UP A NOTCH IN DOWN TIMES
This is not to say that they are escapists. In fact, they are better called ‘realists,’ coping with the stress of the pandemic by being productive and optimistic
In a recent talk with Ana, Chynna and Psalms over Zoom, it became even clearer how other artists are dealing with the current situation; while others are busy raising funds, they are raising each other’s spirits.
With everyone’s thoughts seemingly sunk in the pandemic, some denizens of the Philippine entertainment industry are choosing to rise above the funk in the simplest way possible: real talk.
When GMA Artist Center launched a new online show entitled How Do You Feel?: Usapang Artista, its proponents led by the well-spoken acting coach Ana Feleo did not really know how it would be received.
All she wanted when the idea germinated was to create a “tribe,” a “safe space” for artists — a closer family feeling among the GMA Artist Center talents.
Fueled by this goal, she talked about it in more detail with Artist Center talents Chynna Ortaleza, Benjamin Alves and Mikoy Morales — described by the well-known acting coach as “artists who are going beyond acting.”
The idea grew and grew, spawning even more ideas, that by the time they pitched all these to the network, COVID-19 had probably flown from their minds.
This is not to say that they are escapists. In fact, they are better called “realists,” coping with the stress of the pandemic by being productive and optimistic.
The first episode of the series, shown on the GMA Artist Center YouTube channel and the GMA Network Facebook Page every Saturday night at 8 p.m., “talked about insights on acting, how to deal with pressure and how to bring an actor’s best self on the set to the new breed of actors,” information from GMA Network reads.
For their first episode last 6 June, senior actors Benjamin and Chynna were part of the roundtable discussion, with award-winning actor Gabby Eigenmann as special guest star; up-and-coming artists Elle Villanueva, Sophia Senoron and Psalms David also sharing their experiences and the lessons they have learned so far.
Instead of dwelling on the pandemic and their personal fears and
misgivings, the show discusses the artists’ thoughts about acting and the entertainment industry, “their approach towards their craft, forms of expression, innovative improvisations and experiences in show business.”
In a recent talk with Ana, Chynna and Psalms over Zoom, it became even clearer how other artists are dealing with the current situation; while others are busy raising funds, they are raising each other’s spirits.
“This is the honest truth, Mikoy and I were talking that we need to… I am frustrated because there needs to be more like a tribal feel among the batches of actors, and I said, ‘Why don’t we create something? Whatever, let’s just start building something to unite all the batches, to get to know them.’ …The main purpose was, number one, to unite the batches of GMA Artists Center and eventually branch out to artists from GMA Network. It’s a collaboration,” Ana told Daily Tribune.
For Psalms, being part of How Do You Feel?: Usapang
Artista and working with various Kapuso stars is another opportunity for him to know himself more and explore his talents, “It inspired me to always give my best. The senior actors push me to be a better version of myself. I learn a lot in terms of professionalism and in giving your heart in everything you do. I was reminded to be grounded and to be humble in my craft.”
Ana, meanwhile, countered, “I learned that, equally, the older, the more senior actors can learn from the new batch. It was not one-way as a mentorship episode. It was very, very equal like that. And we are proud because they stood their ground, the kids.”
To which Chynna added, “Honestly, you know, maybe because I have been exposed to working with young artists through the music label that we own. I know for a fact that these young artists are trailblazers. They are original with their ideas and even how they approach even marketing themselves... So,
from Sophia, Elle and
Psalms, I learned that when you’re an artist, regardless of age, you are valid, you own your space and you can really collaborate with anybody. And you always learn from each other.”
In the first episode, Chynna highlighted the importance of camaraderie in the industry. “We have to co-exist with PR, with media,” she said, and then encouraged the new actors to work well with them. “You guys need it. You have to respect it. You have to embrace it.” Benjamin, on the other hand, differentiated being a celebrity and being an actor, emphasizing that “being a celebrity should only be the result of your passion.” “The next one is actually a conversation about going beyond gender in terms of learnings of the artists when they get in the character. Of course, there are times when we are tasked to do characters of different preference so we’ll talk about that. Tom Rodriguez, Glaiza De Castro, Rhian Ramos, Tetay and, of course, Direk Ricky Davao were gracious enough to join us and share their experiences as an actor and their learnings in playing three kinds of characters. That’s what people should look out for in the next episode of How Do You
Feel?” reveals Chynna.
The optimistic energy is palpable, even though Chynna admits being worried for her kids’ future and Psalms talks about being scared for his own. They are keeping their heads up in spite of the uncertainty of the times.
“With the entertainment business, the Philippine entertainment industry has been a resilient organization, business, industry. Kahit ano pa yan, Filipinos or people in general, naghahanap lagi yan ng something to get them inspired, something to make them laugh. So the entertainment industry will survive. It’s just a matter of adjusting, being more considerate and patient with each other. It will take some time to adjust, but it will not die. It’s all about a matter of adjusting like how we adjust with Zoom meetings now. I think I am not so scared about the future of the Philippine entertainment business. We’re very resilient,” Ana concludes.
Very inspiring, indeed.