Chasing the Extraordinary with Alexia Melocchi

Send us Fan Mail

This heart of showbusiness episode has been brought to you by its sponsor, the Eden magazine. The Eden magazine focuses on awareness and educational articles to promote and emphasize humane living and environmental consciousness for all living beings. The Eden magazine is a nonprofit 501 c three, available online and in print, to take you to the world of living in a healthier, harmonious, and cruelty-free world.

Ashley Avis is the director of the much-loved new rendition of the classic BLACK BEAUTY, currently available on DISNEY PLUS. 

A prolific filmmaker with strong advocacy for all animals, Ashley's mission is to rescue wild horses. In this podcast, we discuss the challenging but rewarding journey from script to screen of BLACK BEAUTY. Still, with the greater focus, we talk about her upcoming documentary and labor of love, " WILD BEAUTY, Mustang of the Spirit West". 

Join me for an inspiring and moving conversation. In life, Ashley leans into what her father taught her- to look for champions- those with a voice and put into action what they believe in, no matter the cost. We also discuss being a woman director, including diverse voices in content and its challenges, and the importance of team building in filmmaking, such as a cinematographer.

Grab a Kleenex when we do a deep dive on the soul of animals with the inspiring tale on Ashley's rescue of a coat and his mother during the filming of the atrocious wild mustang hunt. The pair is now Ambassador Horses for equine therapy for kids, offered through her Wild Beauty Foundation. You will also be moved by the initiatives of 10-year-old Jocelyn. She took it upon herself to rally for hundreds of kids to write to lawmakers to protect wild horses.

Perhaps, we should all use our voices. If they come together as one, they can actually bring about change on many issues. Please check out the links below on how you can help on social media and beyond. 

Connect with Ashley Avis:

Facebook Wild Beauty Foundation

Instagram Wild Beauty Foundation

Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue

Black Beauty on Disney+

How to Help

Let’s Connect!

Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

MERCHANDISE GIVEAWAY

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook and on the podcast's official site www.theheartofshowbusiness.com

Send us Fan Mail

How do you define yourself in 28 words or less?

In today’s very competitive business world, and in Hollywood, you get one shot- to stand out, to make a difference, to get ahead.

And if you have a clear knowledge of your personal brand, you have 10x your chances of getting to the finish line.

There are always people who say it’s vital to define Who do you help? And how do you help them? 

But also it can be translated as what do you do and why? And if there's somebody who really has mastered that ability to showcase it perfectly is my guest Dhomonique Murphy.

 She is a three-time Emmy Award-winning television personality, a mom, a serial entrepreneur, and the owner of several media companies who went from beauty queen to Clubhouse queen, as she inspires millions to leverage their personal brand for expansion always and in ALL WAYS.

 You do not want to miss her personal journey to success and her amazing tips that you can use RIGHT NOW to shine your Brand light so the world can notice!

Connect with Dhomonique Murphy:

Instagram

ClubHouse

Media Mastery Now

Let’s Connect!

Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

MERCHANDISE GIVEAWAY

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook and on the podcast's official site www.theheartofshowbusiness.com

Send us Fan Mail

What if we looked at life’s challenges with the lens of curiosity instead of resistance?

DeDee Pfeiffer has been doing just that in this new phase of her existence. You all know her from her last name, being the sister of Michelle Pfeiffer, but also for having carved her own path of a very prolific acting career with her most recent starring role in David E. Kelley’s hit show Big Sky.

She is back after a 10-year hiatus from Hollywood, where she focused on her well-being, overcoming addiction, and studying psychology to be a social worker. She is very passionate about speaking of the effect of mental health on the homeless population and beyond. During a fun conversation, interrupted by her singing cockatoo while on location in New Mexico, we touched upon the deeper meanings of being an artist and, most of all, human. Faults and all.

And in between, we laughed and celebrated our past and the little things that make life so precious.

Connect with Dedee Pfeiffer:

IMDb

Instagram

Big Sky

Let’s Connect!

Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

MERCHANDISE GIVEAWAY

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook and on the podcast's official site www.theheartofshowbusiness.com

Send us Fan Mail

Is it possible to sell many scripts and actually see the words on a page turned into movies and shows? Yes, it is.

My guest, Kraig Wenman, is the poster child of a busy and prolific writer. 

He has sold 63 scripts and has  27 produced film credits. And he is also one of those lovely Canadians, eh.

His psychological thriller Secret obsession scored 40 million views in 28 days putting in the top 10 most-watched Netflix originals ever. 

You do not want to miss this conversation. We discuss his early days as a starving scribe, to selling his first script, to recently working on set with Mel Gibson and a lot of great tips about pitching, overcoming writers’ block, being collaborative when needing to do rewrites, and how he has become Steve Carell’s doppelganger.

Connect with Kraig Wenman:

IMDb

Instagram

Twitter

Secret Obsession 

Let’s Connect!

Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

MERCHANDISE GIVEAWAY

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook and on the podcast's official site www.theheartofshowbusiness.com

Send us Fan Mail

As kids, we all dream of what we can become when we grow up. But not always follow through on that dream. Eva La Rue did. 

An Emmy winning actress for an outstanding guest performance on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and known for her sassy role of Detective Natalia Boa Vista in CSI MIAMI and many years on ALL MY CHILDREN, plus multiple leading parts in films, this Latina is the complete package: mother, actress, entrepreneur and a good human who wants to make a difference in the world. In an intimate soul-centered conversation, we discuss God’s plan and how we can surrender to our destiny as long as we maintain focus and passion for all that we want to accomplish in life because every moment does truly matter. Get to know Eva as a woman who struggled to make ends meet but took a leap regardless without a net to pursue her Hollywood dreams.  A strong connection to God helped her through a family tragedy and truly understanding the meaning of forgiveness. A believer that “charity should always be a constant,” she has used her voice to champion several non -profits and causes such as the MONA FOUNDATION and EL FARO,  all the while raising her daughter, traveling the world, and continuing her spiritual path through the BAHAI faith. Make sure you stay with us till the very end for some incredible tips for overcoming imposter syndrome.

