(First of two parts)
The first month of the new year is already over, but I suppose it’s never too late to give advice to our current crop of TV and movie stars with regard to their respective careers. I may not be a talent manager, but I’ve stayed long enough in the business, have seen stars rise and fall so I have a little knowledge somehow with the way the industry works. Below are pieces of unsolicited advice to our stars for the year 2009:
Paolo Contis — Without a doubt you are the most versatile young actor in local show business today — an Eddie Garcia in the making. You do comedy, drama, lead, support, gay roles, heels — anything that is offered to you and you do each one well. Now, you’re even hosting (My Dad is Better Than Your Dad). What you need this time is a screen character in the movies that will forever be identified with you. Of course, it may be too soon. But once the opportunity is there, grab it. I have faith in you. I know you will do well — as you always have.
Jennica Garcia — I don’t know if you can wangle a talk show in GMA 7, but you have to try hosting. The one and only time I got to talk to you (last December in Startalk), I realized that you are very articulate and more importantly, very intelligent. If you do carve a niche in hosting, this shouldn’t come as a surprise anymore. Your mom, Jean Garcia, after all, was one of our more reliable hosts on TV before she concentrated full-time on acting.
Dennis Trillo — After Gagambino, try to look for a project that will showcase your acting talent, which you always had. Forget about being a matinee idol at this point. After all, that is fleeting. Lucky for you, you can do serious acting. Pursue this and you will have a more stable career ahead of you.
Jennylyn Mercado — Your request for media not to cover your son’s baptismal rites should have been respected. I am with you on that – especially since you made it very clear. But it’s done with. So move on, as we say in show business. Just think that it’s all part of the territory. What you have to do now is focus 100 percent on your career (but don’t forget the baby) because there is a lot of catching up to do.
Bea Alonzo — I enjoyed all your movies with John Lloyd Cruz and I sometimes get to see Betty la Fea. But for 2009, I think it’s about time you had a movie that would mark the turning point of your career. Think Vilma Santos in Burlesque Queen or Judy Ann Santos in Sabel. That is what is still lacking in your career at the moment. Maybe you can start looking for that project this year.
Judy Ann Santos — The past couple of years had been hectic – and fruitful — for you. You established yourself as the Queen of A’s — the one actress with the most number of graded A movies by the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB). If it’s true you are getting married this year, go ahead and make necessary preparations for the wedding. Take it easy for a while. You deserve to rest. You’ve earned it. When you come back, the movie-going public will still be there for you. You will not be the first superstar to take a break to get married and raise a family. Everyone else did that — Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos and Sharon Cuneta. They all became even bigger stars — more respected — when they made their comeback. In your case, so that you don’t disappear too long, this is what you can do: Maybe you (or your manager Alfie Lorenzo — he can handle anything) can ask ABS-CBN to turn Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo into a TV series. This way you can get to work and still be together with mate Ryan Agoncillo.
Bebe Gandanghari — This reinvented character isn’t exactly young, but — hey — he/she’s new. So what can Bebe do in showbiz? I was going to say a sequel of Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, but forget about it because the original didn’t even make money. And that was sad because it was an excellent film with an award-winning performance by the late Rustom Padilla (Bebe Gandanghari killed him, right?). Of course, gay roles in movies and TV dramas and comedies are the more obvious options. But then, Bebe can’t even have a monopoly of these parts because these are sometimes executed even much better by straight men (Keempee de Leon, Paolo Contis and Dennis Trillo).
So what is now left for Bebe to do? Maybe have a lifestyle show on Q-11 where he/she gives tips on how to run a household. There was a Caucasian cross-dresser who did that in the lifestyle channel, except that I thought she gave the most inutile advice, preposterous even, on how to serve cocktails at a party. I’m sure Bebe will do a better job than that.
But wait? Joey de Leon had privately suggested in one of our conversations that Bebe Gandanghari be turned into a movie talk show host. I shushed him fast on that one. Goodness, Joey, he/she will even take our jobs away from us!
Just wait, Bebe. We’ll find something for you. Even for Rustom – that is, if you are willing to resurrect him.
(To be concluded)