Adult lyrics and moves should be nixed on kiddie tilts

TELESA de Torres wins the kiddie tilt.

The grand finals of the “i-Shine Talent Camp” kiddie discovery tilt were held last Aug. 9, with 12 finalists vying for prizes in the competition’s singing, dancing and acting and “overall” categories. The four finalist singers were mentored by Zsa Zsa Padilla, and we were pleased to see that “our” bet Telesa de Torres was adjudged best singer.

In the dancing tilt, we couldn’t really focus on the four finalists’ relative abilities because adult dancers were constantly lifting them up, turning them around, etc. This made for more interesting and eventful choreography, but it prevented the tiny finalists from really showing what they could do on their own. In any case, “our” choice lost out to the judges’ choice, Princess Moncera.

In the acting category, the four finalists each came up with standard “iyak-tawa” portrayals that had them instantly shift emotions to demonstrate their “versatility.” Of the four, we liked the boy who came up with the most natural performance. However, the judges preferred Shekaniah Gamit’s portrayal instead.

Not a good day for “our” choices but—what can we say? In talent tilts, the official jurors have the last word, and all we can do is to either like it, or lump it!

All told, however, we didn’t do quite so badly: “Our” Telesa ended up winning the “overall” title, and romped off with the top prize of P500,000—not bad for the tiny tot she still is!

We hope that Telesa’s victory will open show biz doors for her, and that the other finalists will also eventually savor the stellar success that they and their parents obviously wish for.

As for the 2015 edition of the “i-Shine” kiddie talent search, it can definitely benefit from this year’s effort—if its producers are open to learning valuable lessons from it:

First, the kids should not be made to sing “adult” songs—no “This Girl Is on Fire,” please!

As for the dance showcases, they should firmly avoid being sexy and seductive. And the acting exercises should not be of the push-button “iyak-tawa” sort, because it’s patently artificial and forced.

In addition, young performers should not be made to wear thick makeup, because it compromises their innocence and lack of artifice, which is what makes child performers refreshingly different from their teen or adult counterparts.

We should all remember that each significant kiddie talent tilt should end up with one major talent who actually becomes a star! Too many talent tilts promise to do that, but don’t deliver, making the entire exercise and spectacle a relative waste of time, not just for the young contestants but for viewers as well.

Let’s hope that Telesa turns out to be an exception to that desultory rule—and if she does end up making it big, “i-Shine” can proudly take part of the credit for it—and, deservedly so!