Chasing the Extraordinary with Alexia Melocchi

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What’s God, family values, and work ethic got to do with it?

A lot – according to my guest, Tony nominee, Emmy Winner, actor, director, producer Blair Underwood.

This episode is not just about Show Business, it’s about Life.

Let’s dive in with this incredibly inspiring, heart-centered conversation with an artist that lives and breathes connection to himself, his purpose, and society as a whole.

Blair will candidly discuss his journey as an actor, his passion for the Theatre, the importance of family, how his Faith has helped him through rough times, giving back, and the wonderful projects he has lined up for himself as an actor, director, and producer in 2021 and beyond.

You will also love hearing about his relationship with acting and directing legends like Cicely Tyson, Ava DuVernay, and how inclusion has changed the landscape of storytelling.

Our conversation extends to being present for our loved ones, dealing with the finality of life,  and Blair’s principles to finding meaning and personal and professional success.

Connect with Blair Underwood:

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Sarah Silverman To Star With Blair Underwood In Indie Drama ‘Viral’

Berlin: Blair Underwood to Star In Cuban Missile Crisis Thriller

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Little Studio Films - Website

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MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

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Does an artist need to hone the skills of self-promotion and branding? Absolutely!

Today my guest, Nicole Hansen, from Ebrandgelize Digital will tell you all about it.  Nicole Hansen is a film and television actress turned CEO of a successful brand awareness and consulting company and a true advocate for women in Business and in the Arts.

Dive in with me as we discuss how she produced and marketed a PSA that her 10-year-old son made about global warming.  Hear the fun backstory of her starring in a Billy Idol music video while impersonating Marylin Monroe!
And get inspired by this true Boss Lady,  who has lent her branding experience and acumen to work on the social media campaign for female DGA directors for Awards Season
And of course, we have to talk about how she also pivoted during the pandemic, launching her quarantine quizine group to share recipes for stay-at-home cooking.
 Nicole will also give you some tips to get eyeballs on your personal brand and movie projects and explain why all women should embrace their age, personal journey, in front of the camera,  on social media, and in business.

Connect with Nicole Hansen:

eBrandgelize Website

LinkedIn

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Quarantine Quizine

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Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

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MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

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How does one make an Award-winning film? How important is the role of the film director in choosing stories that lift our hearts and makes us feel connected?

My discussion with internationally recognized award-winning director Sergio Navaretta is all about meaningful storytelling. Sergio is fiercely passionate about bringing meaningful content that focuses on the exploration of the human condition, which is why he is at the heart of the showbusiness podcast. 

He is currently promoting his latest film, the Cubans starring Oscar winner Louis Gossett, Jr., and a plethora of seasoned actors. He's also an executive producer on the biopic of Lamborghini, starring Alec Baldwin and Antonio Banderas,  has executive produced Arctic Dogs now on Netflix, with Jeremy Renner, James Franco, Angelica, Houston, Alec Baldwin.

 Grab a cup of tea and enjoy an inspired conversation about the journey taken to see Sergio’s latest movie THE CUBAN produced and released. You will love hearing about the unique casting process that Sergio uses in all his movies and the work ethic of Oscar-winning actors.  As a heart-centered director, Sergio has also put on the hat of the producer on multiple occasions and is a fierce advocate of being the master of your own destiny by backing your own vision in any way you can, including using your own credit cards.

 COVID did change the landscape of  Hollywood and allowed storytellers who want to make films about social issues to transform the pandemic from curse to blessing.  And Sergio is ready to fall in love with the stories that celebrate humanity.

Sergio, like all of us, had his share of dark moments and has experienced fear and anxiety, onset and out. Listen to how he switched mindset by embracing his inner journey and why he found his calling to mentor emerging filmmakers in between movies.

 Of course, having shared many Cannes film festivals together, we can’t help but dish on the Celebrities that have crossed our paths and the experience of glitz and glamour of being in the French Riviera meeting film legends. You will have to listen all the way to the end to know who!

Connect with Sergio Navarretta:

IMDb

The Cuban

Website

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Alexia Melocchi - Website

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MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

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Enter the world of global productions with my special Guest Kayvan Mashayekh. 

Kayvan is a man of many talents, filmmaker, writer, producer but he is known for his incredible work bringing global producers together as the Chairman of the International Committee of the Producers Guild of America.

He is also a super-connector and has created insightful content with his vlog CANNES- TASTIC during the Cannes Film Festival as well informative panels on Producing Without Borders.

Join me in this inspired conversation about storytelling, how COVID has affected international productions and shooting, the 3 Ps to succeed as a film or tv producer, and the power of serendipity when absorbed like a sponge how to navigate the Business through Spielberg’s producing partner for Shindler’s List, Branko Lustig.

Stick around all through the end, as we reveal the magic of making heart-centered connections and how it can massively benefit the realization of your goals.

