Fish's Call Sheet

Michael Fishman
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Michael Fishman shares a behind the scenes view of the entertainment industry, celebrating the talented people who make film, television, and streaming production possible. 

  1. 3d ago

    Zack Teperman: Cut the Bull$hit, Tell Your Story, The No-BS Guide to Visibility, Fame & Fatherhood

    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 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

  2. Sep 22

    Tyree Elaine: Actor, Writer, Comedian - Finding Her Voice, Taking the Stage, and Telling the Truth

    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  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

  3. Sep 16

    Andy Weyman: A Director’s Life in Television - Sitcom Legends, Porsche Racing & Leading with Kindness

    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 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

  4. Sep 8

    James Pearse Connelly: Production Designer - Designing the Shows the World Can’t Stop Watching

    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 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

  5. Sep 1

    Valerie Weiss: Director, Producer, Writer - The Scientist Directing Hollywood’s Biggest Stories

    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 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

  6. Aug 25

    Erica Montolfo-Bura: Writer, Producer - Inside the Writers’ Room, Cancel Culture, and the Mayor of Lanford. Jokes, Stars, and the Story Behind the Story

    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 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

  7. Aug 18

    John Boyd: Camera - Pedestals, Pressure, and the Art of the Perfect Camera Shot

    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 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

  8. Aug 11

    Zabrina Matiru: Makeup - The Artist Behind the Face. Makeup, Identity, and the Power of Feeling Seen

    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/ 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

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About

Michael Fishman shares a behind the scenes view of the entertainment industry, celebrating the talented people who make film, television, and streaming production possible. 

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Fishman
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Fish's Call Sheet
  • Show Website
    Fish's Call Sheet