Make the Set Safe First | George Ellzey Jr. on Creative Burnout, Boundaries, and Leading with Care

05/13/25 • 63 min

What does it mean to direct with care in an industry that often forgets its people? In this episode, George Ellzey Jr. joins Mishu for an unflinching and heartfelt conversation about navigating burnout, building emotionally safe sets, and resisting the achievement spiral. They explore the quiet rewards of creative leadership, how to protect your joy when the hustle hits hard, and why making room for humanity on set might be the most radical thing you can do.

George is a Chicago-based director and screenwriter known for his award-winning short Cottage Grove (now streaming on AMC+) and his experimental film SWITCHIN’, featured on NBC5 Chicago and Open Television. His work has screened at national and international festivals including Athens International, Black Harvest, Micheaux, and Tallgrass. George recently won Best Student Narrative (Cottage Grove) and Best Screenplay (All Good) at the 2025 Lindsey Film Festival. A graduate of Bowdoin College and DePaul University’s MFA program, he brings a steady, reflective voice to Chicago’s evolving indie film scene.

In this episode, we talk about:
→ Setting boundaries and expectations on indie sets
→ The danger of achievement obsession in creative careers
→ Burnout, depression, and learning to pause
→ Sharing knowledge instead of gatekeeping
→ Leading with care and creating room for vulnerability

Learn more about George’s work and follow his production company on Instagram at @cottagegroveproductions.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Learn more about George’s work and follow his production company on Instagram at @cottagegroveproductions.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Previous Episode

The Joke That Scares You | Rey Tang on Risk, Recognition, and Writing Toward Surprise

What does it mean to chase a joke without losing yourself? In this episode, Rey Tang—a Chicago-based writer, photographer, filmmaker, and performer—joins Mishu for a conversation about finding her comedic voice while navigating feedback, audience expectations, and the realities of making a creative career sustainable. They talk about letting go of perfectionism, writing toward surprise instead of shock, and learning to take risks without chasing edginess.

Rey performed stand-up at the 2024 SNL Showcase at the Annoyance Theater and was a Comedy Gazelle Vouch finalist that same year. She’s performed at Laugh Factory, Zanies, and Hollywood Improv, and is currently represented by Stewart Talent Agency Chicago. Rey also hosts Pizza Mic, a beloved weekly open mic that was featured in the New York Times Travel section.

We chat about:

→ The difference between being surprising and being shocking
→ How stand-up feedback shaped her writing
→ Risk-taking as an engine for creative growth
→ Wrestling with the impulse to be “special”
→ Building a sustainable creative life—on her own terms

Learn more about Rey’s work at reytang.com and follow her on Instagram at @reytangerine.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Next Episode

The Edit Is Where You Lose Your Mind (and Maybe Find the Movie) | Kyle Leland on Structure, Fear, and Finishing

What happens when you stop trying to be Wes Anderson and start figuring out what’s actually yours to say? In this episode, filmmaker, writer and editor Kyle Leland Cullerton joins Mishu for a refreshingly candid conversation about fear, delusion, and creative self-awareness. They talk about the high-stakes neurosis of editing, the discipline of outlining, and why learning to tolerate imperfection might be the only way to finish anything worthwhile.

Kyle grew up in Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood and got his start working on the studio film Wanted at just 17. Since then, he’s directed nearly 30 shorts and music videos, won over 20 awards for his series Hammersmith, and had a 48 Hour Film Project short screen internationally at the 2018 Festival de Cannes. His work has appeared in campaigns for the Cubs, Blackhawks, Bud Light, and Subaru.

We get into:
→ Why subtext is the real emotional currency of a scene
→ The terror of the first draft—and the secret weapon of the outline
→ Why a good edit requires a little bit of madness
→ Wrestling with imposter syndrome and calling it commitment
→ Making short films that actually feel like you

🎟 Buy tickets for the 3rd annual Screen Time showcase at the Davis Theater (May 29): Eventbrite link

Learn more at vimeo.com/kalopsiafilms
Follow Kyle on Instagram at @kyle_leland_

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.