Fish's Call Sheet

What really happens after the cameras stop rolling? How does raw footage become the television and movies we love? And who are the creative minds making that transformation possible?

In this fascinating episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael Fishman sits down with Ramy Katrib, founder and CEO of DigitalFilm Tree, for an extraordinary look inside the hidden world of Hollywood post-production, groundbreaking technology, and the collaborative artistry that brings unforgettable stories to life.

Ramy and his team have helped shape some of the most recognizable productions in entertainment, including Ted Lasso, Shrinking, Rooster, Euphoria, The Conners, Roseanne, Scrubs, High Potential, The Rookie, UnReal, Florida Girls, Mayor of Kingstown, Queen Sugar, and Resident Alien.

But what does it actually take to turn thousands of hours of footage into the stories that captivate millions?

Together, Michael and Ramy pull back the curtain on the incredible complexity of modern filmmaking. From Sony, ARRI, and Blackmagic cameras to the growing capabilities of iPhones, they explore how camera technology, aspect ratios, digital workflows, visual effects, editing, and color grading have fundamentally transformed the way stories are captured, created, and delivered.

Ramy shares his remarkable journey from filmmaker and technological innovator to building DigitalFilm Tree into an internationally connected creative powerhouse. Long before remote production became an industry necessity, he was pioneering workflows that allowed artists, editors, filmmakers, and production teams to collaborate across cities, countries, and continents.

In a business where competition, secrecy, and protecting information have often created barriers, Ramy has helped champion a different philosophy: innovation through collaboration.

Michael and Ramy explore what happens when technology serves creativity rather than replacing it, why the best work happens when talented people share their knowledge, and how trust, communication, and imagination help turn seemingly impossible challenges into extraordinary results.

They also examine the future of the entertainment industry, the evolving relationship between cameras and post-production, and how emerging technologies are opening new possibilities for filmmakers and storytellers around the world.

From beloved sitcoms to award-winning dramas, spectacular visual effects to the smallest details audiences never notice, Ramy reveals the extraordinary people, precision, and passion behind the finished images we see on screen.

Insightful, inspiring, technically fascinating, and surprisingly accessible, this conversation is for television fans, filmmakers, technology enthusiasts, aspiring creators, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about how great entertainment is actually made.

Because the magic of filmmaking doesn't end when someone calls “Cut.”

Sometimes, that's where the magic really begins.

Ramy Katrib Links:

DigitalFilm Tree Website - https://www.digitalfilmtree.com/

Socials - @DigitalFilmTree

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with Emmy-winning Foley artist and Reel Foley Sound founder Sanaa Kelley for a fascinating, playful, and eye-opening conversation about the hidden sound magic that brings film, television, video games, and media production to life.

Sanaa takes viewers inside one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated crafts in entertainment: Foley. From footsteps and fabric movement to fights, falls, doors, food, weather, creatures, and tiny character details, Foley artists recreate the sounds audiences feel every second often without realizing the sounds were created at all.

Together, Michael and Sanaa explore how everyday objects become extraordinary storytelling tools. Sanaa transforms random objects from the studio into the emotional texture of a scene. Sanaa reveals how Foley is not just sound effects it is performance, rhythm, imagination, science, timing, and story.

They also dive into Sanaa’s journey into the business, the discipline behind listening deeply, and why the best Foley work disappears into the experience. When it works, the audience does not think about the sound. They simply believe the world.

With nearly three decades of experience, multiple Emmy nominations, Emmy wins for by adding to the texture of shows like Shōgun, and her extensive work across projects including Ted Lasso, Only Murders in the Building, The Walking Dead, The 100, The Flight Attendant, Riverdale, The Conners, The Midnight Club, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, and more.

Funny, surprising, educational, and full of wonder, this episode will change the way you watch and hear everything on screen. Sanaa Kelley reminds us that sometimes the most powerful storytelling is not seen at all. It is heard, felt, and created by artists most people never knew were there.

Sanaa Kelley Links:

Reel Foley Sound Website — https://www.reelfoleysound.com/

Company Socials — @reel_foley_sound

IMDB — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0134085/

Socials — @Sanaa.Kelley

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with director, educator, mentor, and industry trailblazer Dr. Rachel Raimist for a powerful conversation about creativity, courage, representation, and the responsibility of helping others find their voice.

