The Heart Of Show Business With Alexia Melocchi

A Woman in the Director's Chair with Katt Shea

• Alexia Melocchi • Season 6 • Episode 16

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Have you ever wondered what it's like to climb the ranks in Hollywood as a woman behind the camera? In my latest episode, I have an intimate conversation with the accomplished director Katt Shea,  whose journey from actress to director is a testament to the power of female visionaries in show business. We delve into her transformation from bringing dark themes to life in films like "Poison Ivy" to her latest interest  in  heartwarming stories such as "Rescued by Ruby." Katt's  experiences shed light on the unique challenges and triumphs of women in the director's chair, illustrating the diversity and resilience required to craft cinematic magic on modest budgets.

Picture this: an unexpected adventure in a strip club leads to a groundbreaking movie pitch and the birth of her  directorial debut, "Strip to Kill." This episode peels back the curtain on the artistry found in the most unconventional places and how it can inspire unexpected storytelling opportunities. With anecdotes that range from persuasive plot twists to pets causing delightful mayhem, our discussion is a treasure trove of insights into the creative process and the importance of representing nuanced, authentic voices on screen.

Beyond the glitz and glamour, we explore the deeper connections that tie us all together. We share our journey towards a 'natural way of living' and how it's intertwined with our  devotion to the arts and animal advocacy. We also touch on the emotional bonds we forge with our pets and the profound impact of love and attention on both human and animal lives. Wrapping up, we invite you to reflect on your own purpose and the ripples you create in the world as we strive to leave a lasting, positive mark through our creative endeavors. Join us on this soulful exploration that's more than just about making films—it's about the evolution of spirit and the stories that shape our lives.

All about Katt Shea (class info, credits, the works)
https://www.kattshea.com/about-us/


About your Host- Alexia Melocchi

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Alexia Melocchi:

Welcome to the heart of show business. I am your host, alexia Melocchi. I believe in great storytelling and that every successful artist has a deep desire to express something from the heart to create a ripple effect in our society. Emotion and entertainment are closely tied together. Emotion and entertainment are closely tied together. My guests and I want to give you insider access to how the film, television and music industry works. We will cover dreams come true, the road less traveled journey beginnings and a lot of insight and inspiration in between.

Alexia Melocchi:

I am a successful film and television entrepreneur who came to America as a teenager to pursue my show business dreams. Are you ready for some unfiltered real talk with entertainment visionaries from all over the world? Then let's roll sound and action. Hello everyone at the heart of show business. I cannot believe I am deep into yet another season. I think that with by the time this episode drops, kat may or may not be close to my hundredth episode, so that's going to be an interesting celebration to have.

Alexia Melocchi:

But I celebrate having badass female filmmaker producers, writers, actresses, and of course, this special guest of mine is no exception. Not only I have had the pleasure, after so many years of knowing one another, of actually working on a few films that we're going to be hopefully doing together, where she's going to be directing and I'm going to be producing. But she is also a force to be reckoned with because she has been in the business for quite some time and, as Roger Corman, who was a person who used to give her all his films or a lot of his film to direct, he used to say that this is a woman who can direct movies for $500,000 to $1 million and make them look like $10 million. And that is actually how she ended up doing Poison Ivy for New Line Cinemas that she directed and I think was an audience winner at Sundance. Correct me if I'm wrong. And after that, of course, she's continuously been directing content.

Alexia Melocchi:

Latest works, obviously Rescued by Ruby, which was a top hit in the family space, and all over the platform, actually on Netflix, where she works with animals, and her and I have a love for animals and we'll talk about that. And then, of course, the Nancy Drew new movie for Warner Brothers, which again is another family movie. So, from horror to family stuff, to doggies, to children, welcome to my show, katja.

Katt Shea:

Thank you, alexia. Oh, that's a great introduction, I love it.

Alexia Melocchi:

It's so great to have you. I mean, of course you know, you know, addressing again the elephant in the room I mean we need, need to, we need to give more of a platform for female directors to, to talk and, and so you know, we all know what happened with barbie right and and the oscars, and so you know not to be political about it, but you know the female storytellers, I think, are so powerful. They have, they have a certain type of empathy, and what I love about you is that you started as an actress and so obviously everybody says you're great at work with talent. So tell me what made you transition from acting to wanting to get behind the camera and say now I'm going to direct movies.

