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 and the Women’s Foundation for Greater Memphis, and COMEC, the Commission on Missing & Exploited Children. She was co-founder of the Tiara Tea Society and Chair for Go Red for Women. Marie has chaired and created the event called “ROCK FOR HOPE,” the concert that benefited the 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. She attended South Suburban Junior College for business accounting.. She freelanced as a model and actress, then attended the Columbia College for Communications in Chicago. She has been trained by hands-on film direction, lighting, and television presence. To further her experience in business while attending college, she worked at law firms and worked over 10 years within the Commodities & Trading industry. She was mentored by Richard L. Sandor, who was Times Magazine’s “Father of Futures” and one of the most “Influential People in Finance.”
After moving to Memphis, TN, she furthered her studies and received a degree in Fitness & Nutrition. From her experience as an actor and model, she advanced her skills behind the camera to co-produce several local Television shows in Memphis. She created and co- produced the pilot for the show “Girls’ Night Out,” with award-winning film director, Steven Boyle. In 2012, Pizano became the executive producer of the multi award- winning documentary “MOMO: The Sam Giancana Story.”
After the night she met Bret Michaels, during the afterparty of his Poison concert in Nashville, Pizano’s life changed forever. She was introduced to Billy Falcon, who writes hit songs with Jon Bon Jovi, and since then, she 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 with Savannah Music Group in Nashville. She then became an agent for award-winning songwriter Billy Falcon, as he opened for a few concerts with Bon Jovi in his tour. After meeting and briefly being mentored by multi award-winning singer and songwriter Kenny Loggins, Pizano created UROC music & publishing company (which then was named MVP3 Music Group with dba’s/MVP3 Records and MVP3 Publishing) to build a new music publishing catalog.
With her vision to diversify in various sectors of the entertainment industry and her expertise in finance, she invested in Savannah Music Group Publishing, based in Nashville, which boasts a catalog of over 600 active songs. In 2010, she established MVP3 Entertainment GroupTM. Under the MVP3 brand, she launched not only the music label and publishing division but also the Zazu & Valentina talent agency and JND Films, LLC. She later restructured the entities to debut the TV show “The MVP3 TV SHOW: The Making of an Empire,” which aired every Sunday on CW30 Memphis. Additionally, she produced, directed, and choreographed multiple music videos.
She is also the author of “From Barefoot to StilettosTM: It’s Not for Sissies,” which served as inspiration for a movie screenplay and was released as an audiobook. This audiobook was the first recorded at the iconic Royal Studios, produced under the guidance of Grammy-winning music producer Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell. Renowned award-winning actor Morgan Freeman praised her book, calling it “the first personal story of a woman driven to prove that she can.” Jack Canfield, co-author of the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul® series and The Success Principles®, endorsed her work, stating, “This is an intriguing, captivating, inspirational story of a woman who refuses to accept ‘no’ for an answer. Marie Pizano exemplifies how to overcome obstacles and live with passion and purpose, achieving your dreams. Her story is a source of empowerment and motivation for others seeking their own ‘Yes.’”,
Marie is currently working on the development of multiple film projects under MVP3 Network and MVP3 Foundation and has partnered with other studio production teams. While over the years of being guided by her legendary life-time achievement Grammy winner friend Al Bell (co-founder of STAX), under her music label, she recently released several CDs/songs for upcoming Memphis and Nashville musicians.
Most importantly, Marie is a full-time, hands-on mother of two. She also served on the advisory board of the On Location: Memphis International Film & Music Fest and NABFEME. Pizano completed two recently released documentaries: “Shannon Street: Echoes Under A Blood Red Moon” and “Finding Your Yes with Mind, Body, and Soul.” You can see most of her films now on Amazon Prime and other selected stores – she had releases in foreign and domestic territories as well. Her company received the national 2017 Media Award from NAMI Tennessee in Nashville. She was 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 with the MVP3 Foundation. She was the host of the iHeart radio show “MVP3/Finding My Yes,” a radio talk show that aired weekly on 600WREC/92.1FM. She briefly joined the Grace Broadcasting platform and aired her radio show on 1250 AM - The Crazy 80’s Station. She is currently developing a Christian based film, “Hillbilly Bible,” and many other purpose driven films. She now proudly serves on the board of the global organization TUFF.earth as their Memphis lead for their US project Road To Memphis.
