Episode #13 Joshua Mesnik & Michael Rekola: Finding fulfillment in the creative arts, mastering your craft and the future of entertainment

Guests:

Joshua Mesnik is an American actor. He grew up in Naples, Florida and graduated from Florida State University, where he was a longtime member of the campus favorite “30in60” Sketch Comedy Troupe. While working in New York City as a public educator with The QUESTion Project, he began his acting training at the TGW Acting Studio NYC. Soon thereafter he relocated to Los Angeles to begin his work as an actor for film and voice.

Michael Rekola is a producer and storyteller with a focus on helping independent filmmakers craft their films! His specialty ranges from the development of script through to distribution. The first chapter of Mike’s story began on Capitol Hill in the early 2010s where he cut his teeth as a communications director in Congressional Leadership as a producer and director of digital media.

Then it was onto FWD.us, a non-profit founded by Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, where Mike was their inaugural communications director who built an entire office and operations. After producing hundreds of successful media packages, Mike decided to make the leap to full entrepreneurship in 2017. Since then Mike has produced, invested, or supported films that have played at Berlinale Film Fest, been sold to American distributors, and is currently developing his next feature film — Burying Doris.

Outside of producing, Michael uses his talents to host the NATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, as its Executive Director and Founder. This Film Festival focuses on champion local and national emerging filmmaking talent. “A rising tide lifts all ships,” is a common phrase you’ll hear Michael repeating. He splits his time between Washington, D.C., and his Great Grandfather’s Farm in Brooklyn, CT with his wife Kaitlin, toddler, Emmi, and undomesticated and devoted canine of eleven years – Monty.