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

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.

Connect with Karlee Fomalont:

⁠IMDb⁠

Website

⁠Wikipedia

Sense and Sensibility 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:

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.

Ponderosa had its World Premiere at Tribeca Festival 2026. It stars Alexis Bledel, Bill Camp and Jack Dylan Grazer. This is a video podcast you can watch on Spotify.

⁠Please read the Behind-the-Scenes recap on Substack!⁠

Sponsor:

Thank you to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠⁠Studio Pilates South Slope⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Studio Pilates Cobble Hill⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Check out the Intro offer here for ⁠⁠⁠⁠Studio Pilates South Slope⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the Intro Offer for ⁠⁠⁠⁠Studio Pilates Cobble Hill⁠⁠⁠⁠.

6 classes for only $60!!!

Synopsis:

When the buffet where Zeke's mom works closes down, he's forced to entertain the wild advances of a rich regular who is weirdly and vehemently obsessed with becoming his father.

This episode has interviews with Dir/Writer Rob Rice and Actor Michael Patrick Thornton.

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

Substack: ⁠https://michellesimonemiller.substack.com/⁠

If you like this episode, listen to this red carpet episode:

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)

Picture for cover art Ponderosa Tribeca Afterparty Photos with Alexis Bledel, Jack Dylan Grazer & Cast | Creators Faire

The Revisionist⁠ had its World Premiere at Tribeca Festival 2026. It stars Alison Brie, Dustin Hoffman, Tom Sturridge, Andre Holland, Fiona and Sophia Robert, and more. Directed and Written by Alex Vlack. This is a video podcast.

Sponsor:

Thank you to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠Studio Pilates South Slope⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Studio Pilates Cobble Hill⁠⁠⁠!

Check out the Intro offer here for ⁠⁠⁠Studio Pilates South Slope⁠⁠⁠ and the Intro Offer for ⁠⁠⁠Studio Pilates Cobble Hill⁠⁠⁠.

6 classes for only $60!!!

Synopsis:

Searching for inspiration for her next novel, Elise subtly manipulates the people closest to her like characters in a book. The sudden return of an old friend challenges just how far she’s willing to go in pursuit of her art.

This episode has interviews with Dir/Writer Alex Vlack, Producers Zachary Spicer and Gordon Strait, Actors and Producers Fiona and Sophia Robert, and actor Max Cortezi.

If you like this episode, listen to the original episode with Writers/Actors and Producers Fiona and Sophia Robert.

Becoming... Award-winning Producers, Writers and Actors Fiona and Sophia Robert (Feature films: "The Country Club," "A View of the World from Fifth Avenue")

I had the pleasure of speaking with two more of the filmmakers of the 'Love Fictionally' Shorts film block at the 25th Anniversary season of the Tribeca Festival. This is part 2! The link to Part 1 is here.

These films premiered at Tribeca on Friday, June 25th, with additional screenings on Saturday, June 13th at 8:30pm and Sunday, June 14th at 2:00pm. I moderated a Q&A after the screening on June 13th.

The description for this block is: Take a humorous, heated and heartfelt journey through love and relationships.

Blake Winston Rice is a writer-director from New Jersey and a graduate of Rowan University.

His breakout short Tea (2024), a 1990s dramedy starring Michael Gandolfini and executive produced by Patty Jenkins, premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

His most recent short, DISC, premiered at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival and continues its festival run in competition at the 2026 Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. DISC was also highlighted by IndieWire as one of the “Best New Films That Premiered at the Fall Festivals.”

Blake was recently named a 2025 Vimeo Breakout Creator for his emerging body of work and also produced PRIME, which was selected for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.He is represented by Kaplan Perrone and is currently developing his debut feature The Empty Lot (Wild Atlantic Pictures).

Jess McLeod is an award-winning trans nonbinary filmmaker and actor. Their first short, DTF?, is still on the circuit, picking up awards internationally, including Best Director at CIFF.

They can be seen next acting in action/comedy feature Normal starring opposite Bob Odenkirk, in new series The Audacity on AMC, and in Jane Schoenbrun's newest film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, premiering at Cannes.

Special Thanks to Ben Thompson and Alan Seales

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... VP of Shorts Programming of Tribeca Festival Ben Thompson⁠

Sponsor:

Thank you to our sponsor ⁠⁠Studio Pilates South Slope⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Studio Pilates Cobble Hill⁠⁠!

Check out the Intro offer here for ⁠⁠Studio Pilates South Slope⁠⁠ and the Intro Offer for ⁠⁠Studio Pilates Cobble Hill⁠⁠.

6 classes for only $60!!!

Thank you to ⁠⁠Welcome to Times Square.com⁠