Rachel’s journey began when a high school teacher put a camera in her hands. That early creative opportunity helped shape the rest of her life. From those first student documentaries to her work in hip-hop, rap, feminist media, television directing, teaching, and mentorship, Rachel has spent her career proving that stories can change people, classrooms, sets, and entire industries.

Together, Michael and Rachel talk about her path through the early hip-hop and rap scene, the experience of often being the only woman in the room, and the persistence it takes to build a directing career without losing your heart, family, standards, or sense of purpose.

Rachel’s television credits span genres including drama, comedy, action, musicals, science fiction, fantasy, and family storytelling, with work on projects such as Elsbeth, Bel-Air, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Up Here, Sex/Life, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Fantasy Island, Diary of a Future President, Queen Sugar, Nancy Drew, and more.

The conversation also explores Rachel’s extraordinary impact beyond the set. At the Directors Guild of America, she has served in major leadership roles, including work with the Women’s Steering Committee, Latino Committee, Disability Committee, and Special Projects Committee. She was appointed as a co-chair of the DGA’s Disability Committee, helping expand conversations around access, equity, and inclusion for directors and directorial team members with disabilities.

Rachel also shares the mission behind The People’s Film School, which began during the pandemic as an online space for directors, writers, filmmakers, and creatives to connect, grow their craft, and learn how to break into the industry. The school describes itself simply and powerfully: “open to all.”

Honest, inspiring, practical, and full of hard-earned wisdom, this episode is for anyone who dreams of directing, loves television, believes in mentorship, or understands that inclusion is not a trend it is how the industry becomes stronger.

Dr. Rachel Raimist reminds us that one camera, placed in the right hands at the right time, can do more than start a career. It can help build a movement.

Dr. Raimist Links:
Website — https://www.rachelmakesmovies.com/
The People's Film School — https://www.thepeoplesfilmschool.com/
Socials — ⁨@docraimist⁩
University Web — https://www.theshorthorn.com/life_and_entertainment/hollywood-director-starts-new-chapter-as-uta-professor/article_566446c9-7eb1-4bba-8854-e768c7111cc7.html

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In this energetic and revealing episode of Fish Call Sheet, Michael Fishman sits down with public relations master, bestselling author, and ZTPR President Zack Teperman for a behind-the-scenes conversation about fame, visibility, authenticity, promotion, fatherhood, and what it really takes to get the world to pay attention.

Zack has spent his career helping actors, artists, musicians, athletes, entrepreneurs, brands, restaurants, fashion companies, products, and public figures step into the spotlight with strategy, timing, and impact. As the founder of ZTPR, he has built a high-profile agency known for crossing industries and weaving entertainment, business, lifestyle, food, fashion, and personality-driven branding into campaigns that help people tell their story and get noticed.

Together, Michael and Zack talk about what actually happens behind the red carpet the pressure, the preparation, the relationships, the media moments, and the delicate art of keeping clients happy while telling the truth about what promotion really requires.

They reflect on their own time together at events, why Michael’s rare authenticity stands out in an industry often built on polish, and how the best PR is not about pretending to be something you are not. It is about knowing who you are, shaping the message, and putting it in front of the right people.

Zack also pulls back the curtain on what makes a successful PR stunt, why most people underestimate visibility, and the hard-earned lessons behind his books Enough of the Bull$hit! and Cut the Bull$hit. This is a conversation for creators, entrepreneurs, performers, business owners, dreamers, and anyone with talent, a product, a service, or a story that deserves to be seen.

But beneath the strategy and swagger is Zack’s deepest joy: being a dad. In one of the most human parts of the conversation, he shares how fatherhood grounds him, motivates him, and reminds him what success is really supposed to mean.

Bold, funny, practical, heartfelt, and full of no-BS wisdom, this episode is about more than press. It is about courageously stepping into your story, owning your value, and learning how to let the world know you are here.

Zack Teperman Links

ZTPR Website — https://ztpr.net/

Socials — @ZackTeperman

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with writer, actor, and comedian Tyree Elaine for a funny, honest, and deeply personal conversation about comedy, courage, criticism, and finding your true voice.

With credits including The Conners, The Last O.G., Lil Kev, Black Jesus, Laff Tracks, 50 Central, and Last Comic Standing, Tyree has built a career across stand-up, television writing, acting, and original digital comedy. But this conversation goes far beyond the résumé.

Tyree opens up about getting back on stage, facing public criticism, overcoming personal challenges, and learning how to step fully into the voice that was always hers. She and Michael talk about the vulnerability behind comedy, the pressure of being seen, and the strength it takes to keep creating when the world has opinions about who you are, what you say, and how you show up.

