What will Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan do for GMA Network?
GMA Network welcomes Mr. M today, July 13, as part of their talent arm, GMA Artist Center (GMAAC). In his virtual press conference, the esteemed star builder, director, and talent handler revealed his responsibilities and goals as a Kapuso.
Here is what we know so far:
Mr. M could not resist the offer of GMA Network
In the press conference, Mr. M admitted that he could not resist the proposal when the Kapuso Network offered him a position in their talent arm.
But before he switched to GMA Network, Mr. M was working as a freelancer, creating a number of shows for TV5.
“Last year I was working as a freelancer. Gumawa kami ng mga shows para sa channel 5. After finishing several shows, I thought na magre-retire na’ko, maglalagay na sa tahimik.
“But ando’n yung itch na whenever I think about it, it’s hard not doing anything lalo na during this pandemic.
“Eh tamang-tama, some friends of ours in channel 7 asked if we were interested. Sabi ko, ‘sige, let’s talk.’ At maganda naman ang nilatag nila. In the way, I cannot refuse that offer. It’s work. I go where there’s work, where people need us. So after a certain point, it was so easy to say yes,” revealed Mr. M.
Mr. M’s main job is to be a consultant of GMAAC
Mr. M has been known for his expertise when it comes to developing and managing artists. GMA Network would also like his help in making their artists develop into stars.
He said: “I am a consultant to the artist center. As of now, I will not do any directing. Just consulting with the artist center and the entertainment.”
What will he do in the first couple of months?
Mr. M stressed that he and his team would get to know the people in the organization first. But while they are busy adjusting to being a Kapuso, they are also thinking of ways to be of assistance in decision-making, image-making, marketing, and training.
“I supposed the first project is just getting to know the people in the organization. Katulad nang sinabi ko, we just made new friends.
“Seeing how these people work, getting to know the roster of the artists in the artist center, and see where we can be of help as far as decision-making, image-making, marketing, training. We can do all those things immediately and concurrently. So that’s what we’re going to do in the first couple of months.”
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Seeing what needs to be improved
For now, Mr. M is currently adapting to his new environment. But one thing is clear for him: GMA wants to develop a new breed of artists.
In the meantime, Mr. M and his team will be supplementing what is needed of them by the network.
“It’s kind of vague right now. Because what we’re doing is we’re looking at their setup of artist center. To see if anything can be improved in the operation of the artist center. But overall, I supposed what they want to do is develop a new breed of GMA artists and a new breed of ambassadors of GMA. Yun naman ang main goal.”
“But the immediate thing is just to see how we can work with the GMA team. Kung anong kailangan, kung anong hihingiin nila sa’min. If we can do it, of course, we are the consultants. That’s what we want to do eventually,” he added.
He also has a say on who gets the project
When it comes to choosing which among the talents of GMA Network will be perfect for a certain project, Mr. M said that it is part of his mandate.
“I think that’s part of my mandate. Because I asked them, ‘What can I do for you?’ At yun nga ang sabi nila na p’wede akong makisawsaw kumbaga.”
Mr. M will also have the freedom to make changes on variety shows
Mr. M told the media on his virtual presscon that GMA Network’s Chairman and CEO, Atty. Felipe Gozon gave him the signal to make changes on a variety show. This is to make improvements to the program, making the scope of his job even wider.
“Nung isang araw lang, sabi ni Atty. Gozon, baka p’wede akong makisawsaw sa isang variety show at tignan kung anong p’wedeng maibigay or kung anong p’wedeng ma-improve dun sa show na ‘yun. Medyo wide ang scope ko sa GMA.”
Things Mr. M wishes to improve on GMA Artist Center
Mr. M, while still adjusting to his new environment, knows already what are the things that GMA Network needs to improve.
For the newer talents of GMA Network, Mr. M sees that they need to work on their styling, imaging, and marketing.
“There are certain things I can see right now that we could improve—mga issues ng styling, issues ng imaging, how can we market these people better.”
According to him, young stars have “a lot of leeways to create their persona which is authentic pa rin.”
To add, GMA Network’s new talents should be molded into something that the audience would like.
“Kahit na meron silang glitz and glamor, they have to somehow spring from their authentic person to something that audience will desire,” he added.
But for the older stars, the seasoned ones, Mr. M would only tweak a little when it comes to their image.
“[For] the older stars, it is possible to maybe reinvent their image slightly lang,” pointed Mr. M.
To discover new talents
Aside from being an adviser to GMAAC, Mr. M will also look for new talents for GMA Network.
The Network aims to create a new breed of GMA artists and Mr. M, along with his team, will be part of the search as well as the development of these newly discovered talents.
“Oo sigurado yun eh. Kasi one of our aims, one of the things that they wanted us to do is to discover new talents. We want to discover and develop a new breed of GMA artists. Even if in the times of the pandemic, we just have to figure out how to do that.”
Will he be directing shows for GMA Network?
Mr. M says that he has not closed his doors on directing projects.
“Actually okay naman ako kung sabihin nila na, ‘Mr. M ikaw na lang mag-direct n’yan.’ I’m open to that. I never closed my doors to directing. Hopefully wala akong maapakan kapag gano’n ang nangyari.”
Mr. M is also open to the possibility of directing variety shows as he used to in the other network that he had been with.
“Maaaring mangyari iyon. Kung nagugustuhan nila. I’m open to that. I’m still open to that.”
These are the responsibilities and aims of Mr. M as the consultant of GMAAC. In the next few months to come, there will be visible changes and developments on how GMA Network will do things now that the man behind the “magic” is with them.
