What makes a TV5 star?

MANILA, Philippines - Early favorites are now emerging on TV5’s reality search Artista Academy, wherein the eventual winners, called Best Actor and Best Actress, will equally share the P20M worth of winnings, the biggest prize pot in TV history.

Mac Alejandre, the new head of TV5 Talent Center, said in an interview with The STAR, that he welcomes this development, saying, “Maganda ba na may paborito? Yes! Gusto naming mag-polarize ang mga tao.”

Nevertheless, the TV-movie director stressed that like any competition that is just beginning, it’s still everybody’s ballgame at this point. Early frontrunners may have early exits, while underdogs can pull an upset.

“Things are just starting. You don’t know if the frontrunner ay maabutan ng (least favorite). The only thing I know is that everyone has a fighting chance,” Alejandre said.

Artista Academy, which is mounted with the Asian Academy of Television Arts (AATA), has since staged two live exams and had one kick-out, trimming down the number of scholars (ages 16 to 22) to 15.

In between live exams held every Saturday, the scholars receive a comprehensive curriculum-based training and coaching on singing, dancing and acting from esteemed “advisors,” including director Joel Lamangan, musical director-composer Louie Ocampo and dance guru Georcelle Dapat. During the live exam, the scholars put their week’s learnings to a test before the resident critics namely, Lorna Tolentino, Gelli de Belen, Alejandre and veteran TV executive and AATA  principal Wilma Galvante.

Scores from their live exam and their trainings, plus a percentage of the text votes, will be tabulated by the executive board made up of TV5 head of creative and entertainment production Perci Intalan, Galvante and Alejandre so as to determine who got the highest and lowest marks. The one who has the lowest overall score will be kicked out from Artista Academy.

All these in an effort to find the next big stars of the Kapatid network.

So, what are they looking for? What makes a TV5 star?

“The TV5 star is not the GMA star. The TV5 star is not the (ABS-CBN) Star Magic star,” said Alejandre.

“Perhaps the TV5 star is somebody with unquestionable beauty, talent and presence. That’s the qualities I’m looking for. Kailangang may ganda or looks, may galing that can be trained, but you cannot be a star if you don’t have presence or dating.”

Alejandre added, “You have seen the scholars, and somehow, you’ve seen the template of who we want to represent (TV5). The question now is who among them will last in (the battle of) looks and ability?”

Who, indeed? One thing is certain though (especially for the reporters keeping track of these showbiz hopefuls), it helps, too, if they have substance and sense, and will not back down from probing questions, given that constant media encounters are part and parcel of the life of anyone pursuing a showbiz career.

Here are some of the stand-out answers during the scholars’ recent encounter with the press.

Benjo Leoncio of Cebu on his “difficulty” delivering lines in Tagalog: “I don’t think it’s a hindrance. I can learn. But I admit I’m proud to be Bisaya.”

Fil-Canadian Jon Orlando on his “effeminate” ways: “My gender? Male! Para sa akin walang relationship sa tatay ko; there’s no male influence in my life, so I’m really close to my mom. I know it’s not an excuse, but it’s a legitimate reason and for me I take pride in that (relationship with my mom).”

Fil-Croatian Mark Neumann on why he chose to return to the country and not stay abroad (he lived in three countries, including the UK): “I have a future in other countries, I experienced working there. I finished a college degree there. But when I’m in England, it’s lonely. I’m staying here because it’s happier here. I’m surrounded by relatives, friends and family.”

Chanel Morales of Bacolod on giving up formal schooling to pursue showbiz: “Education is very important but here in Artista Academy, we are also studying. We have trainings, practices, we are taught hard work, we have a degree afterwards. May mararating kami. I can go back to (formal studies) after this. But every day, we’re all learning. It doesn’t mean that just because nag-aartista ka, walang learning na nangyayari, there’s education everywhere.”

Marvelous Alejo of Valenzuela on the pressure of having to live up to her given name: “Well, I have to live with my name. But I believe I’m marvelous po. I believe I can do anything.”

Sophie Albert of Mandaluyong on her father being in a coma state since she was very young: “Nahirapan akong bumisita sa kanya because it’s hard to see him in his condition. But when I do talk to him, I tell him I miss him, I tell him to wake up, and the last time I talked to him, I told him I made it to a reality show, and I told him na yun ang uso ngayon.”

Vin Abrenica of Pampanga on why he didn’t follow his older brother Aljur to GMA network and join its also ongoing artista search: “It’s my choice to be on Artista Academy kasi I’ve heard na school ito. Thankful po ako na may maraming offers before, pero mas pinili kong matapos yung pag-aaral ko. (He went to UP Diliman and Global Academy for English Studies and Culinary Arts, respectively.) I want to reach my dreams without shortcuts.”

The other finalists are Akihiro Blanco, Alberto Bruno, Brent Manzano, Julia Quisumbing, Malak So Shdifat, Nicole Estrada, Stephanie Rowe and Shaira Mae.