The episode also reveals the trust between Michael and Tyree, including the ways Michael has been a safe space for her through creative and personal seasons of growth. Together, they explore the difference between performing for approval and speaking from truth and why the most powerful comedy often comes from the places we had to survive.

Warm, hilarious, revealing, and inspiring, this conversation is for anyone who has ever had to find their voice again, walk back into the spotlight, or turn pain into purpose.

Tyree Elaine reminds us that comedy is not just about getting laughs. Sometimes, it is how we heal, how we fight back, and how we finally tell the truth out loud.

Tyree Elaine Links"

Her YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@TyreeElaine/videos

Socials — @TyreeElaine

IMDB — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6250638/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_in_0_q_Tyree%20E

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael Fishman sits down with director, producer, mentor, and longtime friend Andrew D. Weyman for a deeply personal conversation about television, leadership, creativity, racing, and the quiet power of kindness.

Andy’s career spans some of the most recognizable shows in television, including Roseanne, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, The King of Queens, Ellen, Cybill, The Gregory Hines Show, Still Standing, My Two Dads, Malibu Country, and many more. But for Michael, Andy is more than an acclaimed director with an extraordinary résumé. He is a friend, a teacher, and one of the inspirations who helped Michael believe directing could be part of his own future.

Together, Michael and Andy look back at a relationship forged through nearly four decades of television history, including their shared connection to Roseanne and the lessons that come from watching great directors lead a set with clarity, confidence, humor, and heart.

Andy opens up about his illustrious career, what it takes to direct comedy, how to guide actors, how to protect the rhythm of a scene, and why the best leaders create space for people to do their strongest work. The conversation also shifts off the stage and onto the track as Andy shares his love of racing Porsches, the discipline behind speed, and the connection between focus, timing, instinct, and trust.

At the heart of the episode is a shared belief between Michael and Andy: kindness is not weakness. Kindness is strength. It is a leadership tool, a creative force, and a way to build sets where people feel safe enough to take risks and do meaningful work.

Personal, funny, inspiring, and rich with television history, this conversation is for anyone who loves sitcoms, dreams of directing, studies leadership, or believes the strongest people in the room do not need to be the loudest.

Andrew D. Weyman Links:
IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0923396/

TMDB - https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1215073-andrew-d-weyman?language=en-US

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with Production Designer, Creative Executive, and Studio Connelly founder James Pearse Connelly for a vibrant, revealing, and highly visual conversation about how television’s most memorable worlds are built.

James is an Emmy-recognized world-builder for some of television’s biggest stages, competitions, specials, and live events. He has helped shape the look and feel of some of the most recognizable shows and events in entertainment. His work includes projects such as Wheel of Fortune, The Voice, The Masked Singer, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Top Chef, RuPaul’s Drag Race Finale, The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady, The Roast of Kevin Hart and many more.

Together, Michael and James take the audience inside the creative process of turning an empty space into a world the audience instantly understands. They discuss design as storytelling, the pressure of creating for beloved formats, the collaboration required across departments, and the challenge of building spaces that must work for performers, cameras, crews, audiences, and brands all at once.

James shares stories from designing major cultural moments, including the new era of Wheel of Fortune, where he balanced nostalgia, fan expectations, and the future of one of television’s most iconic game shows. He also opens up about the scale and speed of designing for live spectacle, including the Tom Brady Roast, which required arena-sized comedy, live broadcast precision, and a massive design turnaround.

His designs are not just for sets, they include real word homes and the painstaking details required for the renovation of the iconic Goonies house in Oregon.

This conversation highlights James’s work both on and off camera, his creative leadership, his award-recognized career, and the imagination it takes to design environments audiences feel before they ever think to notice them.

Insightful, energetic, and full of practical creative wisdom, this episode is for anyone who loves television, design, production, live events, competition shows, or the invisible architecture behind unforgettable entertainment.

Links for James Pearse Connelly:

Website - https://studioconnelly.com/

Socials - @JPConnelly

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1766326/

Television Academy - https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/james-pearse-connelly

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with director, writer, producer, and scientist Dr. Valerie Weiss for a fascinating conversation about creativity, courage, sustainability, and the science of storytelling.

