PLEASE MEET AWARD WINNING ACTOR, COMEDIAN, PERFORMER, PRESENTER - AND JUST A 'FEW' OTHER TALENTS - 

JAMES  LIOTTA

1                  Please tell us a little about your background.

            A:  I’ve been a performer now for 23 years and had my first agent at 8 years old. Professionally since graduating from High School it is the only job I have ever had – working in the entertainment industry.

I completed a two year Diploma of Arts, specialising in acting and theatre at NMIT and various short courses to this day but have always been lucky enough to ‘work’ through my studies in acting.

My parents were born in Italy and ‘Italian comedy humour’ or better known as ‘Ethnic Comedy’ has been a major asset to my performance career.

2                  Have you always wanted to be an actor or did you have something else in mind for your career as a child and teenager?

           A:    Nope, from a very young age I always had the passion to perform, there was nothing else I could think about doing, nothing else that interested me. So much that in year 11 and 12 the full responsibility of Directing and Producing my high school’s annual school production was given to me. In turn this resulted in me returning to my high school the year after year 12 to take on the role again as a paid staff member.

3                   What and/or who are your inspirations?

            A:  I’m inspired by people who create their own work and are successful at it. Within the Australian entertainment industry – production companies such as ‘Working Dog’ have always inspired me. I’ve had the chance to work on a number of projects with them and not only are they always a joy to work for but they just know what they are doing – all the time. I think in my business you have people who work extremely hard, sacrifice a lot and persevere in order to get where they need to get and you have others who are lucky to receive the fortune on a silver platter. That is just the nature of the beast. Both may be quite talented in their own right but I empathize with the ones who sacrifice a lot a little more.

4                   You actually seem to be a man of many talents, including MC and presenter.  Please tell us about that.

            A:   In a nutshell – I learnt early on that to survive financially as a ‘performer’ Acting was never going to be enough. One must broaden their skill, which not only creates more work for the person but also creates exposure once landing gigs. I found excitement in working as a presenter and M.C and have howned my skills in this area over the years, coupled with stand up comedy.

Now I travel my state and all over Australia M.C’ing all kinds of festivals and events. On TV I have been a presenter for shows on on Foxtel and Melbourne’s Channel 31.

Echo Blue Photography

5                  Is anyone else in your family in the entertainment industry?

            A:    My father is an Italian born playwright and actor. He has spent most of his years here writing, producing and performing in his own 2 act dramatic and comedy plays (In Italian) for the Italian community of Melbourne. He was very much one of the leading people in this niche market in the early 90’s in Melbourne. This would be where I first got my ‘acting bug’ from.  He has also appeared on TV between early 90’s and 2000 – mainly in commercials and various small roles when they popped up.

6                   What do you enjoy doing in your ‘spare time’?

             A:    I don’t get a lot of spare time, working as a full time performer is a 24 hour job – which may surprise a lot of people and some may not understand how… but we are never just working on ONE project, there are lots of projects at the same time and things can become quite hectic, booking up your schedules day and night sometimes. When I do get a chance to have some spare time, I enjoy the simple things (as most do) spending time with close friends, seeing family. Catching up on movies, be it at the cinema or on DVD. Love eating out.

7                   You have received some awards.  Please tell us about that.

            A:   In 2007 I was awarded an excellence for multicultural arts award by the State Government of Victoria which was pretty exciting and at the time I was one of the youngest recipients for that award.

In 2011 I won ‘Best Actor’ as voted by the audience at the 2011 October edition of ‘Comfy Shorts’ which is a monthly short film screening event in Melbourne. I won for my role in a short film ‘Tiramisu’ which also actually won best film on the night.

In 2012 I was voted ‘Best Male Actor Of The Year’ by StarCentral Magazine which is an online/print entertainment magazine based in Sydney with over 20,000 online subscribers.

8                   Whether you have been bullied or not, do you feel that the Governments and schools worldwide are doing enough to combat this problem?