Katt Shea:

You know what? It's actually a little bit complicated, because when I was 12 years old and I lived in the suburbs of Michigan, in Royal Oak, I started directing plays in my backyard with the neighborhood kids who were much younger than I was. I, you know, I was writing plays and stuff and I put these kids in the plays and then I had the brilliant idea of charging their parents to come and see them in my play. And then I found out I could make money and they would pay. They would pay whatever I was asking to see their kid in my play. So so this started way back the writing and directing but of course I forgot about it. You know, it was a kid's thing.

Katt Shea:

And I actually went to college when I was really young. I, I, I went to college while I was still in in high school and then I graduated very early, like I had just turned 15, 15 or six. No, I just turned 16 and I graduated from high school and I went back to college. So I graduated from college really early and I decided to come out to California, to Los Angeles, and I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. So my whole life people said you should be an actor, because I was always too expressive, you know, and so I thought I'd try my hand at that, but I was so nervous, I was a nervous wreck acting. And then, you know, I mean I finally was able to manage it because I developed these exercises I studied with this woman named Candy Konecki and she really helped me. So anyway, I ended up getting a role in a Roger Corman movie and it was funny because I was like the second choice. They had a TV actress who dropped out because she got a pilot, and then I fell into the role and you know, I ended up working in Argentina and you know, I just wanted to be helpful and I think that was kind of unusual for an actor, to just kind of unusual for an actor to just, you know, like there was a difficult actress in the movie and I kept trying to help out with it and kind of smooth things over. And that got back to Roger. And then he gave me another movie and I went to the Philippines to do that movie and I ended up shooting second unit on it because you know, I was like the female, I was the girl in that movie and I ended up shooting second unit on it Because, you know, I was like the female, I was the girl in the movie. So I didn't have a lot to do. It's an action movie, right? They didn't give me a lot to do then. So I was shooting second unit and then I got back and Roger had heard about that, and so my partner and I, my writing partner.

Katt Shea:

So my partner and I, my writing partner, we had a bet one night. We were out eating and he told me I'm from Michigan, I don't know anything. He told me that mussels were poisonous at certain times of the year and I just went you're lying, I never heard of that. That's a boldly adult. Order the mussels. So I thought that was just completely untrue. And it turns out mussels are poisonous at certain times of the year. Do not order them. But I lost the bet and his punishment for me losing the bet was I had to go to a strip club. So he thought that was the worst thing he could possibly do to me. You know I'm a preppy. Oh, by the way, this is my little scrunch. I've got a he's jumping up. So I adopted him from the shelter. This is Bruiser.

Katt Shea:

He's going to jump up every once in a while.

Alexia Melocchi:

I love having Bruiser visit. The thing Not to digress, but yes.

Katt Shea:

Right, well, my story is so uninteresting, but he's no, it is totally.

Alexia Melocchi:

But not to digress. But you know Didi Pfeiffer, who was on my show. She was shooting, uh, big Sky and she was on location and she says, giving you a heads up, I have a cockatoo with me and he's probably going to come into the picture at some point and, alas, so he did. At the end, the cockatoo just landed up. It was great, so great.

Katt Shea:

Oh, wonderful.

Alexia Melocchi:

Please bring Bruiser back.

Katt Shea:

But going back to the muscles, he'll probably start crawling along the couch back there or something. So, anyway, I had to go to this strip club and it was really hard for me to go in. And you know, I went in there by myself and I start watching these women perform and I could see that they were frustrated artists, you know, and they were using this venue to really show off, um, but their artistic side, you know. I mean it looked like they're just taking off their clothes, but they were not. They really were doing some very special things. And then I thought, you know what Nobody knows this I saw the first pole dancing. I'd never seen pole dancing in a movie and I saw spectacular pole dancing, just so athletic and amazing that I came back and I told my partner, andy Rubin, I said we have to make a movie about this, we have to write a movie about this because it's incredible. And I know who will buy it Roger Corman. He's been, he's been waiting for this, you know.

