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.
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Book-to-Screen Adaptations: Off Campus Series with Esther of @bookishnewsgirl
Season 6
mardi 2 juin 2026 • Duration 01:17:32
Dive into the fascinating world of book-to-screen adaptations with host Michelle Miller and special guest Esther, exploring everything from casting choices to narrative changes that impact how we experience beloved series like Off Campus. Discover behind-the-scenes insights, fan reactions, and the future of adaptations in this lively discussion that fans and industry insiders won’t want to miss.
Main Topics Covered:
The adaptation process for Off Campus and its cultural significance
Differences and similarities between book and TV representations
The importance of trust and fan engagement in adaptation success
How specific scenes and character choices influence viewer perception
Future directions for the Briar U universe and adaptation strategies
In this episode:
Esther shares her background in book news and adaptation commentary (Bookish Newsgirl)
Analyzing how Off Campus captures school nostalgia and college chaos
Discussion of key scenes like the iconic show me moment and their emotional impact
Exploring adaptation changes that enhanced storytelling, including character dynamics and plot pacing
The role of social media and fan reactions in shaping adaptation decisions
The significance of diversity, casting, and visual storytelling in modern adaptations
Timestamps:
00:15 - Introduction to Mentors on the Mic and episode focus on book-to-screen adaptations
02:33 - Overview of Off Campus series and its recent TV adaptation
03:57 - Esther's background in book news, adaptations, and social media presence
05:48 - Fan community and mutual love for the Briar U universe
10:08 - One word for the adaptation: "Committed" — why production quality matters
12:07 - Chemistry and realness behind on-screen couples like Gigi & Walsey and Dean & Allie
13:46 - Fan reactions and trust in casting choices
20:41 - Visualizing characters in books with aphantasia and its impact on adaptation perceptions
25:04 - Comparing adaptation strategies, including The Summer I Turned Pretty and Heated Rivalry
30:25 - The importance of episode structure and binge versus weekly release formats
32:30 - Book and TV SPOILERS
38:00 - Exploring nostalgic references to the 90s and college life scenes
38:16 - Watching book adaptations in person with like-minded fans
38:33 - Amazon prime tactic for book adaptation seasonal drops
46:51 - Changes from the book to adaptation, including Garrett's dependency storyline
50:15 - Character development in Logan and Garrett and their backgrounds
55:05 - Future seasons, skipped storylines, and expanding the Briar U universe
61:48 - Iconic scenes like the show me moment and their emotional resonance
63:03 - Our favorite 80s/90s movie moment
67:28 - Authentic college experiences captured in show and book
72:51 - Most relatable chaotic friend group moments and party scenes
75:32 - Closing remarks, community engagement, and upcoming projects
Resources & Links:
Substack: Off the Record Newsletter
Connect with Esther:
Instagram
TikTok
Get the full scoop, analysis, and insider tips on adapting beloved book series—don’t miss this episode for all things book to screen!
Becoming... Artios-winning Casting Director Karlee Fomalont ("A Complete Unknown," "Friends From College")
Season 6 · Episode 15
lundi 1 juin 2026 • Duration 01:03:20
Karlee Fomalont, CSA is an Artios Award winning Casting Director, 4-time Artios Award Nominee, and graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where her acting training made for a seamless transition into casting. She began her career at CBS Primetime NY and ABC Primetime NY before moving into independent casting. Karlee has worked with Rori Bergman for 10 years, film credits include: “A Complete Unknown” (Artios Award, Best Casting BAFTA nominee), Steven Spielberg's "The Post" (Artios Nominee), “Empire Waist” (Artios Nominee), "Private Life" (Artios Nominee), "You Hurt My Feelings” (Sundance ‘23), "Eileen" (Sundance ‘23), "Shortcomings" (Sundance ‘23), “No Hard Feelings,” “Happiness for Beginners” (Netflix), “Darkest Miriam” (Tribeca ’24) “Turn Me On” (San Sebastian ’24) among many others. TV credits include: "The Get Down" (Netflix), "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" (Starz), “The Last Frontier” (Apple+), "Living with Yourself" (Netflix), "Yearly Departed" (Amazon), "Run the World" (Starz), "Love Life" (Netflix), "The Good Cop" (Netflix), "Friends from College" (Netflix), and "Rabbit Hole" (Paramount+). She was awarded the Rosalie Joseph Humanitarian Award at the 2024 Artios Awards for her work with Covenant House NY. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, and currently resides in New York City.