        A:    I run a very successful company in Melbourne where we go into schools and perform comedy shows for students. Prep to year 12. I have been doing this for 10 years and in that time I have had the chance to see many schools, meet thousands of children and view school structures and I truly believe more then ever, schools have lost a lot of power to combat anything that requires ‘discipline’ of a student. This have changed drastically from back in the day I went to school (80’s Primary / 90’s High School) in some cases it seems the school is fearful of bad reputation.

9                   What else do you feel they could do to either decrease or stop it completely?

        A:  I believe the schools need to go back to old school discipline and by that I'm not at all talking about ‘ the strap’ that was way before my day too. I’m talking about instilling harsher penalties for children who bully and to involve their parents a lot more. I also think parents need to understand that their child sometimes may be an angel at home but at school can become quite the aggressor. Some parents choose to adopt the ‘My child? Never!’ syndrome and they need to realise it’s a reality.

10             Have you done any dancing, modelling and/or singing at all?

        A:    Yes all of the above but I’m not trained in those areas, sometimes it’s just an extra requirement from other ‘acting’ roles.

11             Are you professionally trained in all that you do?

        A:    I am professionally trained as an actor.

12             As an actor, what have you appeared in?

        A:      On TV I have appeared in numerous shows: Neighbours, Thank God Your’re Here, Squizzy –Underbelly, Paper Giants, Satisfaction, Prank Patrol, Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Quizmania, Lift Off, Ground Zero, Planet Unearth – Foxtel , My Community – Foxtel, Fergus in Hell – Ch31, Melbourne 22 – Ch31, Media Strikes Back – Ch.31. Lots of various commercials and some appearance already in the can for 2014 for ABC TV and Channel 7.

13             What is next in the pipeline for James Liotta?

            A:   This is always the big question! An old school                       professional taught me to always answer this by saying: “I have various projects at different stages of development”. But  really I do!

14             Do you have a message that you would like to impart to the world?

        A:    Be happy – if you’re not happy. Get happy! Happiness is the key to success. (Oh and hard work!)

     15     Is there anything else you would like to add?

               A:     Google my name from time to time. Haha…

Links:

     Facebook -
     James Liotta  
     The Bash Radio Show
     The Antipastomix


     YouTube -
     James Liotta Showreel
     James Liotta LIVE in Concert
     Italian Comedy

   

PLEASE WELCOME THE AMAZING

KELLIE STONE

Journey to Purpose Coach, Counsellor at Journey to Purpose Coaching, Author, Founder & Editor for 'Women's Lifelink' magazine - and much more

1                   Please tell us a little bit about your background?

              A:   I was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana - USA; a Midwest girl with aspirations of changing the world in some way - though…I had no idea how I would accomplish such a lofty goal.  I guess I just always felt like something important was lingering around the corner. 

Growing up in a broken home and with an alcoholic parent, I found identifying ideal family life difficult at times.  That challenge, however, did not stop me from wanting to marry and raise children.

I soon discovered at the young age of 18 one of those “important” dreams was, indeed, being a mom. I now have six beautiful children (three of whom have grown up and left the nest).

2                   What made you decide to launch ‘Women’s LifeLink’?

                A:  'Women's LifeLink' was originally a concept for a live women's group that held meetings and hosted wellness events.  Though I wanted this to come to pass, my plans stalled when I was diagnosed with Chronic Migraine and could not bear the physical demands of such a group. 

A couple of years later someone suggested I create a blog to earn extra income from home.  I only needed to come up with a theme and topics for online content.  I remembered the 'Women’s LifeLink' concept and still thought I could be a support to women even though I was ill.  This newbie blogger stumbled through the first year or so but found it extremely rewarding and worth every minute I put into it.  

Now in its 5^th year, WLL has established a treasure trove of quality content read by women (and men) all over the world.

3      Can you tell us a little about the process of setting up an online publication?

            A:  Firstly, make sure it’s something you can commit to…websites/blogs are like hungry babies.  They require your attention often, need quality content - and undying patience…not to mention thick skin to weather rude comments, spam and marketing companies, trying to buy ad space for Viagra, online poker, and adult toys. 

Seriously, building an online presence is hard work.  If you can get the advice of a webmaster or at least someone who has some experience, do it.  Also, don’t think that what you start with is what you will end up with.  WLL has gone through several theme and design changes over the years.  No regrets, in other words.