Connect with Eva LaRue:

Website

Instagram

Twitter

Let’s Connect!

Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook and on the podcast's official site www.theheartofshowbusiness.com

Send us Fan Mail

Billy Gallo is an accomplished actor, producer, and the owner of one of the most sought-after Acting Studios in LA. Having discovered the love of performing at a young age, destiny knocked on his door when acting was no longer an option but a real calling. Having lived in the mean streets of NYC, he packed his bags one day to pursue his Hollywood dream. 

And he did so much more with that dream. He took chances. And they paid off. But it did not come easy for  Billy. You do not want to miss this inspired conversation about creating your own opportunities, paying attention to signs, battling demons, creating a safe space for performers, and finding purpose in helping his fellow Thespians navigate the sometimes brutal Entertainment Industry.

Connect with Billy Gallo:

IMDb

Hollywood Dream Maker Podcast

Manhattan Actor Studio

Let’s Connect!

Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook and on the podcast's official site www.theheartofshowbusiness.com

Send us Fan Mail

There is so many badass female entrepreneurs out there in la la land that deserve to be acknowledged and brought on to listen to their journey and their stories. My guest in this episode is Amanda Tony from Stage 32, which I call the largest social media platform for creatives in the world. I was actually one of the first people who signed up. And I shared the stage with them at the Cannes Film Festival two years ago.

The two things that I believe in the most that make you successful in your career are: One is information is power. And two is the power of networking with like-minded people. 

Amanda will share the journey of joining forces with RB Botto, its founder, and hear how she became an accomplished producer. 

Some of the things we talk about:

1. Crowdsourcing. What is it?
2. What is the meaning behind Stage 32.
3. The intersection between Entertainment and Technology.
4. The benefits of joining Stage 32 – and it’s free!
5. Amanda’s next project- a TV Show- and how she leveraged networking to make it happen.
6. The loyalty factor.

Connect with Amanda Toney:

Twitter

Stage 32

Crowdsourcing for Filmmakers

Let’s Connect!

Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook and on the podcast's official site www.theheartofshowbusiness.com

Send us Fan Mail

Can you win Sundance, become a magician and use mind-reading to master a business meeting?

Apparently YES. 

Producer, Director and ex Studio Executive Susan Dynner certainly mastered the above.

From band photographer to working with Studio directors such as Richard Donner and Wolfgang Peterson, Nick Cassavettes, scouting content on their behalf, Susan is one of the nice ones.

Standing in her truth, she championed the project BRICK which went on to win Sundance. She also directed a documentary on Punk Music which was celebrated by critics at Festivals around the world.

Join me in a conversation about magic, becoming a mentalist, and performing at the Magic Castle- and the emotional impact the Little Prince made on Susan’s life purpose, how she proudly holds space for “the nice ones” because in Hollywood you can have success being nice, in spite of apparencies

We also talk about our mutual love for music, my run-in with Spandau Ballet, and her run-in with David Bowie.

And of course, as all my guests give from their heart, the wisdom gems are a can’t miss!

Connect with Gilles Marini:

IMDb

Instagram

Twitter

Let’s Connect!

Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook and on the podcast's official site www.theheartofshowbusiness.com

Send us Fan Mail

You know him as a sexy French man who seduces Samantha in the blockbuster movie Sex and the City and from being an incredible dancer one step away from winning the mirror ball trophy on the show Dancing with the Stars. But the meteoric rise of international movie star Gilles Marini allowed his Fans to continue seeing him in a multitude of films on the big and small screen.  Our chat today is about the Cannes Film Festival taking place near his hometown, the rise of international content and talent because of the vision of Netflix, and the power of perseverance that is an essential element to make it in Show Business. We also freestyle to so many more fun topics such as how Gilles met his wife, his latest film Venus as a boy, why he never got rid of his accent and the long-term effects of the pandemic with young people.  Make sure you perk up your ears at the end for an inspiring message about the insidious effects of bullying, the need for clearer communication between people, and the importance of free-thinking.

Connect with Gilles Marini:

Instagram

IMDb

Let’s Connect!

Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook and on the podcast's official site www.theheartofshowbusiness.com

HOW DO YOU MARKET YOURSELF AND YOUR TALENTS DURING A PANDEMIC? 

You become an in-demand moderator in the latest networking app, CLUBHOUSE.

My Guest, Canadian actor and producer Bobby Del Rio took a chance with it and it paid off. Big Time

With a 25 year career in Toronto, Canada as one of the most established actors, writers, directors, producers in the country, Bobby saw an opportunity to take on networking to the next level and he did not even need a one-way ticket to  Hollywood.

Today, he runs some of the biggest stages aka Clubhouse room in the film space.

Sit down, grab a coffee or tea, get cozy and tune in to some crazy good insider tips from the man who leverage Clubhouse to skyrocket his own career, but most we discuss the “heart” of his mission, which is to help others use the power of community to breed friendships and true artistic collaborations.

Connect with Bobby Del Rio:

Instagram

Clubhouse

LinkedIn

Let’s Connect!

Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

Thanks for listening! Follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook and on the podcast's official site www.theheartofshowbusiness.com