Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Pizano. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Marie Pizano, a native Chicagoan, has called Memphis, Tennessee home since 1999. Marie has served on several charitable organizations since moving to Bluff City. She served as a board member of the International Children’s Foundation the Women’s Foundation for Greater Memphis, and The Commission on Missing & Exploited Children.
She was co-founder of the Tiara Tea Society and was the Chair of Go Red for Women. And created and chaired an event called, “ROCK FOR HOPE” for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. During her late teenage years, Pizano worked as an aerobics instructor and fitness trainer. She entered into many fitness and beauty pageants that awarded her college scholarships. After graduating from T.F. North High School, she survived a life-changing motorcycle accident, to then attend, South Suburban Junior College for business accounting.
She freelanced as a model and actress, then attended the Columbia College for Communications to learn hands-on, film direction, lighting, and television presence. To further her experience in business, while attending college, she worked at law firms and worked in the Commodities & Trading industry for over 10 years. She has a financial background and was mentored by Times Magazine’s “Father of Futures” and one of the most “Influential People in Finance”, Richard L. Sandor. After moving to Memphis, TN she furthered her studies in Fitness & Nutrition. From her experience as an actor and model, she advanced her skills behind the camera to co-produce several local TV shows in Memphis, to then, create and produce “Girls Night Out” with award-winning film director, Steven Boyle.
In 2012, Pizano began to become executive producer of the multi-award-winning documentary, “MOMO: The Sam Giancana Story. Since 2005, Pizano has managed and produced several singer/songwriters. Under the guidance of Pam Lewis, former manager for Garth Brooks, she began learning the music industry while managing the Mulch Brothers, to then sign them with Savannah Music Group in Nashville. She then became an agent for award-winning songwriter, Billy Falcon, to then tour with Bon Jovi. After meeting and being mentored by award-winning singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, Pizano created UROC Music & Publishing Company to build a music publishing catalog.
With her vision to expand, and her knowledge of finance, she invested in the Nashville-based, Savannah Music Group Publishing (which holds a 600+ working-song catalog). In 2010, she formed MVP3 Entertainment GroupTM. Under the umbrella, along with UROC Music & publishing company, she formed Zazu & Valentina talent agency and JND Films, LLC. Pizano launched a TV Show called, “The MVP3 TV SHOW: The Making of an Empire” that aired every Sunday on CW30 – Memphis. She produced, directed, and choreographed several music videos.
She is the author of the book, “From Barefoot to StilettosTM, it’s not for sissies” which has inspired the television series screenplay. Her book was produced as an audiobook. It is the first audiobook ever recorded at the legendary Royal Studios under the direction of Grammy-winning music producer, Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell. According to world-known, award-winning actor, Morgan Freeman, her book is, “The First Person Story of a woman driven to prove that she can.” The co-author of the best-selling, Chicken Soup for the Soul® series and the Success Principals®, Jack Canfield endorsed her book by saying “This is an intriguing, captivating, inspirational story of a woman who just doesn’t take “no” for an answer.
Marie Pizano is an example of how you can overcome challenges to live with passion and purpose and realize your ambitions. Her story can help empower and motivate others to find their Yes.” She is currently in development of a slate of other films and partnered with studio production teams. Pizano has partnered with Marvel Comic Book illustrator, Ron Frenz, and writers to create “Stiletto: The Powerhouse Baroness”, a comic book/movie. Stiletto is now a comic strip found in the La Prensa Latina Magazine. Under her former music label, she released several CDs for upcoming Memphis musicians, such as Jeremiah Tucker.
She was successful to place his songs into SONY films and showcase this artist to launch his EP into other productions. Most importantly, while running the MVP3 Entertainment GroupTM empire, Marie is a full-time, hands-on mother of two. She served on the advisory board of the on-location: Memphis International Film & Music Fest and NABFEME. Pizano competed in two recently released documentaries “Shannon Street: Echoes Under a Blood Red Moon” and “Finding Your Yes with Mind, Body and Soul”.
You can see the multiple films that she has produced now on Amazon, selected stores, and have been released in foreign and domestic territories. Her company received the national 2017 Media Award from NAMI Tennessee in Nashville. She was honored to be recognized as one of the Women of Distinction for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and plans to continue to give back to charities through her work in film and music.
