Meet the "Star makers"

CEBU, Philippines - While good looks is the driving factor in the search for new Kapatid network-based stars via the talent search “Star Factor”, Starmaker Jose Javier “Joey” Reyes emphasized that the said show is also expected to produce the “artista na walang kamukha o hindi kamukha ng ibang talents (of other networks).”

He likened it to a Louis Vuitton bag. No matter how classy the imitation appears to be, he said, “It still isn’t the real thing. Kahit 7-Stars Korea pa yan.”

“Look at what happened to the Fil-Ams who came after Sam Milby. Sinasabi ‘Ay parang si Sam.’ And those chinitas after Kim Chiu? Sinasabi ‘The next Kim Chiu’. Ayaw namin ng gano’n. Dapat may alternative naman,” he further said.

He was also quick to point out that while his fellow Starmakers—like talent manager Annabelle Rama—is particular on say, complexion and set of teeth, Reyes said that “di naman talaga kailangang nagniningning o namumulaklak ang kagandahan.”

“Of course, it helps if cute na ang rehistro sa TV. Pero kahit ngayon ay aminado ako na I still couldn’t point out what exactly am I looking for in these aspirants. Let me just say it this way: I see him or her when I see her or him,” he stressed.

Citing the example of Charice Pempengco, whom he once judged on “Little Big Star,” Reyes said: “Who would have thought?”

He mentioned that stardom is also a combination of luck and destiny. “Yung kay Charice, we all know na third placer lang siya. Yung entry niya to the international scene is masasabi nating she is destined for that. Still, it pays if finalists have both talent and looks.”

Reyes along with Starmakers Rama, thespian-director Gemora, Professor Ryan Cayabyab, and photographer Raymund Isaac were at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel last Aug. 8 for the second phase of the elimination rounds wherein 39 hopefuls from here and another 12 in Davao City went through the screenings. The aspirants were trimmed down from approximately 300 teeners, who joined the auditions on the regional level at branches of SM Supermalls.

In the 13-week run of “Star Factor” to premiere next month, the final 12 will be part of the curriculum Gemora mentioned during the first presscon at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel last Aug. 3.

The training component would discuss how to audition properly, to dance hip-hop or dance solo, to act in front of the camera and in a love team, to relate to press people, and to deal with the intrigues. “These make up the whole gamut of the training,” Gemora said.

This is also a crash course on everything a talent needs to know about showbiz and on surviving the rigors, as was further pointed out during the two-hour engaging presscon.

Cayabyab also discussed his participation in “Star Factor”. “All who can speak can be trained to sing. Kasi extension naman ng speech ang singing. Speech-level singing. Ang sistema lang is gaano katagal ang training? May nagtri-training isang taon. Meron naman three months lang. Sa puntong ito, kelangan pa rin ang talino kasi napag-aaralan naman talaga lahat sa music school. Yun nga lang gaano ang itatagal ng talent?”

If Annabelle Rama would have her way, the show should shy away from text voting. “No texting please. Huwag na lang ‘yan. Hindi naman garantisado na ang mananalo eh siya talagang pinili sa text.”

In fact, she mentioned of an alleged questionable outcome of a TV singing battle featuring non-professional singers. “Hindi naman talaga yung pinanalo ang totoong nanalo do’n. Ang nangyari kasi nagbigay yung dalawang doktor do’n ng pera sa taas. Eh mahirap naman may manalong isa sa kanila, kaya minabuti na lang na iba ang pinanalo.”

“Put this on record. Hindi naman ako takot mademanda kasi alam ko ang laro nila. We’ll see each other in court na lang. Masasabi ko lang corrupt talaga,” her unstoppable comments came after another.

“We do have to avoid na parang may conspiracy theory. But, still, our focus is to work on our signal first,” said TV5 entertainment and creative services division head Perci Intalan to Rama’s suggestion.

As for originality of talent search formats, Intalan pointed out that “since there is no such thing as original anymore in the entertainment world, we will build on what’s already available and evolve from there.”

On the required “good looks,” he agreed that “artistahin” is, indeed, an ambiguous term. “However, we leave it all to the Starmakers na since they have the eye for detail.”

To which Gemora said, in addition, that the very reason why the five of them are gathered is because “a lot is to be brought to the table.”

As head judge, he vowed to respect the choices of his co-Starmakers.

Isaac averred that such should be the case. “May mga standout na nga ngayon pa lang. So, nakakalito,” that space for deliberation should be rolled out.

According to Reyes, “Well, we are expected to banter (like ‘American Idol’ ex-judges Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul) kasi ang hirap naman pag agree lang kami nang agree. Tingin nyo masarap pa kaya kaming panoorin no’n?”

Gemora’s three-decade experience in theater proves handy with his production know-how in TV as producer and director, while Reyes is an acclaimed director and scriptwriter for several hit TV shows and box-office films. Their constructive and spicy comments are tested whenever they judge the popular Kapatid Network flagship program “Talentadong Pinoy.”

Dubbed as the Philippines’ premier fashion photographer, Isaac’s industry prominence is built on his 25 years of experience in capturing cutting-edge and provocative shots.

Cayabyab is revered in the music industry for his timeless hits and musical arrangements that have remained popular over the years. He has been commissioned to lead the country’s biggest variety performances—from full-length ballets, theater musicals and choral pieces to commercial recordings of popular music, film scores, and television specials.

Completing the formidable list of judges is Rama. Her talent management style proves to be effective as her agency, Royal Era Talent and Management, Inc. houses the most sought-after celebrities in the industry.