Katt Shea:

So I actually kind of stalked Roger in a way, because I I I didn't think I could just call and get a meeting to pitch because in his mind I was an actor. So I, um, I parked my car and you could see. He had a big picture window and I knew he went to lunch at a certain time and he walked down the street. It was in Brentwood, so he walked down the street so I saw him get up from his desk. I run out of my car, I run around the block and I go Roger. I run out of my car, I run around the block and I go Roger. What a coincidence. What a coincidence. I'm Kat. I was in a couple of your movies. He goes, I know who you are. And then I said I have got a movie for you. It's going to blow your mind. I go strippers and I knew you know. I mean, it's Roger Corman. I knew that was going to light up his life. And then I said just picture the poster. I go. They fly around on a pole. I go. It's unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it in my life.

Katt Shea:

He was like come in Monday morning and pitch me the story. So I came in Monday morning and Andy and I quickly came up with an idea around the strippers. It wasn't a very good idea at that time but and Andy kept saying to me, said you have to direct it. You have to direct it because everything we'd written up to that point was directed by somebody else and they really kind of didn't get the script, they didn't get the jokes. You know it wasn't, it wasn't what we wanted. And he finally said you have to direct it. So as I'm pitching this to Roger and he's lighting up, I say and I'm going no, no, I'm never going to direct, I don't want to direct it, I have no plan to direct this. But I found myself saying and I'm going to direct it, so, so anyway. Um, the idea ended up and this is a spoiler if anybody wants to see strip to kill point.

Katt Shea:

It's a great movie, by the way, I love this movie but it involved having a guy pass himself off as a real stripper and actually doing the show. So Roger didn't think it was possible to do. This was before the Crying Game, so the Crying Game really like blew the lid off that. But you know, I had to convince Roger that it was possible to do and it was very hard and it was difficult. It took me a year to convince him to do it and I would send him pictures of like a real girl and a female impersonator, like a trans person, and I'd say which one is the real girl. You, you know that's not politically correct at this point, but you know, back then I didn't know, I didn't know what was correct. But anyway, he fought, he. He never could decide which one was which. And um, finally, I took in a female impersonator from a club down in LA called La Caja Fall, and they did like yes, I remember that place.

Alexia Melocchi:

Oh, that place was a whole dance. Yes, love that place. Yes, hola Cienega.

Katt Shea:

Yes, so one of the female impersonators who did Cher came with me to his office and described like what he did with his package in, you know, and roger's turning purple because this guy's going into deep detail about it and he throws us out of his office and he says, okay, you can do the movie, but get out of my office now, get out. So he calls me like three hours later and says I changed my mind. You, I don't want this. And I just went Roger, you're doing it. And I'm like 20 in my 20s, you know I was like no, we're doing this, it's going to be fantastic, it's. It's going to, it's going to be the biggest movie you've made in in years and um, and at that point actually New Horizons was floundering a bit, and so I make the movie and nobody told me you don't show Roger like a two-hour rough cut, you don't do that because he'll flip out, and you know.

Katt Shea:

So he did flip out and he hated me. I showed him a two-hour rough cut and he was never going to speak to me again and he said I thought you were smart, I knew it, oh Lord. So he thought I was smart because I went to the University of Michigan and I graduated magna cum laude at like 18, you know. So he thought I was smart and now he's going you're an idiot. So and I'm like I didn't cry in front of him, but inside I was like devastated. But anyway. So Strip to Kell comes out and it makes just a ton of money in Europe and it's the number one movie in France. Of course it is For the year. For the year, so I'm back on the good list. He calls me and says I want you to make another movie. He cut the budget in half, he cut the schedule in half and he says make a new movie on this on a dance set, on a you know stripper club set. So I made Dance of the Damned, which was you know. That's how it all began.

Alexia Melocchi:

Wow, kat, you should have directed Hustlers for J-Lo. I mean you would have been the total pro. I mean they did hire pretty much a novice at the time when they did, it would have been a lot tougher.

Katt Shea:

for sure it would have been a pretty gritty.

Alexia Melocchi:

And you would have had a better budget because you know we all talked about.

