Creative Work Is People Work | Jamie Kreppein on Film as Care, Leadership Without Ego, and Saying Yes to the Hard Stuff

Filmmaker and producer Jamie Kreppein joins Mishu for a warm, honest conversation about the invisible labor that makes independent filmmaking possible—and meaningful. They talk about the structures behind the stories, the gentle power of showing up, and how leadership can look like care, especially on underfunded sets.

From feature films like Roller Babiez and Year One to the community-run event Film Girlz Brunch, Jamie’s work lives at the intersection of art and relationship. She shares how production roles like AD, coordinator, or casting director offer their own kind of creative fulfillment—and why she’s just as energized by a school film set as she is by a packed festival screening. They dig into scheduling as storytelling, designing rest into your process, and how to avoid burnout while keeping your standards high.

Jamie Kreppein is a Chicago-based director, producer, live events coordinator, and one of the co-founders of Rm. 19 Productions—a company that champions femme filmmakers and intentionally crafted stories. She has worked on numerous indie features and short films across directing, ADing, and producing roles, and is also a dedicated arts educator at Warren Township High School.

We talk about:
→ Crew culture and care as a leadership practice
→ The power of soft-spoken persistence
→ Why everyone should try ADing at least once
→ Finding creative fuel in teaching
→ Working on Roller Babiez, Year One, and Primos
→ Scheduling as emotional architecture

Find more from Jamie:
Website: rm19productions.com
Instagram: @j_krepps & @rm.19productions

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