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Life Changes Show, October 1, 2018

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Life Changes Show
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Life Moves In Mysterious Ways with Guest Sean Lydiard and Musical Guest Peter Smith

Life Changes Show with Filippo Voltaggio and cohost Mark Laisure, with Executive Producer Dorothy Lee Donahue

“Life Moves In Mysterious Ways,” – After the recession, a man trades his Wall Street Career for the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Guest, Former Wall Street Securities Trader turned Hollywood Film Producer, and Managing Producer of Rumble Riot Pictures, Sean Lydiard; and Musical Guest, Accomplished Pianist, Singer, Arranger and Songwriter, Peter Smith on The LIFE CHANGES Show

GUEST SEAN LYDIARD and MUSICAL GUEST: PETER SMITH

Guest, Sean Lydiard

Guest Name
Sean Lydiard
Sean Lydiard
Guest Occupation
Executive Movie Producer, former VP of Business Development and Securities Trader
Guest Biography

SEAN LYDIARD

Sean Lydiard comes from the world of finance.  He was formerly the Vice President of Institutional Business Development at MBT Institutional, a division of MB Trading.  Prior to joining MBT Institutional, Mr. Lydiard was a securities trader for the Electronic Trading Group in New York.  And he began his finance career in the “30 year Treasury Pit” at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). 

Mr. Lydiard was an active member of the Securities Traders Association of Los Angeles. He received his BA in Finance from the University of Colorado at Boulder.  And has held his Series 3, 7, 24, 55 and 63 industry licenses.

Because of his strong financial background and connections, Mr. Lydiard transitioned from Wall Street to film finance.

Sean has earned Executive Producer or Co-Executive Producer credits  for the following movies: Daniel Alfredson’s “BLACKWAY”, starring Anthony Hopkins, Julia Stiles, Ray Liotta and Alexander Ludwig. Robin Swicord’s “WAKEFIELD”, starring Bryan Cranston and Jennifer Garner.  “DAISY WINTERS”, starring Brooke Shields, Iwan Rheon, Carrie Preston and featuring Sterling Jerins.  And “STEALING CARS”, starring Emory Cohen, William H. Macy and John Leguizamo.  

“OFFICE UPRISING”, Sean’s first “produced by” feature film is now featured on Sony Crackle.  OFFICE UPRISING stars Brenton Thwaites (Pirates of the Caribbean, Maleficent), Jane Levy (Don’t Breath, Monster Trucks), Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars) and many others.   

“CUT THROAT CITY” directed by Rza (of Wu Tang Clan) and produced by Sean Lydiard and Starring Wesley Snipes, Terrance Howard, Eiza Gonzales, Shameik Moore, Kat Graham, Joel David Moore, Isiah Washington, Denzel Whitaker, Isiah Washington, T.I., and many more.  Will be distributed Theatrically by Well Go U.S.A. in the 2nd quarter of 2019.

Mr. Lydiard’s calm and stable nature, combined with his detailed knowledge of the financial side of film-making, has made him a valuable consultant on dozens of other features. 

Guest, Peter Smith

Guest Name
Peter Smith
Peter Smith
Guest Occupation
Accomplished pianist, singer, arranger, and songwriter
Guest Biography

PETER SMITH

Peter is an accomplished pianist, singer, arranger, and songwriter, and his career has flourished on both coasts. Originally a New Yorker, Peter has lived in Los Angeles since 2005. He is especially in demand as an arranger and musical director for singers, in various musical genres. He is co-creator of “TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS: a celebration of Nat “King” Cole.” Peter performs in the show alongside Keith David. Peter is also musical director for Ty Taylor’s project: “The Nouveau Mid Century Romance Songbook,” which debuted at the Wallis in LA. Peter is co-producer, pianist and MD of the album of the same title, which was released worldwide in 2018.
 
Peter had just started working with Natalie Cole as her primary accompanist (just prior to her passing), and he has been traveling the world as Molly Ringwald’s pianist/MD, and served as co-producer and arranger on her Concord Records release: “Except Sometimes.”  He has played on major stages large and small: Iridium (NYC), Jazz Alley (Seattle), Yoshi’s (SF), Blues Alley (DC), Montreal Jazz festival, Vector Arena (NZ), Melbourne Recital Centre (AUS), and many, many more.
 