Valerie’s journey is anything but ordinary. Before directing across film and television, she earned a doctorate in science and learned how to ask big questions, test ideas, adapt to results, and keep searching for the truth. Now, she brings that same curiosity and discipline to the screen. using the scientific method not just in the lab, but in the creative process.

She has directed projects including Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Outer Banks, Echoes, Mixtape, The Archer, and A Light Beneath Their Feet, while also serving on DGA sustainability committees and advocating for more sustainable production practices.

She is an award-winning filmmaker and scientist with a Harvard Ph.D., and her public bio highlights work across action, thriller, drama, science fiction, comedy, streaming, broadcast, and features.

Together, Michael and Valerie explore what it means to chase a dream before the path is obvious, how failure becomes part of success, and why the best creative breakthroughs often come from experimentation. Valerie shares how she approaches character, story, genre, performance, and audience engagement with both artistic instinct and scientific precision.

They also discuss Valerie’s passion for sustainability, the responsibility creators have to the world around them, and the power of entertainment to inspire change without losing joy, emotion, or momentum. From directing major television series to developing meaningful projects that connect with audiences in fresh ways, Valerie offers a rare look at how intellect, heart, preparation, and imagination can work together.

Insightful, inspiring, and full of practical wisdom, this conversation is for filmmakers, dreamers, science lovers, storytellers, and anyone trying to build a creative life with purpose.

Valerie Weiss reminds us that failure is not the opposite of success. Sometimes, it is the experiment that gets you closer to the story you were meant to tell.

Valerie Weiss Links:

Website - http://www.valerieheatherweiss.com/

Socials - @valerie.weiss.director

AFI - https://watch.afi.com/talent/valerie-weiss

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with writer and producer Erica Montolfo-Bura for a smart, honest, and revealing conversation about what it really takes to write television that connects.

Erica takes us inside the writers’ room, where character, story, jokes, audience reaction, creative pressure, and collaboration all collide. Together, Michael and Erica explore how meaningful television is shaped, from writing for specific characters, to building jokes that only those characters could say, to navigating stars, producers, network expectations, and the evolving relationship between shows and their audiences.

They also discuss the challenges of creating comedy in a culture where every line can be examined, debated, celebrated, or criticized. Erica shares insight into facing public reaction, listening to the audience without losing the story, and finding the balance between honesty, humor, responsibility, and creative freedom.

With warmth and humor, Erica calls Michael the “Mayor of Lanford,” opening the door to a personal conversation about legacy, trust, and what it means to be part of a show that audiences feel they own.

This episode is a rare behind-the-scenes look at the craft of writing television: how rooms work, how jokes survive, how characters grow, and how creators are finding new interactive ways to bring audiences deeper into the storytelling process.

Funny, thoughtful, timely, and full of real industry insight, this conversation is for anyone who loves television, writes comedy, studies storytelling, or wants to understand how the shows we care about are built from the inside out.

Links for Erica Montolfo-Bura:

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0600132/

Social - @emontey

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with camera operator John Boyd for a fascinating, funny, and deeply appreciative look at the craft behind the camera.

John takes viewers inside the fast-moving world of multi-cam sitcoms and soap operas, where every move matters, every frame has purpose, and the camera team has to capture comedy, emotion, timing, and truth in real time. From the outside, a pedestal camera may look like equipment. In John’s hands, it becomes part instinct, part choreography, part storytelling, and part athletic performance.

Together, Michael and John explore how he found his way into the business, what it takes to operate at the highest level, and the hidden complexity behind capturing iconic television moments.

John shares the secrets of moving with actors, anticipating performances, adjusting under pressure, and working as part of a team where timing can make or break a scene.

This conversation opens a window into one of the most essential jobs on set, the person who helps decide what the audience sees, feels, remembers, and replays.

With warmth, technical insight, great stories, and a clear love for the business, John Boyd reminds us that the magic of television is not only in front of the camera. Sometimes, it is in the hands, eyes, instincts, and heart of the person operating it.

John Boyd Links:

Television Academy — https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/john-boyd

IMDB — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5048933/

Pedestal Camera— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_pedestal

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with makeup artist and designer Zabrina Matiru for a beautiful, revealing, and deeply human conversation about the artistry, trust, and care behind every face audiences see on screen.

Born in Kenya, shaped by a multicultural upbringing, and later building her career in Canada, Zabrina brings a rare perspective to her work that's rooted in color, texture, travel, identity, and compassion.