Alexia Melocchi:

But this is such an amazing story and it's just a testimony of what it takes to convince somebody to say yes to a filmmaker, to an actor, to a producer. I love what you said about the impersonator. It reminds me of a fun little story with a friend of mine who used to work for Tom Hanks and it was to be his development assistant and she said that Tom Hanks had passed for about six months on Forrest Gump, like they kept sending him the script and he would throw it in the trash and said I'm not doing it, I'm not doing it, I'm not doing it. So what she did at the time true story, little behind thing, like you said, she started taking quotes from the book and putting stickies like all over his house, like on his bathroom, where it would be like life as a box of like, started putting all the stickies with those sort of for his gum pins, whatever you want to call it and that's how one day he just like said you know what, where is this coming from?

Alexia Melocchi:

and she's like I've been giving you that script for six months. You constantly I want to read it, and there you have it. And there goes forrest gump, and there goes tom hanks winning his oscar. So that that takes persistence it really does, does. And I mean here you are a female director, actor, then turned director, of course, first movie directing about strippers, which is, I think, is great, because having I'm going to have to see that movie now.

Katt Shea:

Now you got me going, but it's got all real strippers in it too. Aside from Kay Lenz, everybody was somebody I found in a club. Wow, wow. Yeah, and that was my punishment, because he thought that I would just be so turned off by the whole stripper thing, you know. But here you go, being a Catholic girl from Michigan.

Alexia Melocchi:

I love that. And then of course you know you go on and of course you know, after your Cormen days, as we call them, you go off and you do Poison Ivy, which obviously change also the trajectory of Drew Barrymore. Do you have a passion for like dark stuff? Because then here you are in this career right now, in this phase of cat doing family, wholesome things, so like what's in your head when you're like, well, kind of you know risky risque, you know nudity and that sort of thing.

Katt Shea:

That wasn't my passion. It certainly wasn't, you know what I mean. But I wanted to be a filmmaker and so when I saw the strippers, I saw an opportunity. But I also genuinely was blown away that they weren't what I thought Right, because I thought, you know, oh, this is tawdry, this is, you know, something I, I don't want to be any part of. And then I walk in and I see these women, that I see artists, you know.

Katt Shea:

So at that point I wanted to show something, you know, I wanted to show the world that it's not what you think, it's not just what you think. So in that way, I think there's always been a passion to show something good, you know, to show the good side of it. And even Norman Fell has a line where he says you know, some people are going to get you, but most of them won't. You know, they're not going to get it. They're not going to get what you're doing. And that was a line that I wrote, because it was like most people aren't going to get what you're doing. And that was a line that that I wrote, because it was like most people aren't going to get it. They're just going to see an exploitation movie, you know. But what I was really trying to do was show the art that these women were presenting they're performance artists.

Katt Shea:

Yeah, so, um, and also, you know, I think the dark side didn't bother me too much then, because, you know, I had grown up pretty sheltered, honestly, and so it was very intriguing to me, like that whole side was like I want to know about that, you know. So I was exploring and, you know, just finding out about that. But the truth is, I like really positive stuff that's going to make people feel good. The truth is, I like really positive stuff that's going to make people feel good, and the direction that I'm going now is very truthful.

Alexia Melocchi:

For me, this is where I want to go. Wow, so going with this new direction. I mean, for example, rescued by Ruby, which of course has animals, and you just rescued one little baby here and you have horses, so you've been an animal lover for quite some time. That's when you and I connected. You know, on this type of conversation is, was it something that was pitched to you as a script? And you're like, hey, do you want to direct this, or did your agent or reps read about it and then said this is something that cat has to do because of her connection to animals. What was the thinking and how did you get that job? I mean, if it was a job, I don't know if it was a job for hire or if it was something that you pitched in the room.

Katt Shea:

No, it wasn't actually something that I pitched. I went into Netflix and I met with Christina Peters and she, you know, it was about a whole different movie and my friend actually directed that movie. But she said at that time she said we want to do a movie with you, we want you to direct something. They were big fans of Nancy Drew Hidden Staircase big fans of Nancy Drew Hidden Staircase. So that was wonderful. And so they suggested me to the producer, dan Angel, who had bought the rights to the story of Dan O'Neill's story, rescued by Ruby, and he's the Rhode Island trooper who trained Ruby. And so at that point I met with Dan and I met with Netflix.

Katt Shea:

I just loved it. I loved the underdog movie and the bad dog and just everything, and I had a lot of ideas for it. And they just kind of I mean it happened really quickly. It was kind of like boom, yeah, you do it. And they just kind of, I mean it happened really quickly. It was kind of like boom, yeah, you do it, you take it over, you know. So it was really good.