4                   Have you always been in the publishing business, either online or print?

              A:  No, but I had some experience in printing, writing, and editing.

5                   What did you aspire to in your childhood & youth?

            A:  I really wanted to be a veterinarian as a child…then a singer.  I always loved to write though.  After a college professor recognized my writing talent, I finally took it seriously enough to explore the field and take some creative writing courses.   And, then there was that brief flirtation with wanting to be a cop!

6                   Have you met and/or interviewed any celebrities through your magazine?

              A:   I haven’t met any celebs in person but have interviewed NYC singer, songwriter Kalen Lister, several authors and musicians, corporation CEOs and medical professionals.

7                 Who and/or what are your inspirations?

               A:   I am inspired by women who reach for their dreams and don’t give up until they have succeeded.  It’s incredible to see someone change her life, especially in adverse conditions.  Knowing we live in a world of infinite possibilities also gets my blood pumping! 

8                   What other positions/jobs have you held, prior to being editor of ‘Women’s LifeLink’?

              A:  I’m what you call a “Jane of all Trades”.  I’ve worked in printing, interior design, retail sales, skin care, owned a book store and a vintage collectible shop, and now, I am a writer, a passionate messenger to women and a life coach.

Kellie, her son Judah, aged 16 and daughter Kayla

9                  What do you enjoy doing in your ‘spare’ time?

             A:   Laughing out loud…come again?  Spare time?  Really?  No, seriously, I don’t have much of that right now.  But, if you must know, I do love reading, gardening and scouring thrift stores for vintage treasures.

10             You are also a mum.  How do you juggle it all?

            A:  Hence my answer to the “spare time” question…I drop the ball(s) a lot.  It’s tough sometimes, but I consider myself efficiently competent but sensibly only human; therefore, I try not to judge myself too badly for the bumps and bruises…or the train wrecks.

11             You are good at arm wrestling and you also meditate.  Please remind me to stay on your good side!  These are therapeutic tools for you?  What else do you do?

            A:  Though I never thought of slamming someone’s arm down on the table in victory “therapy”, it is somewhat rewarding to win stuff every once in a while.  Meditation is breath to me.  If I slack off, it shows in my attitude, health and connection to people, God and the universe.

I love to cuddle with my pets.  One of my cats actually sucks on my earlobe daily…and I thought I was done nursing babies.

12             What is your ‘guilty pleasure’, if you have one?

            A:  Well, since I found out over a year ago that a gluten (wheat) intolerance was causing my chronic headache problem, I’m not supposed to eat it.  However, there are a few gluten-infused foods I do indulge in occasionally.  My faves are coconut cream pie, Chinese cuisine and Pecan Sandies. 

13             Have you ever been bullied?

            A:   I wasn’t bullied regularly but did experience occasional random taunting for various reasons.  I was pretty flat-chested until after I had my first child, so I frequently was accused of stuffing my bra. I’m a D-cup presently…no need for toilet paper anymore.

My older brother, on the other hand, was bullied…often.  We walked to school nearly every day and were frequently detained by several neighbourhood boys who found teasing him an uplifting event.  I stood up for him more often than he did for himself.  So, I’m definitely not ignorant to how bullying hurts and causes emotional scars.

14             Whether you have been bullied or not, do you feel that the governments and schools worldwide are doing enough to combat this act?

              A:  It does seem there is more being done now than ever before in history.  The bullying events that happened in my childhood would hardly be tolerated in today’s schools.  I really believe awareness is the key to ending it.  Every brave girl, boy, man and woman who comes forward to speak about their experiences paves the way for legislature and those in authoritative positions in our communities to take effective action.

15             What more do you feel they could do to either decrease bullying hugely or eliminate it altogether?

           A:  There could by harsher penalties, maybe even legal ramifications, for the act of certain types of bullying.  I’m really not sure what the current laws state, but if kids knew they might be arrested or face criminal charges, they might think twice about engaging in senseless acts of cruelty.

16             What aspirations do you have for the magazine in ten years?

         A:  Wow, that’s a long way away!  I’d like to see it go the distance; however, who knows what technology will arise within that time frame.  Increasing readership and the strength of the community will always be a front-running goal.

