The Vermilion Podcast

We're trying something new! With everything going on in the world, here’s a guided meditation (Body Scan) designed to ground you and re-associate you into your body. This Body Scan exercise is pulled from the movement programs at the top acting MFA programs in the country. We also paired it with our own original binaural beats, which are scientifically proven to link your left and right hemis...

How do you know if you’re an artist? Misha cites a powerful study by NASA that single-handedly changes the conversation. You’ll also hear strategies on protecting and cultivating your artistic impulse as well as a few threats to creativity you’re going to want to avoid. This episode is valuable for anyone looking to dust off their imagination or innovation, or individuals looking to expand your cr...

Have you ever wanted to make changes in your life and start living a new and improved version of yourself, but felt a frustrating lack of energy or time to put things in motion? This week Misha takes you through a powerful exercise to help you understand your unique energetic signature. This is comprised of four aspects specific to only you which can unlock the secret to the joyful, fulfilling lif...

Join Misha and Raye Spielberg for an in-depth discussion about acting, filmmaking, and what it was like to work together on Misha’s film PINK FLAGS. This episode was originally recorded for the podcast “Show Don’t Tell,” hosted by Noam Kroll. Edited by Meher Mirpuri Music by Manor of Animals Follow Raye Spielberg: www.instagram.com/rayespielberg If you liked this episode, slide into our...

If you’ve been considering acting school, you don’t want to miss this episode. Misha lays out arguments for and against BFA and MFA acting programs and gives specific anecdotes about programs that might surprise you. She also discusses alternative, affordable training opportunities for actors leaning toward film and television. In the episode, we also mention free acting MFA pr...

If you’ve ever wanted to break into television as a creator, this episode is for you! Misha details her years trying (and succeeding) at selling an episodic series to a network. Her experience both developing a show with a network, as well as selling a finished show to a network, will help you to understand what streamers and studios are looking for. She shares valuable marketing, pitching, and co...

Rejection is everywhere in the arts, and unless you have a method for dealing with it, it can really take a toll on you. In this episode, Misha outlines six extremely simple and actionable steps to navigating rejection in any medium (even relational). By the end of the episode, you’ll have a solid formula on how to turn your biggest letdowns into your biggest triumphs.  Edited by Olivia Vella...

Clarity, energy, inspiration and power. These are some of the things you'll experience after a well-constructed artist's retreat. Misha dives into specifics on how to create an amazing retreat for yourself at any budget level, and offers her personal experience with a life-changing retreat she took this past fall. Don't forget to pack your camera! Edited by Olivia Vella Music by Manor of Animals I...

We’re revisiting a conversation from our previous podcast with actor Margaret Judson who has appeared on shows like MODERN FAMILY, THE NEWSROOM, THE DEUCE, and of course Misha Calvert’s own hit comedy STRUT—for which Margaret campaigned for a Best Actress Emmy. Margaret is also a full-time journalist and consulted Aaron Sorkin as he was developing THE NEWSROOM. Her achievements as an artist and cu...

This week, we tackle one of our most-often asked questions in class: how to transition your craft from theater acting to on-camera acting. Most training programs still offer stage training, without any real exploration of what the camera wants to see. So after three decades of experience as an actor, and ten years as an acting instructor, Misha quickly breaks down for you the process of shifting f...

The US Presidential election, which threatens a torrent of negative repercussions in the near future, is sending shock waves not only nationally, but internationally. Many artists are feeling uneasy about what comes next. Our episode this week delves into some ways to stay creative during moments of political upheaval, including turning outrage and a desire for change into revolutionary art. We al...

If you're struggling to know what to write about, which project to start next, or seeking basic artistic motivation, here are some low-hanging ways to get your creative engines firing. There have been studies done showing as children most of us score on the genius level of creativity, but by our mid-30s only 2% are still scoring that highly. If we want to retain our creativity, we want to build a...