Alexia Melocchi:

I love that when that happened, especially because we all know in Hollywood it's it is. It's so damn hard to get to get something done Right. I mean, I was at the producers guild awards a few weeks back and they had this video on that they played during the ceremony. Then, of course, I try to share it with the whole world and then, of course, they took it down off their YouTube channel. But it was brilliant. It was called producers on producing Right and it was.

Alexia Melocchi:

It was little clips of people and then they were going, you know, uh, five years is actually a fast track. You know, we're like how long did it take 10 years, 15 years, 20 years to get a project off the ground, and the five years. And then it was so cute because it ended up with, like, you know, woman producer in a classroom and there was this curse so you want to tell me that you, as producers, you have to find something. You basically, you know the actors get paid. You're like the last person getting paid. You're working for years. You know you're making the less money and and this is how it happens. And then she says, yes, that's pretty much it, and she goes like, where do I sign and I was like, yes, that's me, that's me and that's you too, because you're you're a director that obviously showed that when you went and pitched your stripper movie, that you're like where do I sign? I want to make this.

Katt Shea:

I think it's a word that fascinates me, you know, and so I know that it's not giving up and it's not taking no for an answer and that's really tough. I mean it's tough on you and you have to. Just, we have it in us to do this and we want to do it.

Alexia Melocchi:

Yeah, yeah, and I love also the fact that you are an actress as well, because and I've seen that as you and I are collaborating on the on the incredible life of Joey Coletta is that for you? I see now, and I've seen that in the other scripts you sent me, that hopefully we'll get to do together also that. For you, it's about the what's on the page for the actor, because ultimately you want to get an actor signed on and so the story can be great. But if the characters are not popping, for an actor to want to say I want to play this, just like you said, it's really important, which is why I know you also coach actors and you, you know you teach actors how to do this. So why do you think it's important? What do you think it makes somebody an actor, a director because obviously you've been on both sides say yes to something? What makes you say yes beyond, obviously, the inspirational stuff, what's on the page?

Katt Shea:

I think it really has to do with character arc. You know I hate to use a word like that, but it's when the character really um, you know, within the hour and a half, two hours, however long the movie is that character goes from being one way to being another way. You know that really. I think that really is what interests actors, so that they get to play that. You know, I think it's one of the most important things. Years ago, I wanted an actress to play a smaller role I think it was in Strip to Kill, in fact, and she was a TV actress and she turned it down and I asked her why and she said there's no arc, there's no arc for me.

Katt Shea:

And that always stayed with me that we really do need to have something that changes you.

Alexia Melocchi:

Yes, yes, and I think it applies to every actor truly. I mean, we live in a world right now that is changing so fast as far as, like, what production gets screenlit, and what excites me is that it's about the storytelling. You know used to be a name driven business, like who have you got, who have you got on your thing, and now it's really about getting good actors, and if you want good actors, even if they're not your slam dunk person, that is going to like, you know, there's maybe five that can you know you put their name on and you're going to get an instant.

Katt Shea:

Yes, they still want to work with you and for a reduced price, hopefully, just like you did when you were charging the tickets to the parents you know, with good stories and I think this is so important, you know, and I know that it makes a huge difference, like you just said, for a reduced price, yes, if that role is really good, they're going to do it for less money. When it's not they want a lot of money.

Alexia Melocchi:

Exactly. They're like, like, okay, I'll make a studio movie and I'll get paid, you know, a million dollars, but then that will allow me to afford to be able to say yes to the little gems that we're discovering and all of that right. So, obviously, as a director. And another thing that I love about you, cat, is that not only obviously, you are open to reading things, but you have your own projects, you have your things that you're passionate about. Why are you, why have you chosen to take your career into your own hands? And, beyond, obviously, being sent projects, which is good, and getting hired for things, why did you pick certain scripts for you to shepherd, also as a producer, beyond being also director?

Katt Shea:

You know, I think it really comes down to having a passion for it. You know, wanting to tell a story, like I gave you two scripts, which I love, you know I didn't write them thinking, okay, this is what the marketplace wants, you know. Oh, this, this will get sold. Because of that, I really really wrote them from my heart and I feel like, perhaps and this is the way I felt about rescued by Ruby too it's what we need to see. We need stuff that's really positive and fun.