Peter was an associate Music Director for both seasons of THE FOUR on Fox, working directly with contestants and in conjunction with Music Directors Rickey Minor and Adam Blackstone. He was also the associate Musical Director on DUETS, the hit singing competition show on ABC. Peter worked directly with Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles, Robin Thicke and John Legend, not only accompanying them and their contestants in rehearsal, but collaborating with them on the musical arrangements for the show.
 
In 2009, Peter released his debut jazz album: HERE IT COMES, which featured a mix of original material and standard repertoire. The musicians on the album are Allen Mezquida, Charles Owens, Trevor Ware, Clayton Cameron, and both Patrice Quinn and Molly Ringwald are featured vocalists. This album was well received, and he followed it up the following year with an ambitious live project: BLUES AT ALVAS.  This recording branched out into some different repertoire (Otis Redding, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen) as well as familiar standard material and Jazz originals.  This album features most of the same musicians (Allen, Trevor, Clayton, Patrice) and adds Kamasi Washington, Nick Mancini, and Jacques Lesure.  Apart from these two albums (and both Molly Ringwald’s and Mark Arthur Miller’s releases), a sampling of Peter’s discography includes: Laura Harrison’s CD, NOW HERE; Lisa Donna’s and Kristina Pradd’s self-titled releases; GIMME GIMME GIMME (Reinterpreting Black Flag), and Janet LaBelle’s BLOSSOM AND BLUE.
 
Peter’s composing career is merging with the Industry in Los Angeles, and his compositions can be heard on numerous TV shows (MINDY PROJECT, CSI, BENCHED, HOW TO LIVE WITH YOUR PARENTS, etc) as well as in commercials and in the films HOTEL NOIR, MYTH OF FINGERPRINTS, and BLEACHED. He has a growing repertoire of original pop/soul music, which is finding it’s way in the singer/songwriter rooms of Los Angeles as well as the hands of some major artists.
 
Peter attended Columbia University, majoring in literature but studying classical piano with Michael Skelly and entering an extended mentorship with Jazz great, pianist Mike LeDonne.  Peter also was a DJ at the acclaimed radio station at Columbia, WKCR, where he interviewed many of the great pianists in New York and attended the “Jazz University” of historian Phil Schaap.
 
A short list of additional musicians/vocalists with whom Peter has played, performed and/or recorded includes: Roy McCurdy, John B. Williams, Anthony Wilson, Stephon Harris, Edwin Livingston, Gary Wang, Stevie Wonder, Brenna Whitaker, Laura Mace, Maiya Sykes, Gilbert Castellanos, Melissa Morgan, Janis Mann, Ben Harper, John Beasley, James Tormé, Terron Brooks, Kenny Burrell, Bobby Watson, Dwight Trible, Keith David, Alexys Schwartz, Michael Beardon, and many of the best sidemen in Los Angeles.
 
An accomplished actor as well, Peter’s career has brought him many roles on the small screen in shows like “Law and Order,” “24,” “Scandal,” “Weeds,” “CSI,” and many more.  Peter has also performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway and Regional stages.  Combining his experiences in acting and music, Peter has written a screenplay about jazz pianist Bill Evans during his time with Miles Davis.  The script, “Blue in Green,” has received much acclaim in the industry and is slowly inching it’s way towards production.

Life Changes Show

Life Changes Show with Filippo Voltaggio
Show Host
Filippo Voltaggio

Come and join the conversation about what's going on and what we can do together about it, with it, and for it. We have the choice, we have the power. We can do magic if we just believe!

A show about the changes going on in us, to us, around us, and because of us. Therefore, it's technically a show about "Everything," only with a how to make it better, see it better, be better.

In the show, there is talk about, and with, people who have either been through major changes, are helping others with major changes, or people who are changing the world for the better in a major way.

The show is a one-hour talk show format with a monologue by the host, a 30 minute interview with a guest of note, capped by a "Producer's Wrap" segment, in which Filippo and Co-Host Mark Laisure, and sometimes surprise guests, bring it all home for the listeners in a sometimes humorous and sometimes touching, but always entertaining conversation.

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