Xian Lim grateful that Viva kept its promise
MANILA, Philippines — Xian Lim recently signed not one, not two, but three exclusive contracts with Viva Entertainment.
“We’re signing three contracts, and I’m very happy to announce that I’m signing this Viva Artists Agency management contract. I’m also signing my Viva Films contract and I’m also signing my directing contract for Viva. So, I take so much pride in that,” Xian told select press during a recent presscon at the Viva headquarters in Pasig.
“Thank you to the bosses for the trust that they gave me and continue to give me. There’s a lot to look forward to in the next five years,” he said.
Present at the contract-signing event were Viva Communications president and CEO Vincent del Rosario, Viva Artists Agency head Veronique del Rosario-Corpus, and Viva Content Creation and Development senior vice president Val del Rosario.
During the interview, Vincent praised the 33-year-old artist as a multi-hyphenate — actor, director and musician — and described him as the media company’s “cornerstone leading man” because of his nonstop projects.
“Xian is a cornerstone leading man for us. Never yan mababakante sa amin,” he said.
“Of course, part of our relationship now is to harness his creativity… Bihira yung multi-hyphenated actor na maraming pwedeng gawin. We need new blood behind the camera. Yung pag-aartista naman niya, it’s already established,” the Viva executive said.
Xian first signed up with Viva back in 2018. He recalled, “When I first came here and reached out to the bosses, I told them that I always want to be working and nahihirapan din po ako if nababakante ako. Yun ang pinakahirap para sa isang artista, ang mabakante.”
Currently starring in the GMA series Hearts On Ice, Xian further admitted it’s a sad and scary place to be in — to be doing nothing — but Viva had assured him then and now that he would always have work with them and that he would be afforded room for growth.
Due to the variety of projects he did since 2018 — from starring in the light romantic-comedy Miss Granny, to the psychological thriller Untrue, to directing Hello Universe — Xian could say that Viva kept their promise.
“They really did stick to their promise. So I’m very happy to be part of the family,” he said.
After his recent contract-signing, his first project is a new series within the year for Viva Prime. “It feels wonderful to be part of the Viva family. They stay true to their promise. Dire-diretso ang trabaho and I felt my efforts were appreciated,” he reiterated.
As for directing gigs, it’s going to be five films in a span of five years. “I was actually asking for more pero naisip namin sobra-sobra na yun with all the obligations na kailangan ko i-fulfill TV and movies. Baka naman mahilo ka na sa amin. It’s just right to conceptualize and really focus on the story. That’s my goal — to really tell my story, as uniquely as I can, experiences ko sa buhay, and dito po bibigyan po nila ako ng pagkakataon,” he said.
“And boss Vincent did say, there can be more if they approve of the script and if they have a story for me that’s bagay for me to direct.”
He also expressed interest to venture into concerts. He could possibly make a music score and do some recording.
As for how he plans to juggle all the commitments he’s bound to fulfill in his three contracts and still pursue other interests on the side, he said, “Marami talagang time or baka ako lang yun (laughs). Marami akong oras… No, but really, I love what it is that I’m doing, especially when it comes to writing.
“A lot of people have been asking me, like my castmates in Hearts On Ice, why are you always on your laptop? Are you writing something? During break, that’s what I’m doing — writing. I don’t know if you’ve heard this before, but actors are being kind of paid to wait. There’s a lot of waiting time. So much waiting time — 80 percent nakaupo lang kami waiting for the directors, staff to call us to work. And also waiting for the right project.
“So, I guess, juggling the time, gusto ko naman po talaga ang ginagawa ko. It’s flowing naturally in my schedule and I make it a point na pagkagising ko (I do something). I try to wake up at 5 a.m. I got this from (filmmaker) RC delos Reyes, he gave me a book titled The 5 AM Club… So, I was reading that. Then you get started really early. I try to.”
With this latest career development of Xian, The Philippine STAR couldn’t help but ask the actor to take stock of his showbiz journey in a separate exclusive interview.
Asked how he managed to evade controversies or scandals that could ruin his career, Xian said, “Of course, I’ve gone through the dumps. There were times I felt like I was very misunderstood. Madami (occasions). Ayoko na masyadong himayin pa, I’m known or napapangunahan yung pangalan ko or how people see me, sasabihin nila suplado, sasabihin nila hindi marunong makisama…
“Or given the things that happened, I think may mga times lang na I was, I guessed, misunderstood. But I do understand, hindi ko naman sasabihin or maghuhugas kamay na wala akong contribution dun.”
He even recalled times he’d be scared to face the press to address these issues. “Well, even up to now. But it’s just a matter of having that maturity, na parang OK, this is my life now. This is the only thing I know how to do, nothing else,” he shared.
“I’m an introvert coming to this industry. ‘Di naman ako galing sa showbiz family, I didn’t have that training, so I really came in raw and unprepared on what to expect. Mahirap as an introvert because it’s a completely different culture – the showbiz industry. I just learned as I went along.”
In the end, he believed all his experiences, even the not-so-nice ones, became opportunities for learning.
“I’m also human and we make mistakes and I did learn from those mistakes. I did experience yung mayanig… yes, yun ang initial reaction, ‘Oh shucks! Everyone hates me and thinks that I’m this bad person.’ But it’s just a matter of pushing through. It’s just proving yourself and that it’s not the real you. Maybe it’s just one slip-up. But this one instance or event doesn’t define who you are.”
Looking back, Xian said it wasn’t an easy and quick process coming to terms with that. “I would be lying if I said to you, ang linis ng tinakbo ng career ko, or smooth flowing, you know? I’ve had my ups and downs, I’ve had my highs and lows,” he said.
“I’ve had this conversation recently with the younger artists I’m with now (in my series), ‘You will experience that.’ Good if you won’t experience it. But if you do experience that, it’s not the end of the world, it’s always a learning process and a learning curve. It will not define who you are. I think you just have to keep on being a good person, whatever good means to you.”
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