Artista Academy: Not your ordinary talent search

Manila, Philippines -  We need to work hard in everything we aspire for. This, Nicolo, an artista aspirant, could only utter while waiting for his name to be called on the next level of the audition process. He was chosen in the initial step of TV5’s grand audition for Artista Academy held last Tuesday afternoon at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

If you’re wondering how did Nicolo pass the initial step, the process went like this: The auditioners were grouped into 10 per line and ordered to ascend the stage for the members of the selection committee, composed of Wilma Galvante, Roselle Monteverde and Gello Jamias, to check on the physical appearance and if the face registers well on screen. Nicolo has the looks that could pass for the next male lead star. Thus, it didn’t come as a surprise when he was picked out from the bunch and was given a piece of paper that served as his ticket to proceed to the next room for the second step. It also meant Nicolo has to wait for another couple of hours to complete the whole audition process. Also spotted were a number of hopefuls who have showbiz connections like Alvin Patrimonio’s son Angelo, Gerald Anderson’s brother Kenneth Alex and Aljur Abrenica’s younger brother Alvin.

Auditions can definitely be nerve-wracking yet coming prepared helps ease that jittery feeling. Most of the aspirants, Nicolo included, came ahead of the 2 p.m. schedule just to be the first in that spiralling queue. He, too, had to miss his classes to make it to the auditions while others flew in from as far as Davao for that chance to be the next big thing in showbiz. But come to think of it, all their efforts will pay off once they pass the auditions and eventually clinch the huge total cash prize of P20M aside from the promise of stardom.

Host Marvin Agustin: I’m a big fan of reality shows. It entertains people and at the same time discovers new talents.

Basing from TV5’s head of entertainment Perci Intalan’s statement on how the Kapatid network artista search would go , one can surmise that Artista Academy is not the usual talent TV reality show one has become familiar with. Perci admitted that with Wilma as head of Asian Academy of Television Arts, it cannot be helped that there will be some similarities with one talent search in the other network. But the audition process is patterned after Talentadong Pinoy.

The 300 contestants, selected from over 12,000 who trooped to the audition venue, will be narrowed down to 100.

“The 300 will go to Broadway with director Mac Alejandre, Ms. Wilma and me for the final casting,” Perci said. “So we take time with each contestant, perhaps we’ll winnow the number to 100 then hopefully, after several tests, we will be able to select the 16 finalists.”

By July 23, the finalists will start attending classes at the Asian Academy where they will attend normal classes under different professors.”’Yung course subject, ‘yun ang ita-tackle sa Asian Academy like acting, singing and dancing,” Perci elaborated.

Director Joel Lamangan will be in charge of the acting lessons; Louie Ocampo, music; and Georcelle Dapat-Sy, dance.

By the way, the contestants will not be housed under one roof. “There lies the big difference,” related host Marvin Agustin, who signed a two-year, non-exclusive contract with TV5. “While other reality shows end inside the house, here the contestants will go to their respective homes then one camera is assigned to each of them, ido-document ang buhay nila at masusubaybayan ng televiewers kung ano mangyayari sa kanila.”

“What if there are finalists from the province? Well, we will look for a place where they can stay (during the duration of the contest),” Perci assured.

From left: Wilma Galvante, Roselle Monteverde and Gello Jamias

Artista Academy will air for one season. “At the end of the season, there will be one best actor and one best actress who will win the cash prize. The two winners will automatically land a contract with TV5. May soap opera na naghihintay sa kanila,” Marvin added.

In some ways, Marvin is reminded with his experiences during his neophyte days in showbiz. He once auditioned for a comedy show at ABS-CBN. “It’s a mix of old and new actors naman, kasabay ko noon sila Robin da Roza at ako ’yung bago.”

Does Marvin think getting entry to the entertainment scene these days has become tougher?

“It really gets real tough. I’m lucky because I entered showbiz without having to go through all the hardships of joining a reality show first. I was automatically launched as an actor. But being in a reality show is something because it (the show) entertains people and at the same time discovers talents so it’s okay. Actually, I’m a big fan of reality shows so when this was offered to me, I truly felt happy.”

Artista Academy will begin airing on July 16.