17             Is ‘Women’s LifeLink’ in print as well as an ezine?

              A:    No, WLL has never been a print publication. 

Kellie's beautiful little women - (l-r) - Kori 29, Kayla 27, Abbey 21, McKenna 18, Lyric 5

18             What is next in the pipeline for Kellie Stone?

            A:  I am finishing my second non-fiction book called ‘The Butterfly Payoff: a women’s guide to discovering purpose, fulfilling dreams, and getting paid for it!’ This work is extremely important for my career as a life coach and messenger to women.  There is also some prods to create an internet radio program.  Of course, all of this is much more likely to manifest after my five-year-old daughter goes to school.  And, speaking of pipelines, I’m going to be a grandmother very soon!

19             Do you have a message you would like to impart to the world?

            A:   My dream is that every woman would know and embrace her authentic self, engage her unique purpose, and fulfil every dream that brings joy and energy.  Don’t give up on yourself no matter how hard things get and how far you wander from your dreams.  The path you are on now is the one that leads to your purpose…or at least to the next path.

20             Is there anything else you would like to add?

            A:  I believe every woman has a story and message to tell the world.  I always look for courageous ladies to join our contributor and expert teams at Women’s LifeLink. Anyone interested in sharing written content to the community, please visit Submit Your Story/Article.

Links:

Women’s LifeLink

Facebook Page

Twitter

Kellie’s Book

Email: womenslifelink@gmail.com

'Women's LifeLink' cover

PLEASE  WELCOME  - SINGER/SONGWRITER

JOELEEN

1        Please tell us a little about your background.

          A:  I was born in London (UK) and grew up in (South Wales) and     when I was 16 I returned to London to study the arts.

2        Have you always enjoyed music?

         A:   Ever since I was a little girl, I was always singing around the    house and my Mother used to record me while I was singing. I        still remember those moments very clearly. My Mother would          have liked to have had a Singing Career, but unfortunately it          was not considered a real job in those days and her Mother did      not allow her to do so.

3        Is anyone else in your family in the entertainment industry?

         A:   I have an uncle that was a dancer - he danced in a                  'BeeGee' video, he also did a very well known show in the UK          called the Royal Variety Show, where the Queen of England        was also present, He has danced in many projects that                  involved celebrities.

4       You have also danced.  Please tell us a little about that.

      A:   I started ballet when I was seven and modern jazz when  I     was thirteen, and studied up until I was nineteen.

5       You have won some prestigious scholarships – we would like to hear about this too, please.

  
A:  The academy that I auditioned for, is very well known in Great Britain, and not everyone gets chosen. Actually at the time if I remember correctly, only seventy got chosen out of seven thousand.  I was very lucky and I did not think I was going to get in, seeing as a week had passed before I got the good news - I was beginning to have doubts.  But thank God it went well and seeing as it was a prestigious school, the Council of Swansea (South Wales) kindly gave me a scholarship.

6        Have you ever been bullied?

           A:  Yes, I did get a few that bullied me at school and my Mother      taught me to defend for myself and then strangely enough the        bullying stopped.  But I do remember suffering alot - and I feel        very deeply for children and people that get bullied.

7        Whether you have been bullied or not, do you feel that the governments and schools worldwide are doing enough to try to combat this act?
   
    A:  Definitely not - otherwise all of this bullying would not be going on.

8        What more do you feel they could be doing?

A:    Well firstly the headmasters and teachers should be putting a stop to all of this.  At times I hear stories that they don’t even lift a finger to help stop these things from happening.

          There should be more discipline and severity in the schools             and generally in our society.

9        Do you write and sing your own lyrics?

         A:   Yes - I happily do. I started writing my first songs at the age           of twelve and I have been singing since the age of four.

10     Have you worked with many celebrities through any of your talents?

   A:   Well, at the moment I have just recorded a Christmas single that I wrote called “Get Close To You” and it is a duet with the legendary Chris James, also known at the time as Ollan C Bell. Former singer from the famous group, that were out in the 60’s - “The Natural Four”.

