Mischief and Mastery

Letting the Work Stay Playful | Victoria Salazar on Sound, Curiosity, and Crossing Mediums

In this episode, Mishu talks with Victoria Salazar, a sound designer and re-recording mixer at Noisefloor LTD, about developing taste over time and following curiosity across formats without locking yourself into a single lane too early. Victoria reflects on moving between film, commercials, and games, and how each medium asks for a different kind of attention. Rather than treating sound as something precious or mystical, she talks plainly about listening, making choices, and staying open to surprise. Games, in particular, come up as a place where sound gets to be playful again — less precious, more iterative, and closer to instinct. The conversation also touches on learning by watching and listening closely, how short-form projects fit naturally into her way of working, and why enjoying the process matters if you’re going to keep doing this for the long haul. 🎧 Victoria Salazar is a Chicago-based sound designer and re-recording mixer whose work spans independent films (Kombucha, Room Six, Ghost of the Void), commercial campaigns for Jeep and Checkers Rally’s, and games including Destiny 2 and SpongeBob Idle Adventures. We talk about:  → Developing taste by listening, not theorizing  → Letting curiosity — not career strategy — guide medium shifts  → What feels different about working in games versus film  → Making sound choices without over-intellectualizing them  → Keeping the work playful instead of precious Connect with Victoria: Website: victoriaudio.com [https://www.victoriaudio.com/] Instagram: @vict.wav [https://www.instagram.com/vict.wav/] Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com [https://mischiefpod.com/] and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod [https://www.instagram.com/mischiefpod] Produced by @ohhmaybemedia [https://www.instagram.com/ohhmaybemedia]

Staying With the Work | Kyle Anne Grendys on Responsibility, Process, and Letting a Film Grow

In this episode, Mishu sits down with filmmaker and editor Kyle Anne Grendys to talk about making a documentary from the inside of an experience most people will never encounter. They get into what it means to work inside communities often flattened by the word “disability,” how responsibility can shape creative decisions, and why Kyle has chosen patience while expanding her short documentary into a feature. They talk about what it means to tell a story when you are also one of its subjects, how rarity changes the stakes of representation, and why expanding the film into a feature isn’t a matter of ambition so much as responsibility. Kyle reflects on living with the film over time — screening it widely, hearing from other people with the condition, and sitting with the knowledge that for some viewers, this film may be the only time they see themselves reflected on screen. 🎬 Kyle Anne Grendys is a Chicago-based filmmaker and editor whose award-winning short bio-documentary Fraser Syndrome & Me has screened at over 80 festivals across 15 countries. She’s currently developing the project into a feature-length documentary and recently earned her MFA in Film & Television Directing from DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts. More from Kyle: Website: kyleannegrendys.com [https://www.kyleannegrendys.com/] Instagram: @kyleanne [https://www.instagram.com/kyleanne/] Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com [https://mischiefpod.com/] and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod [https://www.instagram.com/mischiefpod] Produced by @ohhmaybemedia [https://www.instagram.com/ohhmaybemedia]

Color Is a Language | Xanthe Brown on Taste, Translation, and Creative Authority

In this episode, Mishu sits down with editor, colorist, writer, and producer Xanthe Brown to talk about what happens after a year of saying yes to everything — the growth, the at-times exhaustion, and the challenging balancing act of sustainability through practicing boundaries. They dig into the emotional and technical labor of post-production, why color is one of the hardest creative languages to translate, and how learning to articulate visual feeling is as much about empathy as it is about skill. Xanthe shares what it’s been like building a post-production career straight out of film school, navigating friend-based collaborations, and balancing generosity with self-preservation. From unsupervised color notes and budget-driven workflows to the discomfort of asking for limits, this conversation is about maturing creatively without hardening — and learning when “yes” can become “not right now.” Xanthe Brown is a Chicago-based editor, colorist, writer, and producer whose work spans independent features, documentary series, and branded content. She was a producer and editor on the feature mockumentary Line Cooks (premiering 2026), is currently coloring the documentary series One Million Experiments in the Field, and served as post-producer on Adam Present’s American Dendrite, which screened at the Chicago Underground Film Festival. We talk about:  → Why color notes are emotional translations, not technical instructions  → The hidden cost of being “the only colorist people know”  → Supervised vs. unsupervised post workflows (and what budget really dictates)  → Using lessons from producing and post production to inform a writing practice Learn more about Xanthe at xanthemoon.com [https://www.xanthemoon.com/] and follow her on Instagram: @xanthe_does_film [https://www.instagram.com/xanthe_does_film/] Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com [https://mischiefpod.com/] and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod [https://www.instagram.com/mischiefpod] Produced by @ohhmaybemedia [https://www.instagram.com/ohhmaybemedia]

A Practice Beyond Permission | Brynley Halverson on Writing, Identity, and Creating Without Being Chosen

In this episode, Mishu sits down with actor and writer Brynley Halverson to talk about the strange, liberating year where acting work slowed down and the writing door swung wide open. They get into what it means to build a creative life that isn’t dependent on being chosen, why co-writing has become an unexpected artistic home, and how having a permissionless outlet can quiet the old scarcity mindset. Brynley is a Chicago-based nonbinary transfemme performer, writer and theatre maker whose work spans Shakespeare, immersive theatre, and new-play development. They’re a founding member of Astral Stage Collective, where they co-wrote and performed in the world premieres Stardog and The Space Between. A decade into their acting career, they’re now exploring the pull of writing with a collaborative approach that feels equal parts craft and lightning-in-a-bottle. This conversation is about creativity as companionship — not competition — and how claiming one artistic lane can free up another. We talk about: → When acting slows down — and why it doesn’t have to break you → The peace that comes from having a creative outlet no one has to “grant” you → Co-writing immersive plays where four stories run at once → Navigating identity, agency, and artistic longevity in a city like Chicago Learn more about Brynley on Instagram: @bralverson [https://www.instagram.com/bralverson/] Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com [https://mischiefpod.com/] and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod [https://www.instagram.com/mischiefpod] Produced by @ohhmaybemedia [https://www.instagram.com/ohhmaybemedia]

Let the Music Lead | Yuxin Lu on Emotional Scores, Instinct, and Writing What Feels True

In this episode, Mishu sits down with Chicago-based composer and sound designer Yuxin Lu to talk about slowing down, trusting your musical instincts, and finding your voice between two sonic worlds. They get into what happens when the work goes quiet for a while, how spotting a feature film changes the way you see structure, and why Yuxin refuses to fake a genre they can’t stand behind. Yuxin blends intimate piano work, synth-forward energy, and a cross-cultural musical language shaped by both Chinese and Western traditions. Their work spans film scoring, sound design, sync production, and solo releases like the 2021 EP Pink Area. They also bring experience from Paramount/MTV’s First Time Composers initiative and collaborations with 5 Alarm Music and Jingle Punks. This conversation dives into process, honesty, restraint, and how to write music that actually fits the picture — not just the temp track. We talk about: → What a spotting session really looks like, and how it shapes the entire score → Why it matters to admit the genres you can’t do (and how that builds trust) → Writing emotional piano vs. high-energy synth beats — and living in both worlds → The difference between a score that supports a scene and one that performs over it More from Yuxin: Website: sourlyx.com [https://sourlyx.com/] Instagram: @sourlyx [https://www.instagram.com/sourlyx/] Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com [https://mischiefpod.com/] and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod [https://www.instagram.com/mischiefpod] Produced by @ohhmaybemedia [https://www.instagram.com/ohhmaybemedia]