The Project That Broke Her Heart | Emily Lape on Delayed Grief, Creative Survival, and Letting the Work Find You

Mishu sits down with writer, director, actor, and artist Emily Lape to talk about what happens when a project breaks your heart—and how to find your creative footing again. They unpack how Emily's songwriting, painting, and acting re-lit the pilot light after her feature Abiquiú stalled in pre-production due to the SAG strike, and what it takes to hold onto a story that still wants to be told.

Emily Lape is an award-winning filmmaker and performer whose debut feature Mercy’s Girl is currently streaming on Amazon, Apple TV, and Netflix. She recently starred in Lucy is a Loser, directed by Wendy Jo Carlton, and is Executive Producing Michael Glover Smith’s next feature Heckla.

We talk about:
 → Making peace with pause
 → Returning to songwriting after 15 years
 → Shame, location grief, and post-SAG strike recovery
 → How character-driven stories come back to life
 → Moving projects closer to home (literally and emotionally)

Follow Emily:
Instagram: @emlape
YouTube: @emilylape
Watch Mercy’s Girl on Amazon Prime

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