She shares her journey into the entertainment industry, from discovering makeup through design and special effects, to building a career helping actors transform into characters while still feeling safe, respected, and seen.

Together, Michael and Zabrina explore the makeup chair as one of the most intimate spaces on a set. It is where performers begin their day, where characters come to life, where trust is built, and where the tone for an entire production can be set in a matter of minutes.

Zabrina opens up about character design, continuity, aging, illness, fantasy, beauty, skin tone, representation, and why the best makeup often works so well that audiences never notice it.

This conversation also reaches beyond entertainment. Zabrina speaks powerfully about confidence, authenticity, and the pressure people feel to fit into narrow standards of beauty. With honesty and heart, she reminds us that individual beauty is far more interesting than trying to look like everyone else.

Insightful, practical, emotional, and unexpectedly inspiring, this episode gives viewers a new appreciation for the artists who help shape what we see and the caregivers who help people feel comfortable in their own skin.

Zabrina Matiru Links:

Zabrina's Website — https://zabrinamatiru.com/

Socials — @zabrinamakeup

IMDB — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1339480/

IATSE Site — https://ourwork.ca/blogroll/posts/member-spotlight-zabrina-matiru-on-black-history-black-futures-month/

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with stunt performer and fight coordinator Caleb Spillyards for a raw, energetic, and revealing conversation about the world of stunts, screen fighting, and what it really takes to make action look effortless.

Caleb shares his journey into the entertainment industry, the grind of building a career one opportunity at a time, and the physical demands required to perform, coordinate, and survive in one of the most intense parts of production. From training and preparation to trust, timing, safety, and storytelling, Caleb breaks down the discipline behind the moments audiences feel but rarely understand.

Together, Michael and Caleb explore how great fight scenes are built — not just through choreography, but through character, camera, rhythm, emotion, and purpose. They talk about the responsibility of protecting performers, the teamwork required to sell danger safely, and why the best action is never just about impact. It is about making the audience believe the stakes.

Caleb also opens up about sharing his knowledge online, helping filmmakers, performers, and creators understand how to design action that feels cinematic, clear, and connected to story.

Honest, physical, practical, and full of hard-earned insight, this episode gives viewers a deeper respect for the artists who put their bodies on the line to bring unforgettable moments to screen.

Caleb Spillyards Links:

IMDB — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3710906/

Socials — @CalebSpillyards

Website — www.calebspillyards.com

YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@calebspillyards

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with director Lynda Tarryk for an inspiring, practical, and deeply insightful conversation about what it really takes to build a lasting career in television.

Lynda is a three-time Children’s & Family Emmy-nominated television director, with credits including The Conners, Night Court, Lopez vs. Lopez, The Upshaws, How I Met Your Father, and Raven’s Home.

Tarryk shares her remarkable journey from starting as a page, to working as a switcher, becoming an Associate Director, and ultimately earning her place as an accomplished television director with credits across some of the most beloved comedies on screen.

She reveals how her Associate Director background gives her a technical advantage with cameras, editing, and pace. Her story is a masterclass in preparation, persistence, humility, and learning the business from every angle before stepping fully into leadership.

Together, Michael and Lynda dive into the rhythm of a working set, the pressure of live decision-making, the technical precision behind multi-camera comedy, and the people skills required to guide actors, crews, producers, and departments toward one shared vision.

Lynda also opens up about teaching the next generation, passing on hard-earned knowledge, and why great directing is about far more than calling “action.”

This conversation is for anyone who loves television, dreams of directing, wants to understand how a set actually works, or believes that the strongest leaders are often the ones who took the time to learn every job along the way.

Honest, funny, wise, and full of real industry insight, Lynda Tarryk reminds us that success is not just about getting the opportunity. It is about being ready when the call comes.

Lynda Tarryk Links:

Website — https://www.lyndatarryk.com/

IMDB — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1413749/

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with producer Paige Blankenship for an inspiring and practical conversation about what it really takes to build a life in production.

Paige shares her journey from coming into the entertainment industry, rising from the bottom, and learning how to create her own path in a business that rarely hands anyone a roadmap. From a small town to shining in Hollywood.

With experience across feature films, branded content, events, and production leadership, Paige brings a clear-eyed view of what producers actually do: they organize the impossible, protect the vision, solve problems before most people see them, and will projects into existence.

Together, Michael and Paige talk about the grit behind producing, the courage required to bet on yourself, the personal growth that comes from doing hard things, and the responsibility to give back while still building forward. Paige also shares the kinds of projects that light her up, including work with comedy, heart, purpose, and social impact.

