Julie Anne San Jose: Her slow, but sure climb

CEBU, Philippines -  Had she not bawled and begged her dad for one last chance to pursue her passion, Julie Anne San Jose would, by now, been out of the showbiz radar. Her name would have joined the long list of once-upon-a-time aspirants who had their feet in the door but failed to summon attention, despite real talent.

The singer-actress’ father wanted her to quit years back, as nothing was coming out of his daughter’s career. Determined not to give up, she instilled in him that singing was her life. Her convincing powers worked, and now look who’s reaping the rewards of her patience and resolve.

"Oh, it was a long journey for me!" Julie Anne began during a recent interview at the Hotel Elizabeth, when she breezed into town for a benefit concert titled, Julie Anne San Jose: From the Heart held at the St. Theresa’s College Auditorium. Not only did she enthrall the audience with her Youtube-hit covers, she also learned the Visayan song Bisan Pa, and sang the piece for the Cebuano crowd.

No instant success

At two and half years, Julie Anne belted out Donna Cruz’s version of Habang May Buhay. This was the first song she ever sang, and hearing how the tot had potential, her mom enrolled her at the Center for Pop Music when she turned three. In the same year, she was thrust into television via the kids show Batibot. She also did the kiddie pageant route, joining Eat Bulaga’s Little Miss Philippines in 1997 where she ended first runner-up.

When Julie Anne was 11, her grandma encouraged her to join the singing contest Popstar Kids on the now-defunct QTV11 channel. After her top five finish, she got a spot in the show’s spin-off girl group called Sugarpop, with whom she recorded two albums.

The band signed a contract with GMA7 and had appearances in the then Sunday noontime show SOP. "Our group was eventually disbanded, and I was the only one who remained. They made me a mainstay in Party Pilipinas. It was flattering and I was so happy to be part of the show," recalled Julie Anne.

But the recognition and breaks didn’t automatically materialize. This frustrated her folks, and Julie Anne especially, because she was giving her all in every Sunday performance.

With more production numbers and solo spots assigned to her in the network’s reinvigorated Sunday show, and a musical team-up later on hatched between her and Elmo Magalona -- viewers (and her management) were finally sitting up and taking notice. Their teen tandem, with a series of rap musicals to boot, earned the resounding nod of fans and gave birth to the "JuliElmo" love team.

Soap opera theme song recordings, sitcoms, a front act gig for a David Archuleta concert, and awards soon followed. She even landed second place in a "Top 10 Women to Watch in the Year 2012" list, the other honorees of which include accomplished international personalities!

Perhaps what exposed her outside the usual fan base and converted non-believers into Julie Anne addicts themselves was that Youtube video of her acoustic version of Nicki Minaj’s Superbass, registering close to more than 14 million hits. What brought on all the fuss for this former Sugarpop? Clearly, the sweet-faced girl could rap! Something the internet sensation’s female counterparts couldn’t do as well as she does.

Moving up

Now the musical princess moves up at an even higher notch as a teen movie star and legit solo recording artist. Filming for her and Elmo’s romance-drama flick began first week of March, with a tentative theater release by the second week of May. Titled Just One Summer, this is Julie Anne’s first lead.

Offered Julie Anne of the film’s story arc: "This is about two teens from two different worlds. My character grew up in the province, while Elmo’s role is a Manila kid. My father works in the farm owned by Elmo’s dad. We would meet because he’ll spend his summer vacation in the province. He has a rift with his dad that he wants to settle. His parents are also in the process of an annulment, that’s why his dad asks him to spend time with him in the province. So the story will revolve on that summer when we would meet."

"Viewers will definitely see a different side of me. Apart from the teen romance, we will be imparting the value and importance of family." The pair will be ably supported by veteran actors Gloria Romero, Cherry Pie Picache, Joel Torre, Buboy Garovillo, Alice Dixson; and young stars Sheena Halili, Steven Silva, Diva Montelaba, Sef Cadayona, Enzo Pineda and Lexi Fernandez.

While Julie Anne has a good amount of confidence with her music, the same can’t be said with her acting skills. She admitted to "needing a lot of workshops, motivation and internalization, especially with emotional scenes."

Nevertheless, the anxiety she feels is outweighed by the pride of headlining her first movie. "It’s really an honor for me, having this first lead film role. I’m nervous and excited at the same time, especially that I get to work with director Mac Alejandre who is known to be a bit strict."

Another cause for excitement is the completion of her first solo album, after she signed an exclusive recording contract with GMA Records. The 10-track CD -- made up of two Julie Anne compositions, five other originals and three covers – is set to be launched by middle of this year. One bonus track will be thrown in, a remake of Dina Bonnevie’s Bakit Ba Ganyan and the official soundtrack of Just One Summer.

Hanging tough

Asked if she happened to have a dream performance in Party Pilipinas, the Kapuso pop star said that she’d love to have a solo spot where she’s playing one of her instruments. Aside from singing and dancing, the 17-year-old can also play the drums, guitar, piano, beat box, lyre and flute.

She lists among her musical idols Lea Salonga, Regine Velasquez, Kyla and Chris Brown. But admiring these artists doesn’t mean she’s aiming to mimic their, or any other singer’s style.

"It will be great not to be named the next Sharon Cuneta, or the next Sarah Geronimo. I hope to make a difference in my own way. A lot of people compare me to them. That’s not a bad thing, but for me, we should stop comparisons to avoid issues since we move in the same industry. Our common objective is mainly to entertain people."

In five years, Julie Anne (a Communication Arts sophomore) hopes to have been done with college, performed in the international arena or nabbed a Broadway stint. Nothing’s impossible with this girl, it seems, as long as she maintains a good head above her shoulders. For someone whose career breaks didn’t come overnight, she has an idea what it will take to make her last among the herd. "I used to feel left out. I was the newbie and my co-workers already knew each other well and they knew how everything worked. It was a culture shock for me. I’m a sensitive person, so when I was starting out, I would immediately cry when I read bad comments or came across haters and bashers."

"Later on, I realized that this industry is not at all easy. One has to be really tough. You really can’t please everyone. That’s why for all the people who want to be a part of this world, you need to be strong, self-confident and hardworking."