A recent “Maala-ala Mo Kaya” episode was meant in part to showcase the emerging teen teleserye star, Julia Barretto. She played one of the children of a man who was the perfect “Superman” father—until he became a drug addict and turned his entire family off. So, how did Julia do as a young star-in-the-making?
Not bad—but, she still has to come across as a unique performer. Like too many of her contemporaries, she is “generically” pretty, performs proficiently enough, but is not all that easy to tell apart from the competition.
For her part, Andrea Brillantes, the star discovery in the remake of “Annalisa,” has even more going for her, with her large, expressive eyes, and all. But, the thespic issue she has to work on is her tendency to “push” too hard to come across as intense or “appealing.”
Relax, kid. You have enough plus points going for you, so you don’t have to work that hard to make a positive impression.
Come to think of it, the tendency to “push” too hard is evident in many other young starlets in local show biz, because they have been incorrectly “trained” to think that automatic “energy” and “vitality” will make stars out of them.
Antics
Alas, all that will happen is that they will irritate and turn viewers off with their TH (trying hard) antics.
Similarly a major turn-off are the shticks and attention-calling gimmicks of some TV talent tilt jurors and mentors who mistakenly think that viewers are as interested in them as they are in the new performers they are supposed to evaluate or train. Duh, we aren’t.
Ditto for TV news anchors who think of themselves as “stars,” when they are in fact only news readers. Have a clearer sense of perspective, “gorgeous” gals and guys: Viewers are interested in the news, not in what you’re wearing, so stop coming across as fashion plates. You may indeed be “amazing” to behold, but that’s not why we watch newscasts.
On the more positive side of things, the most noteworthy TV comeback this season is Sunshine Cruz’s current stint on “Dugong Buhay.” She still looks good and hasn’t lost her ability to keep viewers interested and involved, even after years of relative thespic inability.
Wish we could say the same for her estranged hubby, Cesar Montano—although his own new TV series could give him a chance to impress viewers again!