She hosted the KWAM THE VOICE “Finding My Yes” Radio Talk Show that aired weekly on AM990/107.9FM and also aired on IHeart Radio. She is currently developing and in discussions to produce projects with an award-winning and well-known actor/producers. Kevin Sorbo, Matt Borlenghi and Alfonso Freeman endorses her project, “A Society In Crisis.” John Amos and many other known actors have showed interest to be part of her projects. Amos was part of a press conference in May 2023 in Memphis to support Pizano, as she announced those upcoming film and music projects.
Inspired by her life story, Marvel Comic Illustrator, Ron Frenz (best known for Spiderman, Thor, and Spider-Girl) and a former team of DC Comic book writers, pencilers, and colorists, created the “Stiletto: The Powerhouse Baroness”, a 52-page comic book, and now comic-strip seen in the La Prensa Latina Magazine (the largest bi-lingual weekly mid-south publication). Her life-inspired superhero is now in development as a full-feature action film with a successful NYC-based production team. Plan to release the graphic novel are set for May 2024.
Watergate Publishing released her new book, “From Barefoot to Stilettos, Finding My Yes, and the new edition of the copy of the “From Barefoot to Stilettos, it’s not for sissies” book and audiobook.
Her audiobook is being recognized as the first in history to be recorded at the Legendary Royal Studios where massive hits by Al Green and Tina Turner were recorded. She is currently co-writing on several movie screenplays, and motivational speaking and has partnered with successful Hollywood production teams to produce several Memphis/Nashville stories, and mainstream, and faith-based storyline films. Marie is recognized with an award as “Women in Business” 2018 by Memphis on the Move and is delighted to be nominated as one of the “The Invincible Women” 2018. She was nominated as, “Warrior Woman” in 2022 by Wundher and noted as a SHERO by the Shero Foundation in Las Vegas for her work with DV victims.
Pizano has partnered with Footprint TV and created her own MVP3 Channel and now venturing into building her own MVP3 Network streaming platform by Endavo Media, as she is building the bridge for Memphis, TN to connect with projects from Atlanta, Nashville, LA, Chicago, NYC, and Arkansas. You can catch Pizano’s blog/editorial in the Bluff City Magazine. She is currently in development with a documentary, “A Society in Crisis: A Family in Divide”, working with legislators to pass mandated laws to help heal children and families to redefine the way divorces are handled and reduce trauma on children, plus help families thrive rather than majority of their finances go directly to the attorneys. She helped spearhead the HB2588 Law in 2020 that now mandates parents who are divorcing must be educated on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and been pushing for the Board of Professional Responsibility to include ACEs Trauma training into the mandates CLE for family attorneys.
She is in the process of restructuring her company to rebuild movie studios and music production houses after recovering from the pandemic, loss of funding sources from the global crisis and those that didn’t come through with their legally agreed promises. She has endured a struggle, but remains positive as she reboots. She is currently in the early development of film projects, “The Walter Bailey Story” and “Hillbilly Bible” while launching her Finding Your Yes with Mind, Body and Soul Campaign and new upcoming release, “12 Steps to Finding Your Yes.” For more information about Marie Pizano, please visit www.FromBarefootToStilettos.com.
This month, November 26 the remake of Bobby Darin’s song, “Simple Song of Freedom” by Memphis Freedom Band. MVP3 Foundation and MVP3 Records released Bobby Darin’s remake of “Simple Song of Freedom” by the Memphis Freedom Band.
MEMPHIS, TN, November 2023- Memphis musicians are uniting in song in a worldwide humanitarian effort to raise one voice to bring peace and love to the world through a remake of Bobby Darin’s 1969 song, “Simple Song of Freedom.” This Memphis music project was spearheaded by guitarist/songwriter/producer, Mario Monterosso, who was born and raised in Italy and became a resident of Memphis in 2016.
The MVP3 Foundation and MVP3 Records joined Monterosso’s mission to help roll out this project to bring this song to global attention. MVP3 Foundation and MVP3 Records are releasing the song on Sunday, November 26, 2023, through Select O Hits, a Sam Phillips family-owned music distribution based in Memphis, Tennessee.