This conversation is honest, energizing, and deeply useful for anyone who wants to understand how entertainment really gets made. It is about ambition without entitlement, leadership without ego, and the creative force required to turn an idea into something real.

For artists, producers, filmmakers, dreamers, and anyone trying to build their own path, Paige Blankenship offers a powerful reminder: sometimes the job is not waiting for permission — it is becoming the person who makes it happen.

Paige Blankenships' Links:

Socials — @Blank_Paige_films

IMDB — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5446761/

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/blank-paige-films

Women In Media — https://womennmedia.com/profile/paige-blankenship/

Website — https://blankpaigefilms.com/work

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with production designer, producer, advocate, and Women In Media founder Tema Staig for a powerful conversation about creativity, collaboration, production, and the future of the entertainment industry.

Tema has spent her career building worlds on screen while also building real pathways for talented women and nonbinary professionals behind the scenes.

Together, Michael and Tema discuss the art of production design, the teamwork required to bring a set to life, the current state of the business, and why protecting production means protecting the people whose skill, craft, and dedication make film and television possible.

As an advisory board member of Women In Media, Michael joins Tema in a deeper conversation about the organization’s mission to set a new precedent for hiring. They discuss the Women In Media talent list, training programs, mentorship, professional development, and the evolution of CAMERAderie — from short films to the launch of CAMERAderie features.

This is an episode about more than advocacy. It is about action. It is about access, excellence, opportunity, and the responsibility to open doors without lowering standards. Tema shares why representation must include real hiring, real training, real community, and real chances to lead.

Insightful, urgent, inspiring, and deeply practical, this conversation is for anyone who cares about the future of entertainment, the people who make it, and the power of creating sets where talent, trust, camaraderie, and opportunity can thrive.

Tema Staig Links:

Tema's Website — https://www.temastaiglive.com/home

Tema's Socials — @temastaig

Tema's LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/tema-staig-46823a20

Article — https://www.heartofhollywoodmagazine.com/post/tema-staig

Women In Media Links:

Women In Media Website — https://womennmedia.com/

Women in Media Socials — @WomenNMedia

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with writer, director, producer, and stand-up comedian Blake Pickens for a thoughtful, funny, and deeply personal conversation about craft, identity, and finding your voice in the entertainment industry.

Blake shares his journey from humble beginnings to building a multi-hyphenate career across film, television, comedy, cartoons, commercials, and live performance.

Together, Michael and Blake explore the discipline behind writing, the vulnerability of stand-up, the leadership required to direct and produce, and the courage it takes to create work rooted in lived experience.

At the heart of the conversation is a powerful discussion about authentic representation not as a buzzword, but as a responsibility. Blake opens up about his personal Indigenous experience, how it has shaped his perspective, and why the stories we tell matter both on screen and behind the scenes.

This is a conversation about comedy as truth, storytelling as service, and the long road of turning where you come from into the power of what you create.

Honest, grounded, insightful, and full of heart, this episode is for anyone who loves the craft of entertainment, believes in more authentic stories, or is working to build a creative life without losing themselves along the way.

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with writer and comedian Eden Dranger for a sharp, funny, and deeply useful conversation about the real craft of writing for film, television, animation, and performers.

Eden shares stories from her work on shows like Beavis and Butt-Head and The Unicorn, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how comedy is built, rewritten, sharpened, and sometimes cut.

Together, Michael and Eden explore what it means to write for actors, how the best performers elevate material, and why great writing is often a team sport. They reveal how even great jokes are not protected from the cutting room.

They also get honest about one of the hardest lessons in creative work: not being too precious. From jokes that never make it to air, to scenes that get trimmed, to the importance of creating your own opportunities, Eden brings both humor and hard-earned wisdom to the conversation. And yes, she explains exactly what she means by being “Horny for Acting.”

The episode also takes a personal turn as Eden reflects on her parents, the lessons they left her, and the empowerment that continues to shape her voice, choices, and creative life.

She also shares practical financial guidance inspired by her Substack, Not So Starving Artist, helping artists, writers, and freelancers think smarter about stretching a check, building stability, and striving for more.

Eden also shares her personal journey and advocacy for Women's Health. From the BRCA gene, to surgery, she shares information for survival.

Funny, honest, practical, and full of heart, this conversation is for anyone who loves comedy, creates for a living, or is learning how to survive and thrive.

