Meet Mishka

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mishka a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mishka, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

My purpose in my work is propelled by the desire to see my words come to life on screen. Just as importantly, I want to show my young daughters that seemingly unlikely dreams are achievable—that we can turn our failures into the first steps toward success if we don’t give up.
Before having children, I enjoyed a fruitful career in stage acting. In my late 20s, I moved from New York back to Los Angeles and chose to shift my focus from theatre to film and television.
My entry into that new world came through costume design. Costumes were a language I understood; they had always helped guide and inform my own characters in past stage roles. I wanted to provide that same opportunity for transformation to the actors I was working with, now from the other side of the aisle.
This career path took a hiatus when I first had my daughters. It’s a career that requires long hours away from home, and I chose to prioritize my girls for their formative early years.
Writing, directing, and producing entered the picture a year after my second daughter was born. I knew I wanted back into the industry in a much bigger way. I sought more creative control over the “big picture,” by crafting my own film stories, this gave me the freedom to start and propel myself forward on my own terms.
Ultimately, my purpose has always been guided by a deep passion for storytelling, no matter which side of the stage or camera I stand on. And most definitely, the desire for my children to see me pursue my potential—and realize their own—is a huge driving factor in everything I do.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

In an industry that has been in constant flux for years, success requires both dedication and innovation. The landscape of film and television no longer fits a traditional mold. The only way to make progress and actually see your work produced is to become proficient in more than just one area.
In 2020, my husband and I decided it was time to do something significant—something where we had more control. We weren’t going to wait around for the next opportunity; we were going to create it ourselves. This led to us founding Rabiosa Pictures, an independent production company dedicated to original works.
We recently produced our biggest endeavor yet: a crime comedy heist pilot titled Backflip Justice. This project explores character and the human experience as much as it does humor and the classic “whodunit” mystery. We are mere moments away from a locked edit and look forward to its journey on the film festival circuit, as well as getting it into the hands of streamers and networks.
Dreaming big and executing bigger: It’s what must be done.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I wish I could tell my younger self to just go out there and “do”! Go do it! Know what you want, be specific, and start young. Especially if it’s something that is difficult to get into or something that requires time, hard work and relationships. It’s hard for me to list which qualities, skills or knowledge helped me most. I know that being good at what you do means something, and to get good at what you do, you must always be doing it and learning from it. Each new project, job, endeavor – gets to be informed by previous failures and successes – of what came before.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

For me, collaboration is the best part of the work. It’s about getting together with other writers, directors, actors, and designers—pooling our ideas and bringing them to fruition. Often, the final product turns out even better than what was initially envisioned.
I am always open to reading scripts, watching shorts, and discussing plans with fellow filmmakers.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mishka_cardenas/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rabiosapictures4912

Image Credits

Izzy Stevens – https://www.instagram.com/indiespunk/