Katt Shea:

And you know, when I was working on Rescued by Ruby and it was a fairly long editing time every day going to work was so wonderful, you know, because of the subject matter, because of the love that was in it. You know, because of the the subject matter, because of the love that was in it. You know, and and I think about, like going to work to edit a violent movie, you know, some violent, terrible story, dark story, and I just think I don't want to do that. I don't want to do that, and not only that, I mean even more than that. I don't want to put that in front of people. I don't want people paying for a ticket for something I made that's dark and violent.

Katt Shea:

That's not what I want to put out in the world. We have enough darkness and violence in the world now. We don't need to add to it.

Alexia Melocchi:

No, no. And I think again, there is such a great power into the artistic medium of filmmaking or TV making or whatever, making, you know, anything that is moving, image, that, why not do something that is going to make people talk about it or give them insights, or give them hope, or make them feel less alone or, you know, just give them a sense of connection and understanding, you know, to humanity? I mean, there's so much merit to that. There was a reason you and I had this discussion. You know why you know Christian films or faith films or whatever, or even the Hallmark. You know Christmas rom-coms. They do so well, I think, because people want that right now, we really need it.

Katt Shea:

We need it.

Alexia Melocchi:

You know, oh my gosh, totally, totally, what is your? And again, we don't have to talk about religion per se, but let's talk about mindset, what's been your, what's been your, you know, connection to your soul, journey, been like you know, is do you have any go-to practices or any? You know you like to read books, do you meditate? Do you volunteer, like? What do you do to stay connected to that sense of purpose that we talked about?

Katt Shea:

Yeah, I, you know, I have a practice and it's called. It's called natural way of living and it's just, it's been phenomenal. It's taken me many years. I mean I started doing that in 2009. And it started with Reiki. Tumo, oh yeah.

Katt Shea:

Yeah, I know, and it just has evolved into just a very. Your heart is the key. So your heart is the key to your connection, to whatever you want to call it, Whether it's infinite love or true source or God or whatever that is but opening your heart so that the love can really guide you and help you in your daily life. And it's a hard thing to do because we have a lot of stuff blocking us, you know. So it's taken me many years to kind of remove the blocks, or allow our source to remove those blocks that keep us from really, you know, because we have to let go of our ego so much. You know that we're in control, and so that's been a very long process of, you know, letting the divine kind of take over and and help me. So that's beautiful, you know I need it.

Alexia Melocchi:

No, cal, that is so beautiful, and I think that goes to say, you know, people think, oh, why, even with me? Why are you so happy? Why are you so positive? I work at it. It doesn't. I don't wake up in the morning and go and say, okay, the world is perfect, I am so happy. No, I have to peel the, the layers of the onion, like you said. You know it, it, and I'm always learning and I'm always evolving and I'm always going, you know, uncovering dark stuff, because we all have it. You're right, and and I think what makes us special is that, well, we're not special. What make, what gives us special way? Outlets? Let's put it this way, it's through art. And, and you know, and I know so, you are a huge animal, animal rescue, animal advocate. You have, of course, horses, right, how many do you have?

Katt Shea:

Well, right now I have zero at home, yeah, which is the first time in 40 years that I have not had horses in my yard. So you know, I think they're coming back in the spring, but it's kind of sad. I don't want to get into what happened, but you know they don't live as long as we do and that is too bad.

Katt Shea:

they just don't live long enough I know um but, yeah so I was fostering some horses for um, an acting student of mine who is actually a horse wrangler for movies, and then during the strikes it became very difficult to be feeding all these horses and not having any work. So I took some of her horses, but the good news is they're at work now, so they are on a movie now and they love it. You know, people uh sometimes think, you know, oh, these poor movie dogs are these poor movie horses. They love it because they have something to do. They're treated special. You know, um, they get to perform even the animals love love.

Alexia Melocchi:

Even the animals love the attention we all do, and I think attention is a bit of a almost like a byproduct of love. Right, people are seeking attention all the time, but I think really what they're truly seeking is love, and they get the, the substitute for it sometimes, but, like you said, it's all about dropping in the heart and and and and love. You know, it was just wonderful. What's coming up next for you, kat? I know that you are training actors, which I'd love for you to then, because we're going to drop it on the show notes, your website for the training of actors, because I think actors out there, if you're going to learn, learn from directors. I mean nothing to say. I guess casting directors will also offer a lot of workshops and they're just as valid, but learning from a director perspective, it is so important. So I know you do that frequently.

