MANILA, Philippines - One of the things that GMA Network invests heavily on is the development and intensive training of the stars under its stable.
GMA president and CEO lawyer Felipe Gozon says the network’s commitment is towards excellence. That is why, the development and continuous training of all its contract artists come paramount in their agenda for the year. He has thrown the management’s full support towards the pursuit of this goal.
“We don’t want to field artists whose talents maybe half-baked. That is why we invest a lot on programs that will ensure the development of these artists towards excellence. If we train them well now, at least we can be proud to say that the artists we showcase in our shows are only the best,” the president and his key people are one in saying.
The GMA Talent Development and Management Department headed by Ida Ramos-Henares spearheads this effort. “We have laid out a perfectly-crafted set of trainings and seminars for our artists. These workshops, given by some of the country’s most credible, most efficient and most competent teachers, directors, musicians and dance experts, are currently ongoing and have been benefitting the artists in more ways than one.”
The list of competent and well-respected directors who have been handling the training of the GMA talents are Atek Jacinto for voice, pitch and musicality; Gina Alajar for introduction to acting and the rudiments of basic acting; Freddie Santos for self projection and hosting; Vangie Labalan for voice projection and script; and Miggy Tanchangco for dance trio — hip-hop, street dance and street jazz. GMAAC head of Talent Development Department Lou Gopez is tasked with acting through sound, music and imagination.
Director Joel Lamangan is on board to do acting assessment, dedicated to zero in on each artist’s strength and determine the next direction that will best ensure the kids’ journey to superstardom. Even the old-timers GMAAC resident artists — prime talents, singers, comedians, hosts, etc. are included in this method.
The approach is holistic, Ida says, “because we want to be able to tackle every area of concern and answer to every need that these artists have through these workshops. What we offer is also a scientific way of knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the talents. This way, we will have a more informed way of assessing each one of them and be able to decide well where they should be positioned.”
Director Freddie Santos is all praises for his students, especially the newcomers whom he describes as “very good students.” “They are very open-minded and they absorb everything that we teach them. I enjoy being a part of their education. It gives me great satisfaction to see them improve day by day,” he said.
The kids, in turn, give back the same honor to their masters and teachers. “We love what GMA network, specifically GMAAC, has been doing for us. Through these seminars, we are able to learn so many things. Our teachers and trainors are great. This is really a huge help and it’s heartwarming to know that the network spends so much to ensure that we can get all the support that we need in terms of training and development,” they said.
Ida adds, “the seminars and workshops are not made available only to those who have recently signed up with GMA Artist Center (GMAAC) but also those who have been with us for years already. We all know that in this business, an artist needs to keep improving in his craft. One can never have enough training to be constantly good in this art,” she said.
Right now, Ida said GMA is signing up several talents in its stable “because the network has bigger plans this year and next.”
The lucky recipients of these workshops are Ian Batherson, Rye Burgos, Sef Cadayona, Fianca Cruz, Nina Kodaka, Sarah Labahti, Zeryl Lim, Rox Montealegre, Diva Montelaba, Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda, Steven Silva, Princess Snell and Piero Vergara.
The new GMAAC artists undergoing the same workshops are Gwen Agnese, Ellen Adarna, Mark Acueza, Bella Padilla, Benedict Campos, Dani Camcam and old-timers Steph Henares and Gretchen Espina.