The MVP3 brand and trademark was created in Memphis in 2005. The founder of the MVP3 brand, Marie Pizano also spearheaded the non-profit organization, MVP3 Foundation whose mission is about helping Memphis musicians, filmmakers, and those in the Arts and giving back through its many programs through the arts to heal communities.
Marie Pizano, President of MVP3 Foundation and owner of MVP3 Records stated, “MVP3 is all about Films Music, and Community, and with the community in mind, this year’s 50th Anniversary of the passing of Bobby Darin, and the message to bring love and peace into the world with this song, the decision was made to give back to the Novick Cardiac Alliance organization. I am very honored and proud to have this song released on our platform and help highlight the Memphis talent through this song to the world. We need love right now, we need peace. This song needs to be heard all over the world to inspire unity while helping children’s hearts all over the world too.”
This non-political project that Mario Monterosso conceived and produced was recorded at the legendary Sam Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis, with Scott Bomar as Recording Engineer, and Billie Worley as Film Director.
Many Memphis musicians, singers, and cultural organizations of Memphis are supporting this effort, including. Priscilla Presley, Memphis Queen of Soul Carla Thomas, Kallen Esperian, Rev. Charles Hodges, Dr. Gary Beard, Dr. Keith Norman of First Baptist Church Broad, and Bar-Kays’’ Founding Member Larry Dodson. Their combined efforts and talents merged into the name, Memphis Freedom Band.
Priscilla Presley states, “As a beacon of hope beaming from Memphis, the epicenter of Modern Music, comes the united voices of preeminent musicians proclaiming a Simple Song of Freedom to give hope to the darkest corners of this world caught in conflict. If Elvis were here, he would join in this anthem of hope. Elvis and Bobby Darin dared to dream of a better world through their music. Emanating from Memphis, join our musical prayer for freedom and peace for those torn apart by wars that are raging on our planet. Love wins.”
“This is a beautiful rendition of Simple Song of Freedom. The world today is in a state of unrest, similar to the time this song was written, and fifty years after the passing of Bobby Darin we love to see his music living on in the spirit it was intended” says, Amy Abrams of 7S Management, on behalf of the Bobby Darin Estate.
A 90-second preview and preorder can be found on iTunes starting on November 7th, 2023. Song released on November 26th, 2023 available on all music digital platforms. The music video with a special message by Priscilla Presley will be released on Dec. 20, 2023, and the behind-the-scenes documentary is set to release in Spring 2024. Pizano looks forward to rolling out many songs coming from Memphis, Nashville, new TV/film productions, and plans to be the shift in what society needs in media.
You can purchase a channel, sponsor, and advertise on the MVP3 Network at www.MVP3network.com.
If you wish to donate to the many programs that help communities through the arts, please visit www.MVP3foundation.org.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, as I’ve quoted many times in interviews this hasn’t been easy. Being a woman in general in business and building what I’m building, is not easy. It happens to be all men and many who tried to steal and break down my company on top of leaving me while they ran from what they did wrong nor didn’t do. It has been one huge test of my strength not to break me but I get back up and keep going.
There is no bravery in destroying anyone, empowerment is rising to the occasion to be part of the solution… We all come through this world barefoot, along the way we stumble and fall but we learn— it’s a journey, it’s not easy but we do have the power each day to rise and go find our yes!
We’ve been impressed with MVP3, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The MVP3 trademark and brand are all about films, music, and community.
Film production, music records, and publishing, talent management. Many documentaries such as Momo: The Sam Giancana Story, Shannon Street: Echoes Under a Blood Red Moon, and Finding Your Yes with mind, body, and soul. I find my yes — I am fearless and most of all I build on truth and integrity.
Giving back to help others – proudest is spearheading passing a law HB2588 in 2020 that now mandates parents divorcing to start getting information on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) through their parenting class mandated by courts.
I’m all about films, music, and community — You got sticks, I got a match and together we can make a fire to change the world.
What makes you happy?
Being a mom.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.MVP3foundation.org
- Twitter: @MVP3_Group
- Youtube: MVP3 Media Group
Image Credits
MVP3 Media Group, MVP3 Network, MVP3 Foundation, and FBTS