Inspired by her life journey, Marvel Comic Illustrator Ron Frenz—renowned for his work on Spider-Man, Thor, and Spider-Girl—along with a former team of DC Comics writers, pencilers, and colorists, created the comic book Stiletto: The Powerhouse Baroness, a 52- page graphic novel. Additionally, a comic strip version of Stiletto appears in La Prensa Latina, the largest bilingual weekly publication in the Mid-South. Her life-inspired superhero is currently in development as a full-length action film with Trick Candle Productions and producer Tom Malloy.
In 2020, Pizano helped spearhead HB2588, a new law that mandates parents who are divorcing to included a 30-min video to educate them on ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) in hopes to reduce trauma on children and creak the trauma cycles in families. She is committed to helping community heal ACEs, and helping children while empowering women and men. She seeks to redefine the way divorces are handled and hold family lawyers accountable for their part in fueling, aiding and condoning parental alienation and domestic violence. She believes the family court system should re-design itself to help families heal and thrive, not left to barely survive financial burden and trauma. She believes family lawyers should be mandated to take ACEs education and certification to ensure they do their best and hold their ethical and moral duty to help reduce the trauma on children going through divorce.
Pizano has released a new edition of her book, From Barefoot to Stilettos: It’s Not for Sissies, along with its audiobook on Amazon. Her audiobook is notable for being the first ever recorded at the legendary Royal Studios, famous for hits by Al Green and Tina Turner. She also published a sequel, Finding My Yes, in April 2021. Pizano is currently co-writing several movie screenplays, engaging in motivational speaking, and collaborating with successful Hollywood production teams to create multiple films based in Memphis, covering both mainstream and faith-based storylines.
In 2018, she was honored with the "Women in Business" award by Memphis on the Move and was also nominated as one of “The Invincible Women.” Recognized as a champion for women's empowerment, she was nominated as one of the SHEROS at the S.H.E.R.O. Foundation event in 2019. Additionally, she contributed to Bluff City Magazine, where her editorials on Finding My Yes were featured. Recently, she partnered with Footprint TV, owned by ENDAVO Media, to launch her own MVP3 Network. In 2020, she began the process of establishing her own movie studios, which will include six movie sound stages and music recording facilities.
After the unfortunate closing of the MVP3 Studios due to lack of funding by investor, she still remained committed to the integrity of the project by helping to save the building from legal and property damage for the land owner to resale and prosper. She then reinvented herself and her companies by opening MVP3 Media Group, MVP3 Network, and MVP3 Music Group. She is the owner and producer for MVP3 Network, which is an OTT streaming platform. She has been recognized as a WARRIOR WOMAN by Wundher, and she is still on a mission to kick down the doors to redefine the entertainment industry by leading the way by positive example on truth and integrity.
She released two songs with a give-back from her record label “Simple Song of Freedom” by the Memphis Freedom Band, which consists of many well-known and award-winning musicians. It is a remake of Bobby Darin’s version that benefits Global Novick Cardiac Alliance. The label also released “House That Love Built,” which benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and was written by Rice Drewry and performed by the late legendary Jimi Jamison, who was passionate about creating win- win opportunities. She is committed to helping veterans through the Alpha Omega Veterans Services. She is constantly on the go and on a mission to create change. She is very passionate about helping others by healing with the arts.
She repeats the motto ...
“You got sticks, I got a match, and together we can make a fire!”
Despite the numerous challenges she has faced, and the hardships to overcome what others failed to resolve, she remains fueled by passion, perseverance and integrity! She aims to harness that inner fire to create more "win-win" opportunities for those looking to build and launch projects with a genuine media approach. Standing tall in her stilettos, she is dedicated to her mission of producing films, music, and giving back to the community through the MVP3 Foundation. Alongside the board of directors, she has revitalized the foundation's programs to support community healing through the arts and is currently developing a range of educational films and student film/television initiatives.
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