Eden Dranger Links

Socials - @Eden_Eats

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10097198/

Website - https://heyitsedendranger.com/

Substack - https://edendranger.substack.com/

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with longtime friend, director, and assistant director Ron Moseley for an honest, hilarious, and deeply insightful conversation about the real work that keeps a television set moving.

Michael and Ron have known each other since the late eighties, crossing paths through some of television’s most memorable productions. Ron shares his journey through the industry, from A Different World to Roseanne, Grace Under Fire, Geena Davis Show, My Wife & Kids and his recent multi-year run on The Neighborhood. Along the way, he opens up about what it takes to organize a set, build a call sheet, lead a crew, solve problems under pressure, and create the kind of environment where people can do their best work.

Ron is an authentic straight shooter with incredible behind-the-scenes stories and a rare understanding of both the logistics and humanity of production. He talks about earning opportunities as a director, the discipline of being a great assistant director, and why leadership on set is about more than schedules, timing, and efficiency. It is about trust, communication, teamwork, family, and happiness.

Together, Michael and Ron reflect on their shared experiences with Cedric the Entertainer, Brett Butler, Roseanne, Damon Wayans, John Goodman and countless others, offering a warm and revealing look at the relationships, lessons, and unforgettable moments that shape a life in television.

Funny, grounded, wise, and full of heart, this episode celebrates the people who make sets work — and the kind of leadership that makes everyone better.

You can find and follow us across social media @FishsCallSheet

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You can watch episodes on YouTube @FishsCallSheet

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In this episode of Fish’s Call Sheet, Michael sits down with writer, creator, and showrunner Simone Finch, the creative force behind the acclaimed series Single Drunk Female.

With credits that include Madam Secretary, Homeland, Roseanne, and The Conners, Simone has built a career writing characters who are complicated, funny, flawed, honest, and deeply human.

Together, Michael and Simone explore the craft behind the page: how stories are shaped, how writers’ rooms function, how lived experience becomes art, and what it takes to create work that feels both personal and universal.

At the heart of the conversation is Simone’s powerful journey through sobriety and the creation of Single Drunk Female, a beloved and socially impactful series that gave audiences a fresh, funny, vulnerable look at recovery, accountability, family, identity, and starting over.

This is a conversation about writing with courage, creating from truth, and using television not only to entertain, but to help people feel seen.

Honest, insightful, funny, and deeply meaningful — this episode is for anyone who loves storytelling, values recovery, or believes great television can change the way we understand each other.

More on Simone Finch:

Socials - @SimoneFinch

Single Drunk Female @SingleDrunkFemale

IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5984133/

Creative Screenwriting - https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/life-on-lifes-terms-tv-writer-simone-finch-on-single-drunk-female

New Yorker Article - https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/what-happened-when-i-stopped-drinking

You can find and follow us across social media @FishsCallSheet

We are building an interactive SubStack.

You can watch episodes on YouTube @FishsCallSheet

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In this extraordinary episode of Fish's Call Sheet, Michael Fishman sits down with legendary television producer Tom Werner, co-founder of Carsey-Werner and on of the most influential creative forces in modern television.

Werner's work helped shape generations of comedy and culture through iconic series including The Cosby Show, Roseanne, Grace Under Fire, 3rd Rock from the Sun, That '70s Show, The Conners, and many more.

His career goes beyond a list of hit shows. It is a blueprint for understanding how television can reflect families, challenge audiences, launch careers, and become part of America's shared memory.

But this conversation goes far beyond the credits.

Nearly 40 years after Michael Fishman first became part of the world Tom helped build, the two reconnect for a deeply personal, wide-ranging conversation about television, timing, leadership, loyalty, risk, legacy, and the evolving entertainment industry.

Tom shares his perspective on what makes great storytelling last, how the business has changed, and what still matters in an industry constantly reinventing itself.

Together Fish and Tom explore his remarkable journey beyond Hollywood as part of Fenway Sports. With connections to some of the most beloved sports institutions in the world, including the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Personal, reflective, and rich with history, this episode is a rare conversation between two professionals connected by one of television's most iconic shows. They unpack and share nearly four decades of life, growth, and perspective.

This is not just an interview with a legendary producer.

It is a conversation 40 years in the making

You can find and follow us across social media @FishsCallSheet

We are building an interactive SubStack.

You can watch episodes on YouTube @FishsCallSheet

Thank you for supporting our show