This article by Bold Journey was originally published here on 1/23/2024:
https://boldjourney.com/meet-alexia-melocchi/
We were lucky to catch up with Alexia Melocchi recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alexia, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Since I was a little girl in Italy I developed a love for storytelling, especially as a visual medium. I moved to the United States in my late teens and by luck (though now I call it destiny) I got into the business of selling American movies to the global audience. I truly believed in the power of creating bridges between Hollywood and the international marketplace and for a while I was a rockstar at that because I could sell a refrigerator to an eskimo and I spoke six languages. As the years went by, the success I had as a FIlm Distributor felt stagnant. I no longer had that fire in my belly because I was focused on the transaction of movies, not the creation of movies and shows. So I went beyond my comfort zone and reconnected with my love of championing the storytellers and in order to do so I had to become a storyteller myself. I realized that my knowledge of 30 years as a prolific film executive had to be passed on on a broader scale that was not limited to producing, buying and selling movies around the world. During the pandemic I created a podcast, “The Heart of Show Business”. The imposter syndrome was creeping in, such as why would someone want to listen to me interview Hollywood players and thought leaders. As more and more guests started coming on my Show, and the emotion and sense of purpose my podcast ignited to its listener, I knew then that my voice had all the Power to inspire, uplift and educate. And so the journey to amplify the gift of storytelling, by artists and my own, began. From podcast, to speaking engagements, to now a book about Mastering the Hollywood path that just released on Amazon, I cannot begin to express the joy I feel about the impact I am creating for future generations of artist. I do continue to make films, but my platform is wider and more authentic.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the partner of a family owned international Production and Distribution Company, Little Studio Films. While also representing international media and production companies as their American liaison office, I have sat in rooms where Oscar winning films and blockbuster movies were greenlit. Attending all major Film and Television markets, I have been excited since the first day we created our company with my mother, in 2000, to give opportunities to voices from all over the world to make movies and television shows that would have both a social and commercial impact. As I started getting invited on Industry Panels to speak about the film making process from A to Z, I found there was a shroud of mystery about how movies and shows get made, from idea to distribution, and that many artist also lacked the business knowledge and mindset to level up and amplify their artistic purposes and mission. I believe successin Hollywood is a convergence between art, business and mindset. That’s how I am still here. So I created a personal brand around the “heart of show business”, through a podcast , exclusive masterminds and now a book called “An insider’s secret: mastering the Hollywood path” which I hope will give some actionable advice and tips for storytellers and entrepreneurs in general, to fullfill their purpose.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe in what I call “the 3 C’s” – that I also teach in my Pitch Perfect course: Clarity, Content and Connection. You need to have a strong WHY on your journey. There will lots of ups and downs, but your WHY will be that light you carry with you through the dark forest to see you to the other side. A WHY is attached to a positive emotion that you want to feel yourself and also give to others as the road to success in order to last cannot be a selfish one. You need to have Content. Not just a product, but something that sparks a conversation and is clearly defined and professionally presented (even yourself are a brand, so your messaging about who you are needs to be crystal clear and authentic). Lastly, Connection is the key that opens the doors. But it’s not a blast email, or a slimy salesman pitch, or a “I want to use you” vibe, it is truly making an effort to connect on a deep and personal level with people who are like minded and will become your mentors, your champions, your allies, your ultimate raving fans. I think in these times, going the extra mile to get to know people on a human level, versus social media, is the best investment you can make on your personal and professional journey.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I would have to give the credit to my mother who dreamt big and taught me about integrity and courage. Hollywood can often be seen as a cynical or hypocritical place. And it can be sometimes, especially when you are a woman and an entrepreneur. I have always kept inside me a strong sense of identity and authenticity- everyone who knows me is aware that what they see is what they get. Even if I had walk away from opportunities, or situations or people, and it cost me financially and otherwise, I did so with my head held high and a full awareness that life is working for you, not against you. Whenever there is a challenge, I do three things: I meditate and quiet my mind so I can change my inner vibration, I find a book, or an audio or a video that will give me more knowledge, more information about the challenge I am facing, and lastly I don’t retreat, I expand my reach. As Michelle Obama so wisely said- when they go low, we go higher. I want to live a life of no regrets, knowing that I did my best, and that someone, somewhere has benefited from the work and words I have put out into the world.
