S01 Journal 07: Hidden Hollywood

This week’s Ever Better Podcast is a journal episode that features discussions with three women who play a behind the scenes role in movies and television shows. Each of them uses their talents, skills, and experience to make a difference to the people that they work with. And as you’ll hear, each one has a very positive influence on the communities they are involved with.

These women are Tasia Valenza, my guest on Episode 014, Lori Hart, from Episode 030, and Sarah Shaw, from Episode 037.

TASIA VALENZA

Tasia ValenzaTasia is one of the most successful voice over artists in the country and calls herself “a recovering actress.” If you watched All My Children in the 80s, you’ll know Tasia from one of her earliest roles as the Emmy nominated actress who played the beautiful and manipulative Dottie Thornton.

If you watch Disney’s animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, you’ll know her as the wise Jedi Shaak Ti. She also does voice overs for the Hallmark Channel, and plays Femme Fatale, Poison Ivy in the Arkham Trilogy video games.

Tasia also uses her voice in ways that most people are not aware of. She literally donates her voice to Vocal ID and is passionate about helping others to speak most effectively in a range of interactions. She gives talks and workshops about what she calls “Giving Great Voice.”

Through her work with Vocal ID, Tasia literally donated her voice to people who speak through computerized voices – think - Stephen Hawking. So, there are actually people out in the world who are communicating using Tasia’s donated voice. If this is something that interests you, Vocal ID is always looking for more voices.

LORI HART

Lori HartLori Hart is a beauty specialist who uses non-invasive procedures to help women and men transform from the inside out. Early in her career, she did makeup for Playboy photo shoots. Many of the models she worked with were having plastic surgery, and she decided to do it too! She went in for liposuction, expecting a minor procedure that would leave her thinner and happier. Instead, she woke up with unexpected scars and digestive issues that have worsened over the years. That left her with the mission to use her talents to make the most of each person’s natural beauty.

She’s worked with Laura Dern, Charlize Theron, Marielle Hemingway and Timothy Dalton to name a few. So, when you see a women or man of a certain age on the red carpet, who looks natural and glowing, chances are, that person knows Lori Hart.

Lori explained to me that she no longer works on movie sets. Actors visit her to get their makeup and bring it to the set. Listen to the podcast to hear what happened when Donald Sutherland paid her a visit…

SARAH SHAW

Sarah ShawSarah Shaw, my guest on episode 38, began her entrepreneurial career by making handbags at her home. She was working as a costume supervisor in Hollywood and wanted to create something using her own design. She built a multi-million dollar business designing and selling handbags that have been owned by Live Tyler, Julia Roberts, and Kristin Davis. But after the events of 9-11 she lost everything. Her investors pulled out and she lost the company, including the right to use her own name on future products.

But Sarah never gave up. She says “When in doubt, take the next step.” Sarah’s next step was to design and patent a closet organizer for handbags. Running the company out of her garage, she sold over $500,000 in the first two years. She then founded Sarah Shaw Consulting to work with entrepreneurs to help position and sell their products. Sarah and her team help with product development, public relations, celebrity endorsements, and building sales. She specializes in getting her client’s products to some of the biggest names in Hollywood, such as Betty White, Allison Janney, Lynda Carter, and Madonna. This is a win-win situation for the business owners who want their products to be seen, and the celebrities who appreciate a beautiful or clever item.

So, next time you watch tv or a movie, check out the outfits, and the items strategically placed on a table.
Sarah Shaw just may be the hidden element behind these product placements.

I was introduced to Sarah through my 4th podcast guest, Connie Inukai. Connie is a retired professor turned inventor who has been working with Sarah to market her product, the Tip n’ Split. And that’s where Madonna and Lynda Carter come in…

CLOSING

I hope you enjoyed hearing from Tasia, Lori, and Sarah – three remarkable women whose stories I’m proud to highlight, since so many of their contributions are behind the scenes! Here is a challenge for today…As you go throughout the rest of your day take a look around and think about all the people and the activity involved in making your life easier.

If you’d like to share your thoughts about this or other podcast episodes, please send me a note at [email protected].