Emergence of various digital platforms brings out new talents
MANILA, Philippines — John Arcilla’s victory at the 78th Venice International Film Festival (VIFF), bagging the Volpi Cup for Best Actor award last September, has proven that Filipino talents can also shine in the world stage.
Reality MM Studios’ Dondon Monteverde shared how this milestone has inspired local entertainment companies to showcase more of the Philippines’ homegrown talents to the international scene.
He had the chance to talk with the programmers, jurors and directors, including Parasite director Bong Joon-ho, at the VIFF and they said they “want to see more of the Philippines after they saw John,” recalled Dondon during the partnership launch of Reality MM Studios, Regal Entertainment, Inc. and Virtual Playground held virtually.
“Kasi nung una, hindi daw nila kilala kung sino ‘tong John Arcilla na ‘to. Nakita nila um-acting sa screen, (they thought) magaling pala mga Filipino. It’s a good thing right now that we’re getting our content out there, so that people would notice it. I think it’s right to also put yung mga bagong stars or legit stars natin sa content that we are producing with Regal and Reality to showcase our talents abroad,” he added.
Citing the rise of South Korea’s entertainment content globally, he furthered, “You know, one day, hindi naman masama managinip na ma-achieve din natin yung ginawa ng mga Koreano sa mga artists nila, wherein they are recognized worldwide rather than just knowing in the Philippines. I think that’s a major step ‘tong nangyayari na ‘to.”
Siblings Dondon and Roselle Monteverde of Regal Entertainment, Inc. and their longtime family friend Charlie Dy of Virtual Playground felt that this is the right time to seal the major partnership of the three film and talent companies because of the rise and vast reach of the various streaming platforms. It is a window of opportunity for movie producers to create more content, featuring fresh Filipino actors, and offer it to local and global audiences.
“The market before is always dependent on theatrical. Ang theatrical kasi natin masyadong star-based. So you always gonna get the big star to show, to put in the movies para kumita,” stated Dondon.
But with the emergence of numerous online platforms, more artists and wannabes are waiting to be discovered.
“At least maipakaita natin na kahit bago sila, mabigyan sila ng equal footing, ng equal chance kapag lumabas ka ng bansa na ma-appreciate yung kanilang mga skills. I think that’s one major factor why we feel it’s the right time to actually do this na,” furthered Dondon.
The pandemic has also brought some realizations for the entertainment executives to talk about their future plans and eventually paved the way for the new project venture.
“Because of the digital platform, mas mabilis na ngayon mag-launch ng artista. Unlike before na super effort, kailangan pelikula agad para sumikat. But now, marami ng sumisikat through different platforms. Marami na rin naglalakas-loob na maging artista. Yung mga kabataan ngayon iba na rin ang kanilang perspective, iba na ang lakas ng loob nila. They are more all out if they really want to be an actor or if they really want to be sikat,” observed Roselle.
With the “new generation, new normal coming and the birth of digital,” this partnership is of importance because it will “really bring in new faces,” Dondon told The STAR, adding, “Matagal ng nanganak ang digital, but right now it has been enhanced and made bigger because of this pandemic. And I think hindi naman mawawala yan. I think digital will really be a big part of content. The more talaga na kailangan talaga mag-build up tayo ng mga bagong artista para malagay dito and we need partners.”
Since the new normal signifies the birth of the digital universe and more platforms are coming out like Netflix and HBO GO, “it’s gonna be an exciting digital era for all of us,” said Roselle.
The lack of leading men and leading ladies in the movie business, new protocols and hard time casting due to pandemic restrictions “made the big change,” that’s why this great partnership was created, “we can really start searching for new more talents,” Charlie told The STAR. His Virtual Playground, a talent management company for athletes, was created in 2015 and now has entered the showbiz world.
Reality MM Studios, under the guidance of Dondon and director Erik Matti, is also working with global partners, such as Netflix and HBO GO, where A Girl and A Guy movie and On The Job series were shown respectively.
Apart from granting the wish of their mom, “Mother” Lily Monteverde, the matriarch behind Regal Films, Dondon believes that the current partnership is a “strategic move” to discover new breed of stars and introduce them to local and international markets. He cited A Girl and A Guy, a film that featured newbie actors and trended No. 1 on Netflix Philippines.
The joint venture will also give “more flexibility and convenience when casting from our pool of talents,” said Roselle as they “continue to impact the television scene,” and the entire showbusiness, too.
Virtual Playground’s lineup of talents includes TV teen heartthrob Grae Fernandez; A Girl and A Guy stars Alexa Miro, Rob Gomez, Sarah Holmes, Rosh Barman and Carlo Tarobal; beauty queens Miss Universe Philippines 2014 MJ Lastimosa and Miss Globe 2015 Ann Colis.
Star Awards Best New Movie Actor nominee Kent Gonzales; award-winning theater and film actress Krystal Brimner; Asia’s Got Talent Finalist Gwyneth Dorado; events and TV hosts Mela Tunay and Apple David; and young actors Keann Johnson, Dustin Yu, Darwin Yu, Kimson Tan, Migs Villasis, Blue Cailles, Shiara Lagman, Ayeesha Cervantes, Pam Gonzales, Lara Fortuna and Sarah Edwards are also under their wing.
The list of talents also features athletes who are crossing over to showbiz. They are Mixed Martial Arts World champion-turned-BuyBust lead actor Brandon Vera; collegiate basketball idol-turned-movie star Ricci Rivero; taekwondo gold medalist Pauline Lopez; UFC fighter and model Mark Striegl; and professional volleyball stars John Vic de Guzman and Jema Galanza.
Roselle shared that they already have projects for Sarah, Rob, Dustin and Darwin next year on GMA and others in Regal Studio Presents, also in the same network.
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