Piolo, Bea, KathNiel at iba pang Star Magic talents, aprub na mag-ober da bakod

PAGKATAPOS na i-deny ng  Kongreso ang  renewal ng franchise ng ABS-CBN, nagpahayag ang Star Magic, ang talent management arm ng nasabing network, na may ongoing talks ang kumpanya sa TV 5 at GMA-7 para mahanapan ang kanilang talents ng trabaho.

Ayon kay Star Magic head at director na si Johnny Manahan,  ang usapan sa Singko at Siyete ay nagsimula pa mula nang palakasin ng Kapamilya network ang kanilang online platforms.

“Our artists had already been exploring opportunities in digital space. With the rejection of the franchise, cable and cyberspace became the only venues for network content,” aniya.

“Almost immediately, instantaneously, advertising revenues began to dry up, projects canceled, contracts suspended. And with that, we began to look elsewhere for opportunities for our artists. Talks are currently underway with contacts from Channel 5 (TV5) and Channel 7 (GMA 7),” dugtong niya.

Dahil dito, binibigyan na rin nila ng kalayaan ang ilan sa talents nila na maghanap ng trabaho sa ibang networks.

“Our artists, once shackled to Channel 2, are now free to go where the work is. Now, truly, they are like gypsies,” sey niya.

Ilang Star Magic talents na ang napapanood sa mga programa ng TV 5.

Si Rita Atayde ay isa sa mga co-host ng morning show na “Chika Besh” samantalang sina Jerome Ponce, Ronnie Alonte, at Jameson Blake ay kasama sa “Fill in the Bank.”

Dagdag pa ni Manahan, patuloy daw naman ang pakikipag-usap nila sa kanilang talents tungkol sa plano ng Star Magic sa kanila.

“We have been talking to our artists via Zoom to reassure them of our unwavering dedication to their professional and personal lives. We are not going the way of the franchise: down the toilet. Never to be seen again. Although depleted, Star Magic will still be around,” aniya. “That’s not to say, of course, that Star Magic itself hasn’t had to bleed as a result of the franchise rejection. Thirty percent of our handlers and road managers have been retrenched. We have had to reset priorities and assignments, saying goodbye to those who have decided for early retirement and keeping spirits up for those staying on,” patuloy niya.

Sa kabila ng mga pagsubok na dala ng pagkaka-deny ng franchise ng ABS-CBN, patuloy daw naman ang kanilang adhikain na hasain pa ang mga talento ng kanilang mga contract star.

“The primary goals remain the same: to seek out work for our artists wherever we can find it and to care for their body and soul. We have told them that their professional lives do not end with the franchise fiasco,” paliwanag niya.

“Workshops are still ongoing, albeit online. I can imagine it has been rather challenging learning thru Zoom. But actors are extremely malleable and enterprising. They soldier on,” dugtong niya.

Nakapokus na rin daw ang kanilang talent management arm sa international scene kung saan handa silang hasain at linangin ang mga talento ng kanilang mga estudyante sa mga workshop mula sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo tulad ng USA, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, at UAE,” ani Johnny.

Sa pahayag ni Mr. M, maliwanag na puwede nang ipirata ng ibang networks tulad ng TV5 at GMA-7 ang kanilang prized talents tulad nina Piolo Pascual, Bea Alonzo, Jericho Rosales, Arci Munoz, Zanjoe Marudo, KathNiel,  Janella Salvador, Shaina Magdayao at marami pang iba. (Archie Liao)