11    Who and/or what are your inspirations?

         A:  I have had quite a few inspirations throughout the years, ranging from Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Barbara Streisand.

12    What is next in the pipeline for Joeleen?

           A:  I think its a new CD.

13    What are your hopes for the future, both near and far, for your career?

          A:   I would like the opportunity for my music to get heard by a global audience.

14    Do you have a message that you would like to impart to the world?   

     A:  Yes - that LOVE will always defeat HATE.


Links:

     Website
        FaceBook
        To Purchase CD:    'Welcome to My World'  - Itunes
                                                                                           Amazon
      MySpace
      Amazon                                                  
      iTunes       Christmas Single:  'Get Close to You'
      YouTube - Christmas Single:  'Get Close to You'

PLEASE WELCOME SINGER/SONGWRITER/PRODUCER AND PERFORMER

D NOVA

1    Please tell us a little bit about your background.

     A:  I started writing music when I was a kid. No one in my family is in music but I felt that was my cup of tea. Then I started travelling and travelling across Europe and the US. I kept on making music, actually acoustic & rock music, and finally got into the electro production. I'm a self-taught musician but so many are! I guess the right drive is what you need. I live in London and I love it. It's literally the European music hub. I'm building up my project and things are growing - brick by brick - but you always have to be focused. Which is hard! I released my first EP "Life Is My Videogame" in June and I went independent. I also have a really nice music video, you should check it out! I've started songwriting and producing for other artists as well, it's something different but 100% galvanizing. Well, music is what I want to do. It's my ground.

2     You are a music professional: a singer/songwriter, producer and performer.  Have you always aspired to a career in showbiz or what did you want to do as a child and teenager?

       A:  Yes. I've always wanted to handle music and make a living out of it. It's not just about the "showbiz". I mean, every artist has a high  ego level but it's not just about that. Living in a creative way is what I've always aimed to. Providing communication, emotions and fun, you deliver something special: some kind of food for the soul. When I find myself writing and producing in the middle of the night, I realize my passion is clean and honest.

3     Are any of your family in the entertainment industry?

       A:  Not at all. My family has a totally different background. They belong to the hard-working middle-class and there is no artsy ambition involved. Other than that, they have always supported me and I'm so thankful for that. I feel really blessed. My dad complains about the lack of certainty sometimes; but every dad does that, right?!

4     Have you performed on TV and with any other celebrities at all?

              A:  Not yet!

5   What do you enjoy doing when not working on your career?

     A:  I take advantage of all the awesome things my city has to offer. I see at least 3 gigs a week, I enjoy a pint with my friends in East London and I love special events (art parties, exhibitions etc.). Also, I love TV series!

6   Have you ever been bullied at all?

             A:  Yes, I have. I used to be bullied when I was a teenager. I         was a bit different from the other guys; I was kind of creative              with my look, I wrote music and was a bit mysterious. Some                people     around me got crazy about that. It seems like you                can't be different, you need to stick to the masses. Then I got              so many pranks and jokes, either at school or outside                        school. They were hurting me but      I admit I was actually                  cool with that. I knew things would change in the following                  years, and I knew kids can be really cruel. It's human. Most                importantly, I knew I was a dark horse.

7   Whether you have been bullied or not, do you feel that governments and schools w/w do enough to try to combat this problem?

     A:  I think the government should keep an eye on that. That said, it's really hard to cope with the issue. Kids should be protected from other kids as the adults are protected by stalkers and all of that.

Laws and sanctions might be a good solution, as not all the "victims" are strong enough to handle the burden.

8   What else do you feel they could do to either decrease or stop it completely?

  

             A:   Media promotion: TV, radio, press, web. That way, the             kids would know much more about rights and sanctions.

9  Who and/or what are your inspirations?

             A:  My inspiration is making a living out of my passion. I                 guess it's everyone's wish!

10  What do you see for your career in ten years time?

             A:  I can't make any prediction, but I see myself always                      connected to music.

11 Do you have a special message you would like to impart to the world?

     A:  You only have one life to live. Also, I'd love to quote             Gaga and fit the interview: "Baby, I was born this way".

LINKS:

     YouTube

     Soundcloud
     FaceBook