Join us as Karlee Fomalont, a seasoned casting director and actor, shares her insights on the intricacies of casting, navigating acting careers, and fostering collaborative relationships in the entertainment industry. Discover practical tips, behind-the-scenes secrets, and the value of diverse pathways in Hollywood and beyond.
Main Topics Covered:
The parallels between interior design and casting: building worlds through actor selection
How successful casting partnerships thrive on balancing practical skills and creative synergy
Strategies for actors to effectively submit for roles, including maximizing reels and self-tapes
The significance of staying connected and top of mind through targeted outreach and relationship-building
Insights into casting for period pieces, limited series, and dream projects with visionary directors
The evolving landscape of casting during and post-pandemic, and the rise of new opportunities in NYC and Hollywood
Practical advice for newcomers to stand out
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Karlee Fomalont's approach to casting and career insights
06:00 - First roles in entertainment: ballet and early acting experiences
08:16 - The importance of leaning into love for ballet and staying hobby-active as an adult
10:26 - Transition from NYU musical theater to screen acting and casting
15:31 - The pivotal role of early mentorship and internship experiences
18:30 - Recognizing the realities of an acting career and industry support systems
21:13 - The impact of pandemic-driven adjustments in casting and actor outreach
27:48 - Comparing casting to interior decorating: building worlds with actor choices
30:50 - The art of casting period pieces and the importance of character authenticity
32:45 - Approaching small roles and co-stars/day players with specificity and scene-building techniques
35:00 - The rewarding challenge of casting acclaimed projects like A Complete Unknown
40:30 - Dream projects: collaborations with visionary directors and diverse genres
44:15 - The detailed process of from breakdown to call-in: how many actors get seen?
47:49 - Managing actor expectations: the unpredictability of casting decisions
53:40 - Does she look at actor reels?
57:00 - How actors can stay on casting directors’ radar and build their careers
59:00 - The importance of targeted submissions and personal branding
59:55 - Current projects and the outlook for future opportunities in NYC and Hollywood
Resources & Links:
SAG-AFTRA Casting panel
Connect with Karlee Fomalont:
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")
Becoming... Casting Director Susanne Scheel ("Past Lives," "The Wife")
Tribeca: Luke Kirby and Daniel Serafini-Sauli for World Premiere of Terror Keeps You Slender
Season 6 · Episode 7
lundi 28 juillet 2025 • Duration 50:54
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"
What is NYWIFT and how can it be a resource for YOU? (BONUS)
Season 3
vendredi 18 mars 2022 • Duration 21:08
What is the New York Women in Film and Television or NYWIFT and how can they be a resource to you right now?
Maybe funds or grants for your next film? Or a community to network? Or do you need your next DP or Director for a project?
Join me and the ladies of NYWIFT to discuss what NYWIFT can offer and their podcast 'Women Crush Wednesdays" highlighting some incredible people in Film and Television.
Katie Chambers is a communications executive and event producer with a lifelong commitment to supporting artists and advocating for inclusion. She is currently the Senior Director of Community and Public Relations for New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), where she manages both Communications and Membership and produces Special Events. The preeminent entertainment industry association for women in New York, NYWIFT energizes the careers of women in media by illuminating their achievements, providing training and professional development opportunities, and advocating for equality. Katie guides and manages NYWIFT’s presence both online and off; institutes membership drives; produces and moderates monthly screenings and networking parties; builds partnerships with like-minded organizations; implements communications initiatives for special projects, including The Writers Lab funded by Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, and Oprah Winfrey; and is strategic advisor to the Board and Executive Director in regards to Communications, Membership, and Public Affairs Initiatives.
Janine McGoldrick is a veteran entertainment executive who has created and implemented strategic distribution and publicity campaigns for numerous studios and clients including HBO, Cohen Media, Universal Pictures, Artisan Entertainment, Lionsgate, BBC, and New Line to help launch some of the most exciting releases in film, television and home entertainment -- including the 2017 Academy Award-winner The Salesman. Currently, through her company 2nd Chapter Productions, she works as an entertainment strategist and is developing the documentary film Unheard: The Ears of Meniere’s.
