Starmaker Audie Gemora's Take On Staying Power

CEBU, Philippines - Renowned thespian and “Talentadong Pinoy” resident judge Audie Gemora, in a luncheon with Cebu media for TV5’s “Star Factor” last Aug. 3, emphasized that the said talent search for “artistahin” teeners will not be based on “popularity, o dahil mayaman ka at nakakaawa.”

Gemora, head of Talent5 which is the network’s talent management and development division, said that talents can be trainable—as far as acting, singing and dancing are concerned, but the question is how long would they stay in the entertainment industry? He was quick to point out, though, that what they are looking for in this talent search is basically one with good looks, but this doesn’t have to mean the mestizo or the mestiza-type.

“The question is: Sino ba ang iidolohin n’yo?” Gemora stressed.

“Si Sarah (Geronimo), for example, is not mestiza but the public loves her. Si Melai (Cantiveros) naman doesn’t have the looks you would expect of an artista but her vibrant personality—her flair—took her this far,” he added.

Gemora shared what he learned in his 35 years in the entertainment industry. “Bawat hakbang, isang malaking audition. You’re only good as your last performance. I hope youngsters who would come for the audition (on August 7 from 10am to 9pm at the SM City Cebu Event Center) would be guided accordingly by their parents that this is a cut-and-dry business. While they aspire to be there on top, they also have to be ready for the rejection.”

He said that what they would be looking for this Saturday, aside from being a fresh face in a crowd of 13 to 18-year-olds, is somebody “the Philippines will love”; one who has the attitude to face this learning experience as he/she will be subjected to an encompassing training program to make his/her luster last in the harsh showbiz world.

In fact, he shared, fellow Starmaker Jose Javier Reyes has readied a program on a progressive curriculum that would emphasize discipline and professionalism, per se, among new network-based talents. “Yung may pagmamahal sa sining. Magaling umarte, at hindi lang nag-iinarte.”

Direk Joey, he also said, is putting on the finishing touches to modules for those interested in writing and in camera works or, in other words, homegrown talents who could excel more as support or behind the cameras.

“Minsan kasi mas may trabaho pa yung supporting kaysa lead. Or those on the technical side of production. And not everybody naman can play bida. Sabi nga ni Tita Annabelle (Rama, another Starmaker), hanggang supporting ka lang ‘day,” Gemora further said.

Because Gemora shares a personal relationship with the Lord, he vows as well to train newcomers in the area of spiritual development. “We all know na the pitfalls for young people entering show business so susuportahan natin yung curriculum on discipline with this complementary training on the spiritual aspect naman.”

It was also underlined that the newly-formed Talent Center of TV5 is not shooing away co-managers. “In career planning, we take care of that inside TV5. But outside the realm of the network, co-managers ang mag-aalaga sa mga talents para naman they can accept other jobs.”

As for Perci Intalan, head of the entertainment and creative services, it was learned that “Star Factor” would take a weekly airing. “We don’t want to stretch the materials kasi kapag kakarag-karag na, it’s not engaging anymore.”

Other members of the panel of judges out to ensure the longevity of the Talent5 newbies are photographer to the stars Raymond Isaac and maestro of Philippine music Ryan Cayabyab.