like, okay, we'll take a pause, we'll figure it out. And even that, didn't feel like it was a long pause. She kept thinking about it and she didn't let the negativity of taking that pause.
What sort of motivates you to go into the entertainment industry, the motion picture, the moving image, storytelling, mode industry? What's one of the motivators, if you don't mind me asking?
I love hearing the story. If it's a real story, if it's not a real story, if it's someone that was passionate enough to do all of the work for it, it has been amazing to watch. I've always been into film. I feel like I came out the womb watching something. So it's just been within me and that is why I started doing it. And I hope to continue.
Mishu Hilmy (35:56.166)
And like Cassie, what about you? Like what's the motivator? Or not right now, right? It's all in this context, but like what's motivating you? What kind of drew you into this industry or this?
was younger, want to act. So I was like, cool. love being like, very, I was never very shy. I was very much like, going in like, oh, whatever. But the more I would watch movies and watch things, it wouldn't be about the acting, it would be about how it made me feel and like what how it looks and like, why look this way and like why
you know, Edward Scissorhands looked like that versus like Pirate of the Caribbean looked like that. it's like, to me, that was, I realized that like 10 or 11 or 12 that I was like, I don't know if I care about being on the screen. I kind of want to be the one doing that, you know, so cliche a little bit, but it's interesting because since then I have taken acting classes and I'm taking a class right now because I think it helps being a better director. Like if you, if you can
Communicate effectively with your actors and like that plays a huge role. So it's really just There there's just no version of me not making movies so whether I if I didn't direct and I don't know I can't even say if I didn't direct because I just would I'd figure out I don't know figure it out and I guess maybe just continue writing but I'd Like if you told me two years ago, I'd have a feature film written in like
in a draft, I'd be like, No, I don't. So it's weird how life can just change like that. As long as it's something on a movie set, then I'm kind of, I'm kind of there and down. So what about you? What made, what pulled you into the film world? Yeah, I mean,
Mishu Hilmy (37:49.646)
I grew up in Egypt. My father and his father were filmmakers. So my grandfather was an art designer, a production designer during like the golden age of Egyptian cinema. And my father had a production company and a distribution company. Growing up, it was just like, you know, second nature. I was watching The Godfather when I was like seven or eight. So it was just always part of.
A form of cultural consumption and, you know, image literacy that it wasn't really unusual. It was just like, yeah, we're going to watch one or two movies today after dinner and talk about it. So I think it was just part of growing up and then, you know, went to college and all that. I studied history and I realized I was spending more time like learning about the performance arts and media than I was reading. Articles or books on history. would read, you know, one or two books a year about John Adams or, Andrew Jackson.
would be watching like BET to learn about comedy or TCM and watching classics. So yeah, I spent like a decade doing theater work and then after getting a sense or challenging myself to no longer want to do it, I returned to like, what about just like making images? So that's like a roundabout, way of getting to having a production company or directing.
Awesome. I love that you have the bit of the history background that also nudged you in the way and at the same time keeping up with the entertainment stuff. That's cool. I like that.
Yeah, yeah, you know, I think one of the best lessons learned for like studying history beyond just like the historical lessons was like writing drives, like writing arguments and having, you know, 10 or 12 books piled up to the ears and creating drafts and revising. then anything else like writing comedy or writing a script is just a lot more enjoyable. Wow.
Cassidy Tee (39:40.416)
Intellectual.
Oh, yes. Yes. Thanks. I'm still I'm just curious, just like kind of, you know, know, wrap things up a little bit. Like, how do you define success? Like, what would be success for this project? Like, we're currently like, do you have definitions of success? Yeah, I'm just curious, like, what's what's success in, you know, at the project level at the this year level, the next year level, the career level, if you want to share?
Sure. Success for this project, for first year, is definitely watching it back and like with, so we're planning a premiere, you know, months away, but that people are watching it and it's like, I don't, they're like intrigued to talk to me after they see it and like more and, you know, just kind of seeing what it meant to them with like the ending and like,
how they feel about it and what they think because it's interesting with like the future of technology and AI is kind of like, everyone's like tiptoeing around it. Cause like people are like my own sister is like using chat GPT every day at work. Like it saved me from doing three hours of work and I'm like, okay. So it's like, it's interesting to see the different perspectives on technology. I would love to see.
Yeah.