Katt Shea:

I love doing that. I love it. Yeah, it's very, it's very gratifying. So you know, and I'm always doing that, if I'm not shooting then I'm teaching and I'm working with actors and coaching and helping them book. You know, that's kind of my focus, which you know it used to be back in the old days, like you couldn't say that you had to say you know, I'm just into the art of that, but I have always been out to help actors book stuff, and so I'm still doing that and it seems to be really effective, which is great. You can find it at cat Shaycom, which is my website, and looking me up on Yelp or something like that is always a good idea. But yeah, so I'm always doing that and you know, just looking for positive stuff that's where I'm at is I really want to, you know, make movies that don't go the other direction. You know I can't do that anymore. Honestly, I wouldn't have made Poison Ivy now.

Alexia Melocchi:

Yeah, no, I know what you mean. I'm in the same boat. I mean I have a couple of my directors who are shooting all this you know, genre horror action films in Italy, and like I don't need to read the script, I'm good, you guys go make money. I love it, I celebrate you because you're super talented and great. I'll take my cut, I'll take my fees, but and you know they love doing that but it's you know. My heart is in the stuff that you and I have shared, so many projects, and I really hope that we get to make them together, cat, because we need more people like us in the world, not to, you know, pat us on the back, but it's true, it's true, it's very what happened with rescue by ruby.

Katt Shea:

I mean, I don't think, uh, anyone at netflix expected it to do what it did. You know then, across the whole platform. You know it was in this little box, you know, but so it really, it really got outside that box.

Alexia Melocchi:

Yes, and here's to thinking outside the box, people. And in closing, you know I already told you, get ready for a window number one or window number two. I don't have time to think it through while you.

Katt Shea:

I don't have time. I'm talking to you. I don't have time to think it through why you, you and I don't have time. I'm talking to you, I've no time maybe it's good not to think about it exactly.

Alexia Melocchi:

Maybe you can freestyle it right it's a workshop test. Yeah, it's like natural way of natural way of living. So you know, maybe you want to define yourself in three words. You can do more, I'll forgive you.

Katt Shea:

I'm being an instrument.

Alexia Melocchi:

That's a good one. See, that's what being smart does for you people. Some people go oh, three words, I have to say three adjectives. No, it could be even a standalone sentence made of three words, and Kat had to say it, so she wins on that one. That's great. Be an instrument, and especially be an instrument of peace and love. Peace, not piss. Peace and love. And yes, and you know, please keep following my podcast and and uh, following the journey of Kat as a standalone director and also of myself working with Kat. We have a couple of projects. You know that we are, we are, they're dear to our hearts and hopefully you'll get to watch them when they come out, and I'll. I am promising myself and to you that I'll be bringing you on from the set where you're going to be having a day off and we're going to be talking about that.

Katt Shea:

Oh wonderful, that sounds great. I can feel it.

Alexia Melocchi:

I can feel it. We're going to put it juju vibes. I love it. Thank you so much for being on my show, kat. Thank you.

Katt Shea:

Alexia, you're amazing, you're absolutely amazing and you've done this for a long time and you just stick with it and you're amazing.

Alexia Melocchi:

Oh, thank you so much. It means a lot to me coming from you. I was just doing the math on how much money I spent on this podcast with no sponsors and I'm going oh, I don't want to keep doing this, but I'm going to see it through because people need to hear people like yourself and know that there is professionals out there who have heart heart of show business and they're not all about making money and ego and and darkness, and so we want to celebrate people like yourself. So if you enjoyed this episode, please do subscribe, rate, review, share and just stay tuned for my next guest. But this is a good one, so you know, have it on repeat. Thank you for coming on my show.

Katt Shea:

The heart.

Alexia Melocchi:

Yay, over and out. Ciao. Thank you for listening to this week's episode of the Heart of Show Business. If you enjoyed it, please share it with a friend. You can also subscribe, rate and review the show on your favorite podcast player. If you have any questions or comments or feedback for us, you can reach me directly at theheartofshowbusinesscom.