A well-known starmaker in the Philippine entertainment industry opens up about his thoughts on grooming a celebrity for stardom
Reaching stardom in the entertainment industry is no easy feat. It requires a strong drive and a relentless pursuit of success. Any artist who wants to make a mark in the showbiz industry is willing to put in the work to hone their craft and constantly improve their skills. This vision is what star maker Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan also believes when asked about his thoughts on success in the industry.
To commemorate the first anniversary of Sparkle Artist Center, Alden Richards was able to connect inside the mind of a starmaker. Through the interview, the Start-Up PH lead discovered the significant points that artists should keep in mind while on their journey to becoming stars.
It is evident throughout the interview that Mr. M is a seasoned star maker and has an eye for talent. He affirms that he can confidently predict who has the potential for success in the entertainment industry just by looking at them. Mr. M claims that he has a 90% success rate in identifying future stars at first glance. However, he also acknowledges that not all talents bloom at the same time, and some artists may take longer to reach their full potential.
According to Mr. M, the formula for birthing successful talents in the showbiz industry is a mixture of hard work and magic. Mr. M believes that while discipline and dedication to the craft are essential, there comes a point where an artist’s connection with the audience becomes magical. This unquantifiable yet powerful connection is what he calls the magic that makes an artist a star.
Mr. M acknowledged the exceptional talent of some of the biggest names in Philippine showbiz, including Piolo Pascual, Jericho Rosales, Alden Richards, Bea Alonzo, Bianca Umali, Gabbi Garcia, Julie Anne San Jose, and Sanya Lopez, who have all made a mark in the entertainment industry with their impressive acting skills. He was particularly impressed with Barbie Forteza’s performance in Maria Clara at Ibarra. She called her a revelation and compared her gutsy and comedic acting style to that of the legendary Diamond Star Maricel Soriano. Mr. M also had some words of advice for the rising stars of GMA Network, including Miguel Tan Felix, Ysabel Ortega, Derrick Monasterio, and Ken Chan. He encouraged these young actors to continue honing their craft and urged them to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them in order to make a lasting impact in the industry.
At the end of the interview, Mr. M shared her vision for his new home. He hopes to make the GMA Sparkle Artist Center sparkle even brighter with the help of his colleagues. This year, he aims to elevate the artists that have been discovered and help them gain acceptance from audiences while they continue to improve their talent. He encourages artists to view their craft as a constant process of improvement and to never stop working to hone their skills. In his own wise words, he says that it is a process of “keeping up with the work” and “constantly struggling to work with your craft until you have something good.”
Watch the interview here:
Photos from SPARKLE GMA ARTIST CENTER (via Instagram)
