The ‘Archangel’ of Cignal TV
Since several weeks ago, I have been watching the shows Fill In The Bank and Bawal na Game Show on TV5/Cignal TV, now on its new timeslot 7 to 8 and 8 to 9 Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights, as I stay away from the grim newscasts to make bedtime light and easy, bright and breezy. Cheap thrills (as in mababaw ang kaligayahan), you might say, but I enjoy watching Pokwang and Jose Manalo (Fill In), notwithstanding their “unconventional” fashion style, and Paolo Ballesteros and Wally Bayola’s (Bawal) comedic intro to the games.
Of course, as I’ve just said last week, I start my day Monday thru Friday at 7:30 a.m. with the Chika Trio of Pokwang (again!), Ria Atayde and Pauleen Luna on BESH which is true to its reminder that, yes, basta everyday super happy. Both shows are produced by Archangel Media headed by Michael “Mike” Tuviera, son of APT Entertainment, Inc. big boss Antonio Tuviera (fondly known as Mr. T.). In his own right, Mike is making great strides of his own (as CEO/president of APT) while faithfully following in his dad’s marked footsteps.
Here’s Mike in an exclusive interview with Funfare:
What lessons in running a channel have you learned from your dad?
“Although none of us have experience in actually running a whole channel (we have always had very competent and able partners in the networks we have worked with), I learned many things from my father in regards to running productions. He has always championed the adage that ‘Concept is King,’ and that everything else springs forth from a great idea. He always puts such a premium on creatives and writers, and that is a principle I have continued in Archangel. I also learned from him to always treat your co-workers not as employees but as family. In production, we often end up spending more time with our work family than with our home family, so it is imperative that we surround ourselves with positive and like-minded people to make great work.”
What is the significance of Archangel that you decided to call your company that (is the Archangel your guardian angel)?
“I was named after Michael the Archangel, and I have always been fascinated by the story of the archangels. It felt like a natural fit. I wanted Archangel Media to reflect my personal tastes in content and ideas.”
What are the challenges and, if any, “stumbling blocks” of “block timing” in this time of the pandemic?
“Production in the time of COVID-19 is twice as expensive and three times more difficult. Of course, people’s health and safety are our utmost concern, so there are many additional steps that are added to the process of producing shows. From multiple swab tests to lock-in bubbles to social-distancing measures, we have employed extra precautions to make sure that people are as safe as possible when they are working on one of our productions.
“One difficulty that no one anticipated is how hard it is to not be in the same room during meetings. Yes, we have grown accustomed to video-conferencing and Zoom-ing these past few months, but there is something inherently special about brainstorming in the presence of other creatives, and in discussing big ideas and even opposing views in-person, when you can see the nuances on faces and the tones in their voices. Much is lost across the wide gap of the Internet, but again safety comes first. So this would have to do for now.“
Do you believe in the so-called beginner’s luck?
“Absolutely. Beginner’s luck is directly connected to the courage you have in trying something that you didn’t know was ‘impossible’ or ‘too hard to accomplish.’ In this almost blind bravery, you might just end up making miracles happen.”
What are the guide posts in drawing your line-up of shows (public pulse, etc.)?
“Our main principles are in looking at 1) what the networks may want or need in their programming slate, and 2) what audiences are looking for. From that, we go through our pool of concepts and content and decide what would be the best fit.”
It’s good that Archangel welcomes talents from ABS-CBN. What are your criteria in accepting them?
“We have always welcomed all talents and workers, regardless of where they came from. If they want to work with us, we would be happy to work with them. I think there is a special quality to the collaborations between people from different backgrounds. It brings a diversity of ideas to each project.”
Can you tell us what other shows are coming soon?
“We are very happy that Bawal na Game Show, Fill in the Bank and Chika BESH are all doing quite well. We are very excited to be launching two more shows soon, both on primetime. One is Ate ng Ate Ko which is a family-centric drama with some great performances in it and Carpool which is a gritty thriller. Exciting times!”
Anything new that you can offer the public?
“We have always believed in the virtue of variety, in giving audiences choices in the content they may want to watch. Some of what we do are in keeping with traditional formats, while the other projects we have tend to break the mold in terms of what the audiences may be used to. But we have been very lucky so far in that audiences have seemed to enjoy the content we make, so we strive to continue making quality content for them.”
Where do you think does the TV industry stand in these trying times?
“It has been a challenging time for the TV industry for sure, but I believe it has been even more challenging for the movie industry. We share the struggles with our fellow film producers in trying to put stories to celluloid right now, but there will be a time when our stories can return to the big screen. In the absence of cinema entertainment, more demand and therefore more expectations have been placed on the TV industry, but I’m sure the networks will be more than able to face up to the challenge. We have to work together to make it happen.”
How can television “compete” with social-media shows?
“I believe there will always be a place for free-to-air. Network television is still where stars are made, and where talents become celebrities. It is still the go-to platform for long-form and episodic content. I agree that current realities have forced TV content producers to seek changes — an evolution in the craft of TV production.
“But I believe the industry will come out better after all these challenges, and retain its standing in the public consciousness. There is absolutely a place for social media and Internet entertainment, but I think currently television will remain as the preferred option for entertainment content for audiences.”
(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)
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