Artists are highly sensitive beings, and this week we talk about how to regulate your nervous system in order to continue the incredibly important job of bringing new ideas and experiences into the world. The cultural climate is getting increasingly polarized, and although the need to stay regulated is universal and timeless, it feels more important than ever. Misha gives you some very practical,...

Have you ever wondered what really goes on when you submit to a film festival? Whether it's a script, a short film, or a feature, there are certain things that the pre-screeners look for that will land your project in either the "yes" or "no" pile. This week we sit down with film festival screener and reader Fiona Torres Moino who has been on the team for the prestigious Nantucket Film Festival as...

"She who gets the money makes the film."  This week Misha reveals her personal formula for getting people to invest in her films. Some of the methods involve mindset shifts, and others are simple, practical networking strategies. The focus is on results: do what works! She also covers what to do once you get an investor, and how to keep them happy. This is a must-listen for anyone raising sma...

If you want to achieve jaw-dropping, unforgettable performances as an actor, you are going to need to master "non-acting." It sounds like a paradox, and yet it's the very thing that catapults top actors in the business to their Academy award-winning performances. In this episode, Misha outlines the formula she uses on set and in the classroom to help actors do some of their best work. This method...

Did you know that films directed by women are 4% more likely to be profitable at the box office? The business behind gender is fascinating. And yet right now only 16% of films are directed by women. This is just one statistic of many in this week's episode that might surprise you. Misha gives you more data on why female and non-binary crew are an incredibly valuable asset to your film, and where e...

The job of actors is to convince people that what you're seeing, doing, and feeling is real...but what happens when you the actor don't believe the scene? Or what do you do if you have an audition due but the character doesn't resonate? In this episode, Misha shares some powerful practices she learned over the past 35 years as an actor to be able to show up for every audition with excitement, enga...

This week, Misha shares the vulnerable secrets of some of her biggest and most spectacular mistakes while creating her film and television projects...things like contracts missteps, going over budget, and how to get rid of a toxic narcissist on set.  Hopefully some of these true stories will help you along your own journey in film and television, and if you're able to avoid any of these mista...

In this episode, we speak with award-winning casting director Erica Hart for a long, and very informational interview about acting and auditioning. Her credits include BLACK MIRROR, THE GIRLS ON THE BUS, THE EQUALIZER, and on Broadway CHICKEN AND BISCUITS, PASS OVER. This episode originally aired on the podcast Unlikely Protagonist, co-hosted by Misha Calvert and Brett Epstein.   Co-hosted by...

This week we answer a very commonly-asked question from screenwriters. Should you outline? Or not??? Misha gives a short and sweet answer, along with some tips that will help you go faster and farther with your writing craft!  Edited by Jessie DiMatteo  If you liked this episode, slide into our DMs! You can reach our team at @clubvermilion on Instagram. www.instagram.com/clubvermilion &n...

If you're a film director, don't get caught in the trap of thinking you have more time than you do. In this episode Misha dives into how many takes you can realistically expect to have on an indie film set (hint: it's probably less than you think). She also shares some astonishing real-life stories from Hollywood sets with directors who were either multiple-take-machines, or one-take wonders! This...

If you’re not a nepo baby, one of the most compelling ways into Hollywood as a filmmaker is film school. But is it all it’s cracked up to be? Our host Misha Calvert did not attend film school, and she has strong thoughts about the pros and cons of either a BFA or MFA film program. She weighs factors like craft, confidence, and networking. By the end of this episode, hopefully you’ve heard all the...

Have you tried logging 40 hours a week on your creative career? If you’re not seeing the results you want, this one simple fix will probably change everything. But where will you get those hours?  In this episode, Misha breaks down simple and practical methods to adding 2 more hours to your day. From the time of day when your brain is most effective to how to delegate menial tasks, Misha expl...

Actors, we’re here to dispel the myth that your success in this business is based on luck. That couldn’t be further from the truth! It’s actually based on the two most basic principles of business: product and marketing. In this episode, Misha covers marketing, and the top ways to market your acting in order to quickly generate more bookings. From casting director classes to social media, this epi...