Guests
NYWIFT Instagram
Website
Podcast
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
Becoming… International Bestselling Author Jenny Hale (Hallmark’s ‘Coming Home for Christmas’ and ‘Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses’)
Season 2 · Episode 11
lundi 14 mars 2022 • Duration 47:57
Jenny Hale is a USA Today, Amazon, and international bestselling author of over 15 romantic fiction titles. Her books have sold worldwide and have been adapted for television, appearing on The Hallmark Channel as part of their famous Christmas lineup. Coming Home for Christmas was published in 2013 and the movie adaptation for Hallmark starred Danica McKellar from The Wonder Years. Her book Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses was adapted into a Hallmark Channel movie in 2019 starring Jill Wagner and Matthew Davis (who you might know as Warner from Legally Blonde).
She’s been included in Oprah Magazine’s “19 Dreamy Summer Romances to Whisk You Away” and in Southern Living’s list of “30 Christmas Novels to Start Reading Now.” She is also founder and director of Harpeth Road Press. In between having her nose in a book and writing her next novel, she’s running around Nashville taking photos and getting into mischief with her hubby, two kids, and their labradoodle. Her first Harpeth Road release is available worldwide in eBook, paperback and audiobook.
In this episode, we talk about:
• Publishing ten books without an agent
• Butterfly Sisters hit #1 in American Contemporary Fiction on Amazon US on preorder
• How her first novel, Coming Home for Christmas got picked up for Hallmark
• How she was going to stop submitting her book Coming Home for Christmas before getting a contract
• How her book took off and was bought out by the third largest publisher in the US
• Why she is never married to her manuscript and how she feels about changes to an adapted screenplay
• The Hallmark movie adaptation of her book Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Wishes
• The breakdown of her writing process and writing 2-3 books a year
• Tips for writers to write including writing at a coffee shop and 2000 words a day
• What is a publishing imprint and why and how she created her own
• What she is looking for in submissions
Guest:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennyhaleauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhaleauthor/
Website: https://www.itsjennyhale.com/
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
Resources:
The Writer’s Market
Tips for Actors by Top Casting Director Mentors (BONUS)
Season 3
vendredi 11 mars 2022 • Duration 15:37
Question: What do each of the following Casting Directors have in common? Besides being a guest on Mentors on the Mic.
Answer: They all loved giving tips to Actors!
When I asked these incredible award-winning Casting Directors their tips for actors, this is what they shared
Featuring Casting Directors:
Kim Graham - Season 1 Episode 12 (Homeland)
Jenny Ravitz - Season 2 Episode 6 (Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago PD)
Julie Schubert - Season 2 Episode 2 (House of Cards, Jessica Jones, For Life, Manifest)
Julie Tucker - Season 3 Episode 5 (Nurse Jackie, White Collar, The Equalizer, The Affair)
If you liked this bonus episode, check out our Self Tape Tips for Actors from Casting Directors, where we share their favorite tips for making Self Tapes.
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
Becoming... Film & TV Producer, Director and CEO Brian Volk Weiss ("Films That Made Us," "Down to Earth w/ Zac Efron")
Season 3 · Episode 10
lundi 7 mars 2022 • Duration 01:04:58
How do you sell to Netflix?
Brian Volk-Weiss is the founder and CEO of the Nacelle Company, a leading Comedy producing and distribution house. Nacelle has produced and distributed scripted and unscripted content and established podcasting, development, distribution, records, publishing, marketing and management divisions.
Volk-Weiss has created, directed and produced hits such as Netflix’s docu-series, Down To Earth with Zac Efron, The Movies That Made Us, and The Toys That Made Us, and Kevin Hart’s Guide To Black History, as well as Behind The Attraction for Disney +, A Toy Store Near You, CW’s Discontinued, All The Way Black for BET+, and History’s Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek. He served as EP on the revival of the 1992 series Mad About You.
He has been nominated 19 times for Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album and won 4 for production on performances by Louis C.K. and Dave Chappelle.
Through his years managing, producing, directing and writing in the entertainment industry, Volk-Weiss has negotiated deals with the likes of Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, HBO, Discovery, BET+, A&E Networks, Hulu, Viacom, History, and many more. He’s grown Nacelle’s comedy house, Comedy Dynamics, into the nation’s largest independent producer and distributor of stand up comedy.He served as EP on the revival of the 1992 series Mad About You.
In this episode, we talk about:
• The only job he’s ever been fired from (unjustifiably) - and how that lesson has helped him his whole career: “Appearance is sometimes as important to action.”
