MANILA, Philippines - Twenty years and still counting — that’s how long Star Magic has already been in the business of discovering and building up stars.
And to its roster of stars, Star Magic is more than just what it has become: Not just a pioneering and leading talent management company, but also like a family.
In a presscon Tuesday, some of its top and fast-rising talents like Piolo Pascual, Diether Ocampo, Xian Lim, Maja Salvador and Jessy Mendiola were on hand to talk about the events laid out throughout the year to commemorate Star Magic’s two-decade milestone. They also looked back and retraced their fateful showbiz beginnings with Star Magic.
It’s hard to imagine now, but Diether said he was a “reject” that was given a second chance, after failing to make the cut for the first batch of Star Magic talents.
“I was a reject because I wasn’t prepared,” he recalled.
“If they see a potential in you, they will give you an opportunity. If they see that you have the perseverance, they will support you. You need to have initiative. Masaya yung experience of being rejected because I learned a lot,” added Diether, who eventually joined Batch 2.
Piolo, on the other hand, had seemingly turned his back on showbiz and left for the States after bit parts and supporting roles including a stint in the children’s show ATBP, but Star Magic bosses egged him on to return and to audition for Batch 3. If he will not come back, he will never get launched, the now favorite Kapamilya leading man was told.
The tales of the younger generation of Star Magic artists are no different. Xian, who grew up in the States, would have been a UAAP hottie because he came to the country to play basketball for a university, but after a chance introduction to Star Magic founder and boss Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan, he pursued showbiz. Jessy was accidentally discovered during a Star Magic workshop supposedly attended by her sister. Maja, on the other hand, caught the eye of Star Magic execs when her touching reunion with long-lost father, actor Ross Rival, got televised.
The rest, as they say, is history.
One of the things these stars appreciate the most about being part of Star Magic is that they are treated like family.
“On a personal level, we go through a lot of challenges,” Diether shared. “Minsan nag-o-overlap what we go through personally, and what we go through at work. They’re not just our shock absorber. (With them) I found a family.”
For Piolo’s part, he said, “They understand where you’re coming from. And it’s very important that they know you as a person because at least, they know where they’ll put you, how they’ll present you or project your image. In a way for me, what I learn from them is that hindi lang basta trabaho, they also understand and acknowledge my feelings as an artist because may pinanggagalingan din ako.”
The klieg lights could be blinding if not intoxicating, but Xian said their Star Magic mentors and road managers keep them grounded.
Diether said that even before they get criticized in the media, whatever their shortcomings are, they get pointed out already by their manager.
“We are not pampered,” Piolo insisted. “You will not grow if you’re pampered. They don’t tolerate your (tigas ng ulo).”
Both Diether and Piolo said that in the past years, there have been offers to transfer to other networks. But Piolo said, “I hope to grow old with Star Magic. Sobrang sakit siguro yung kailangan mong umalis, kasi personal na ang relationship, from the bosses (Mr. M and Mariole Alberto) down the line to the road managers, etc. I don’t think about leaving Star Magic, and I don’t need to.”
Meanwhile, events have been lined up throughout the year to be held here and overseas for the celebration of the 20th anniversary. On March 30, a huge gathering of Star Magic artists will entertain fans in Hawaii via the Star Magic 2012 US Tour at the Waikiki Shell. Angelica Panganiban, Bea Alonzo, Piolo, Kim Chiu, Enchong Dee, Erich Gonzales, Erik Santos, Jovit Baldivino, Angeline Quinto, Marcelito Pomoy, Young JV, Yeng Constantino, Vina Morales, Julia Montes, Maja, Rayver Cruz, Zanjoe Marudo, Xian, Gerald Anderson and Pokwang will be there.
On March 31, the Teleserye Bida 2012 US Tour will find its way to the James Logan High in Union City, San Francisco, followed by the Pickwick Theater in Chicago on April 1; Alex Theater in L.A., April 7; and the West High School Auditorium in Anchorage, Alaska, April 8. Sam Milby with Xian, Rayver, Enchong, Gerald, among others, will headline the tour.
Upcoming movies featuring Star Magic artists include Anino, directed by Rahyan Carlos, head of Star Magic Artist Training. Anino, set for release on March 26, is a digital film starring Jodi Santamaria, Dimples Romana, Joem Bascon, Jake Cuenca and Yeng with 160 graduates of the Star Magic acting workshops.
Summer movie releases will see Piolo and Angelica teaming up in Every Breath You Take; Julia, Jessy, Enrique and Xian topbilling The Reunion; and Angeline Quinto in her first film role and Coco Martin pairing up in You Light Up My Life.
Teleseryes coming up include Princess and I , which is currently being shot in Bhutan and starring Kathryn, Enrique, Daniel Padilla and Khalil Ramos. By April, cameras will start to roll for Ina, Anak, Kapatid with Andi Eigenmann, Jessy, Enchong, Martin del Rosario and Joseph Marco in the cast. Plus, Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz will bring back to the small screen their hit loveteam via A Beautiful Love Affair with Vienna, Austria as a setting.
Gerald will be leading the Star Magic Basketball Team in a game versus selected OFWs on April 29 at the Southern Stadium in Hong Kong. He will be joined by Jason Abalos, Ejay Falcon, Young JV, Jose Sarasola, Fred Payawan, Lance Christophers, Joseph Marco, Gerard Acao, Matt Evans and Rayver.
Star Magic will also have a TV celebration in ASAP 2012 on May 27, to be directed by Mr. M himself.
The biggest highlight of the 20th anniversary, however, would have to be the first-ever Star Magic movie to premiere in the last quarter of 2012. A co-production of Star Cinema and Star Magic Films, it will showcase the finest of Star Magic talents and will be directed by John-D Lazatin.
Star Magic’s two decades of star-making go back to April 1992 when Freddie M. Garcia, then executive vice-president and general manager of ABS-CBN, together with Mr. M, then program director, hatched the idea of forming a stable of new stars exclusively for ABS-CBN Network. It was then dubbed as ABS-CBN Talent Center. Its first major project was the hit afternoon youth show titled Ang TV, which was launched in October of the same year and supported by mall shows, live concerts and record albums.
Eventually evolving into Star Magic, it has since become the launchpad of the careers of many of the country’s biggest names in entertainment, even creating avenues to find and display talents harnessed by its built-in workshops, from a reality contest like Star Circle Quest to programs like Star Magic Presents. To date, its stable has grown to 300 talents, from actors, singers, performers, hosts to comedians.