Connect with Kayvan Mashayekh:

IMDb

Power Of Connectivity

Producers Guild

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Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

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MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

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Let’s do a deep dive on the collaborative journey of making an animated hit movie. Today’s guest comes all the way from Down Under! Warren Coleman is the co-writer and co-director of the unforgettable Happy Feet.  In this fun conversation, we reveal some true “insider” gems about the casting of Robbie Williams as the Penguin Ramon, and what inspired Prince to write the hit song THE VOICE OF THE HEART.

Warren shares his journey as an actor, director, writer, doing theatre, collaborating with George Miller, the healing power of music, comedy, and song, and his two cents on how to keep our creative dreams alive.


Connect with Warren Coleman:

IMDb

Happy Feet

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Alexia Melocchi - Website

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MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

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My special Guest today is Frank Clark.  I am sure many of you think that show business is just about being an artist and being creative, which it is, of course, that's a lot of it. And a  lot of it is also trusting your heart. But even in creative work, there is a business element to it. So in order for you to succeed beyond relying on your own talents, you also have to have the mindset and a little bit of a business perspective on whatever it is you're trying to do. 

Frank Clark is a businessman who has made many, many millions of dollars and has bought, sold, and started companies. He is also a top Business coach and has a podcast on peak performance at work called Orange Crushing It.  Listen in for some great advice on how to use business skills to make your artistic goals profitable and how he got his nickname MR. ORANGE.

Connect with Frank Clark:

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Podcast

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Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

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MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

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In this episode, I have a chat with the mistress of the modern Moulin Rouge, Ariana Savalas, who has just debuted her latest album THE DEAD DANCE. 

Ariana Savalas, went from a Catholic schoolgirl to going all the way to London to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. She gained international fame as one of the founding members of the vintage phenomenon, Postmodern Jukebox. Her performances with them on YouTube reached number one on the iTunes stores and this ensemble of talented musicians and singers performed in venues from Vienna to Singapore, in places like Radio City Music Hall and the Greek theatre.

 Fasten your seat belts for a naughty and nice ride on the progression of Ariana’s musical career but also her personal journey as a woman embracing her sensuality and finding her own unique sound and life groove. The daughter of sex symbol and celebrated actor Telly Savalas, aka Kojak, Ariana has carved her own path to stardom.

 We discuss the roots of cabaret and the burlesque, her acting career, her love for the standards, the inspiration that gives life to her own songs, and the meaning of the latest album, that she chose to release during the Pandemic after her residency in Berlin was canceled.

 To top it all off we have to talk about that famous ukulele and her father’s wisdom passed on to her– rules do not apply and that it’s never too late to go for your dreams.

Connect with Ariana Savalas:

Youtube

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Website

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MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

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Actor Philip Boyd is a true Southern man and a gentleman He is known for playing the role of Oscar in Tyler Perry's “The Haves and Have nots”  and has worked with incredible directors at Forest Whitaker, Damien Chazelle, and played the lead in several Christmas movies and romance movies.  We worked together in the first film I ever produced, THE DRONE VIRUS, so this was a reunion chat with so much insight on taking chances in Hollywood. 

In this Episode, Philip discusses his love for performing, packing up his car to move to LA from Atlanta, and how he landed an agent and acting jobs back in the days of headshot mailing and beepers.

We also talk about the power of human connection and how that belief paired with a little bit of magical serendipity got him cast in a Tyler Perry series.

This soul full actor also goes deep into how important it is to help your peers in Hollywood and coping with the sudden loss of his brother, with whom he owned a Sports Bar with.

Stay all the way through the end, for some incredible wisdom about the times we live in, the challenges of isolation, and a personal mantra that keeps him centered.

Connect with Philip Boyd:

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Philip's Podcast

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Alexia Melocchi - Website

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MONTHLY MERCHANDISE RAFFLE!

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Hadeel Reda has been 25 years in film and TV development, distribution and financing. She's a visionary film executive who has overseen marketing campaigns for the Lion King and Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. She also oversaw the international sales efforts of over 30 movies for Winchester films owned by my good friend, Gary Smith. And I actually remember one of their movies Heartbreakers with Sigourney Weaver that I actually have bought the DVD for.

She just released THE RIDE  starring Ludacris that is so timely and inspirational and I highly recommend it.

 In this episode we get real on the job of a producer, and why there is an art to being a good one. You will hear about riding the tide of change in how content is made,  and why she believed so much in the message and story of THE RIDE.

We shared our common views on the power of storytelling and the heartbreak of not going to the cinemas for most of 2020. But truly, at the core of it all, what emerges is seeking authenticity in our everyday life and through film and tv.

Connect with Hadeel Reda:

The Ride - Amazon Prime

IMDb

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Alexia Melocchi - Website

Little Studio Films - Website

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Support the show

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It all started with a Diary entry at age 14, where it said: BIGGEST DREAM- TO GO TO AMERICA FOREVER.

Dreams do come true. 

In my first solo episode, get to know me and hear my journey about moving to America to pursue my show business dreams and the synchronicities and mindset that paved the way.⠀⠀

LET'S CONNECT:

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Work with me 

Merch Store  

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