Local & National News | May 16, 2025
Written by: JR Robinson
Memphis is a city with soul, grit, and a legendary creative spirit. From the birth of blues and rock ‘n’ roll to the pulse of hip-hop and the echoes of gospel, Memphis has always been a crossroads for artistic innovation. Yet, for decades, the city’s film and arts scene has lived in the shadow of larger entertainment capitals. Today, a new movement-led by the MVP3 Foundation and its founder Marie Pizano-is challenging that narrative and asking a bold question: Can Memphis unite to become the next Hollywood?
The Heartbeat of a Creative City
The story of Memphis is inseparable from the story of American music and culture. Beale Street, Sun Studio, and Stax Records are not just local landmarks-they’re international icons. But for all its musical triumphs, Memphis has struggled to build a sustainable, collaborative film and arts industry. The city has talent, history, and stories to tell. What it needs now is a winning mindset and a unified community willing to invest in its own creative future.
The MVP3 Foundation: Building Bridges Through the Arts
At the forefront of this movement is the MVP3 Foundation, a Memphis-based nonprofit founded by Marie Pizano. The foundation’s mission is clear: to empower communities through film, theater, visual arts, culinary experiences, and music, inspiring, educating, and entertaining while creating real economic and social impact.
Marie Pizano, a veteran of the music, film, and entertainment industries, brings both vision and practical experience. She sees the potential for Memphis to be more than a scene-to become an industry hub, a place where artists, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs can thrive together.
“We have all these silos here, right? If people got together, we’d actually build an industry… But what we don’t have is a solid foundation. If we’re going to really bring Memphis back, we have to build that business, teach the industry, and get students those skills. We cannot keep complaining about tax incentives if we don’t have a business. We have to build that business.”
-Marie Pizano, MVP3 Foundation
Turning Vision Into Action
The MVP3 Foundation isn’t just talking about change-it’s making it happen. Through partnerships with Memphis-Shelby County Schools, they’ve launched a 36-week student TV and film program at Westwood High School, providing hands-on experience, mentorship, and even scholarships to help students pursue careers in media. This is more than arts education; it’s workforce development, equipping the next generation with skills for jobs that can keep creative talent in Memphis.
The foundation’s reach is broad. Collaborations with the Brooks Museum of Art have brought music series and family concerts to the city. Partnerships with organizations like Alpha Omega Veterans Services and local farmers markets are using culinary arts to feed the needy and support veterans, proving that creativity and community go hand in hand.
A City on the Cusp of Transformation
Memphis is not alone in its quest to grow its film and arts industry. Organizations like Indie Memphis and On Location: Memphis are already providing grants, training, and real-world opportunities for filmmakers and crew members. The city’s recent investment in redeveloping the historic Southwest Twin Drive-In site-once a symbol of Memphis’ cinematic past-shows a willingness to repurpose and reimagine neglected spaces for community benefit and economic growth.
These efforts are not isolated. They are the building blocks of a larger ecosystem-a creative economy that could rival any in the nation if Memphis chooses to believe in itself.
The Power of a Winning Mindset
What sets Hollywood apart is not just its resources, but its belief in the possible. It’s a place where creative risk is celebrated, where collaboration is the norm, and where the arts are seen as both culture and commerce. For Memphis to become the new Hollywood, it must adopt this mindset.
Marie Pizano and the MVP3 Foundation are leading by example-breaking down silos, building partnerships, and showing that when Memphis comes together, it can create something extraordinary.
“I support Marie and this effort. It would be an excellent opportunity to expose youth to opportunities in unique trades.”
-Tarik Sugarmon, Judge, Shelby County Juvenile Court
Can Memphis Come Together?
The answer is yes-but only if the community chooses unity over division, action over apathy, and vision over nostalgia. Memphis has the raw materials: talent, history, infrastructure, and a deep well of stories waiting to be told. What it needs is the will to invest in itself-to support organizations like MVP3 Foundation, to nurture young talent, to welcome private investment, and to celebrate every creative win as a step toward a brighter future.
The redevelopment of downtown buildings into multi-use artistic hubs, as championed by MVP3 Foundation, is just one example of how the arts can heal and transform the city. These spaces offer more than just venues-they are incubators for creativity, collaboration, and community pride.
The Road Ahead
Becoming the next Hollywood is not about imitation; it’s about innovation. Memphis can forge its own path, one that honors its unique heritage while embracing the future. This means:
Conclusion: The Choice Is Ours
The dream of Memphis as a global arts capital is not far-fetched-it’s within reach. But it will require a shift in mindset, a willingness to work together, and a belief that Memphis deserves to be a leader, not a follower, in the creative economy.
Marie Pizano and the MVP3 Foundation have laid the groundwork. The question now is whether Memphis will rise to the challenge, unite around a shared vision, and write the next great chapter in its artistic legacy.
The stage is set. The cameras are rolling. The world is watching. Will Memphis step into the spotlight and claim its place as the new Hollywood? The answer depends on all of us.
For more information on how to get involved or support the movement, visit the MVP3 Foundation’s website and join the journey to make Memphis a beacon for the arts and a model for creative communities everywhere.