• The systematic approach he had to making it in Hollywood and why it wouldn’t work in NY
• How he lived off of $3k for 15 months working unpaid jobs - before he got a lucky break
• How he turned a job he didn’t like - being a manager to what he wanted to do, which was make TV and film
• The book that made them change their entire business model and a library of over 1000 hours they still make money from
• His tenets of directing comedy specials vs documentaries
• Toys that made us took us 7 years to sell
• What he looks for in a story and does he now cater to the audience
• The most interesting story that he wants to share involving Chester A Arthur
• Why he may not have started a toy division if he knew what it would entail
Guest:
IMDB Wikipedia Instagram Linkedin Twitter
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
Resources:
The Long Tail
Are Directors and Producers involved in casting episodic TV or Pilots? (With Jason Ensler)
Season 3
vendredi 4 mars 2022 • Duration 05:53
Jason Ensler is an Executive Producer and Director of some of your favorite TV shows. After graduating USC with an MFA in Cinema/Television production, Jason directed PSAs for a friend's marketing company and his alma mater, Brandeis University. That led to being part of a creative team at NBC 2000, promoting campaigns for NBC shows like The West Wing, Scrubs, Frasier, The Olympics and The NBA. Eventually, he started directing and producing shows such as The West Wing, The Newsroom, Scrubs, Gossip Girl, Franklin & Bash, The Passage, The Exorcist, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Red Band Society, and most recently, Love, Victor on HULU (to name a few).
In this special mini Bonus episode, we talk about:
Are Episodic Directors involved in casting episodics?
Are Episodic Directors involved in casting pilots?
How about Producers or Executive Producers?
Resources:
Website
Wikipedia
IMDB
Twitter: @Jason_Ensler Instagram: @jensler43
Recommendation: If you like this episode, check out:
- Episode 1.16 for his full interview
- Bonus Episode on Social Media Tips for Actors
- Bonus Episode on Advice for Guest Stars
Host:
Instagram: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneMiller
Twitter: @MentorsontheMic @MichelleSimoneM
Mentors on the Mic Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mentorsonthemic
Website: www.michellesimonemiller.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/24mmichelle
Becoming... Screenwriter Karen McCullah ("Legally Blonde," "10 Things I Hate About You," "She's the Man")
Season 3 · Episode 7
lundi 28 février 2022 • Duration 51:48
Karen McCullah has written the movies LEGALLY BLONDE, 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, ELLA ENCHANTED, SHE’S THE MAN, THE HOUSE BUNNY and THE UGLY TRUTH. She also did uncredited work on GIRLS TRIP which was the highest grossing comedy of 2017.
Her novel, The Bachelorette Party was translated into 12 languages.
She attended James Madison University, in VA.
In this episode, we talk about:
• How she and her writing partner started working on their first major film, the screenplay for 10 Things I Hate About You
• Being pitched twice in the same day to write Legally Blonde and the changes they made from the original manuscript
• How she taught herself to write screenplays and 3 tips she would give to ANYONE starting right now
• The viral Legally Blonde theory: was Elle and Vivian supposed to get together in the end?
• Helping out on the screenplay for Ella Enchanted
• Pushing for Channing Tatum's casting after watching his self tape before he was famous
• How The House Bunny with Anna Faris came about, starting with a billboard and a coffee date
• Who she is still in touch with on The Ugly Truth and how delighted she was to make the movie Rated R
• What's next for her and how many projects actually get picked up
Book recommendations for new writers:
Save the Cat books by Blake Snyder
How to Write a Movie in 21 Days: The Inner Movie Method by Viki King
Making a Good Writer Great: A Creativity Workbook for Screenwriters by Linda Seger
Resources to read scripts:
Outstanding Screenplays
WGA
Karen: “Read as many scripts as you can!”
Twitter : https://twitter.com/karenmccullah1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenmccullah
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
5 Tips that Will Make You a Better Storyteller (BONUS)
Season 3
vendredi 25 février 2022 • Duration 11:52
5 Essentials to Storytelling 5 tips that will make you a better storyteller.
I teach Storytelling tips to clients all of the time. I have corporate and private clients, one day intensives, and 3 week workshops where I teach tips to tell engaging and powerful stories. Sometimes I talk about how we tell stories, but I also focus on teaching the content of our stories. How do we shape our stories for maximum impact?
The 5 Essentials we discuss in this episode are:
Identify your Audience - Who are you talking to?
Identify your Why - Why is this story important to tell?
Story Arc
What are some details that you can add? Sensory details and names of people and places
Call to Action or Moral
Check out this link to get my 5 Essentials to Storytelling Checklist and Sensory worksheet for FREE.
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
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