Cassidy Tee (41:01.452)
people's reactions afterwards. That's honestly success for me. then also for success in general would for me be doing film full time.
Yeah.
extra incomes and things like that. Like film full time, like I'm done and good to go and I am. So that's success to me. So I'm looking forward to that.
And then for you, Christina, like whether it's at the project level and then also at the larger level, how do you define success?
So for, you know, first chair in other projects that work with Cassidy, whatever her goal is, that's going to be my goal. So if she just wants people to talk about it afterwards, okay, that's fine. That's great. We'll get that happening. But in a larger scale, I would love to do film full time. I do a million and a half things as it is, but I always find time for each and every one of those things. So I would imagine had I just had film as a focused career, quote unquote, just
Kristina Mercado (41:59.532)
get that money I would still be doing a million and half things. But to say like like so I have kids so my youngest is again my mom's a producer I know you've seen her in the hallway too but she's a producer I'm just letting you know. So just having that I get mom's a producer and she's also going to be at the Girl Scout meeting.
Yeah, it is interesting because it's like, you know, at the short term level, you know, the support this project, I just, it's almost in the spirit of giving away, which is, you know, I imagine you got a lot of practice because you have a kid, right? So it's like you're, you've practiced letting go of yourself too. Yeah, kids. So you'd like to let it go of yourself in service of their growth and you know what they need. But I do wonder like, there's, would just like, I'm curious, like you don't have any individual, that just for success for this project, like.
Yeah, I hope you...
Mishu Hilmy (42:56.654)
Thanks so much for sharing. you know, like in terms of like for where my head's at long term, it's similar, right? It's the romantic notion of the thing I love is the thing that feeds me. But I try not to let that be the only driver because it's also the risk of utter resentment and disappointment. So like I try to balance out. There's no shame in all the other ways of living a life, right? Like it's great. It's romantic if all my income comes from this endeavor, but also to be open.
if the income is coming from a day job or the income is coming from client work or the income is coming from an inheritance, sudden, you know, eccentric until giving money, that'd be great. Right. So, yeah, I try to avoid one one pure metric, but yeah, that would be ideal. And then, yeah, project per project. Really, honestly, it's like, I present in the process? Am I curious during the process? And am I approaching it from lightness and play rather than byproduct? Like this needs to get into
tried back or this needs to get 10,000 to a hundred, you know, or 10 million views, like all that stuff that's out of my hands. Like success is like how, what percentage of this project was I like with my cast and crew was I playful in the rewrite was I finding the joy of sending out my 100 and email, you know, that's usually how I can try and measure success.
love that. You're very well spoken and like poetic almost. I think you should keep this up. This is fun.
Cool. Well, yeah, cast secrecy. It's been a delight. Yeah, absolute pleasure chatting with y'all.
Mishu Hilmy (44:43.522)
Before sending you off with a little creative prompt, I just wanted to say thank you for listening to Mischief and Mastery. If you enjoyed the show, please rate it and leave a review on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Your support does mean a lot. Until next time, keep taking care of yourself, your lightness, curiosity, and sense of play. And now for a little Mischief motivation. Okay, this next prompt is inspired by a couple books I've read. One is by Gabriella Uttingen.
Rethinking Positive Thinking as well as Anatomy of a Breakthrough by Adam Alter and lastly James Clear's Atomic Habits. This one has to do with kind of committing to specificity. So this prompt is, man, no, for the next few days feel free to share a specific action related to your project with a friend, a close friend, a trusted colleague, heck, maybe even on social media.
But the thing is keeping it specific rather than vague. So instead of saying, I'm going to make a movie, I'm going to make a painting, go specific. I just finished outlining act one. I'm putting my gesso down, I'm cleaning my brushes, stuff like that. So you are specific to the action of what you're going to do. I'm going to scout a location. Because this has to do with implementation intention. And it's all around about making specific progress toward goals. Writing down goals also helps.
make you more likely to follow through. Additionally, social commitment effects means that the more you kind of put it out there specifically and others see your momentum, you might feel more accountable to keep it going. So I don't know, just a thought if you're a bit stuck, have the vulnerability to put it out there, put something specific out there. Hope that's helpful. Really liked.
rethinking positive thinking as well as anatomy of breakthrough and atomic habits. All right. Hope you enjoy this prompt and see you next time.