Renowned screenwriter and National Artist for Film and Broadcast recently shared insights into his experience working with the former rival networks, ABS-CBN and GMA Network.
During an interview on Cathy Yang’s ‘Long Conversation’ on One News PH on December 19, Lee discussed the distinctions between working setups at ABS-CBN and GMA Network.
Initially, Lee expressed his sense of unfamiliarity, having spent almost 30 years with the Kapamilya network. “Okay naman, nung una nanibago lang ako kasi diba I was with [ABS-CBN] as a creative manager for almost 30 years.”
He went on to clarify that the difference in experience stemmed from the distinct systems implemented by the two networks. “Syempre magkaiba yung mindset ng mga tao, iba yung process, and so on. I don’t mean it na negative yung isa or positive yung isa, magkaiba lang ng sistema. But I think that made it more exciting kasi iba eh, parang bago saken ito…so it’s very exciting, fulfilling work.”
Lee mentioned that, as a creative consultant for GMA’s primetime shows, he is involved with series such as ‘Start-up,’ ‘Maria Clara’ with Ibarra, ‘Widows War’ featuring Bea Alonzo and Carla Abellana, and ‘Pulang Araw’ with Barbie, David Licauco, Sanya, and Alden.
One significant distinction between his roles at ABS-CBN and GMA is that, with the latter, he opted to be a consultant and no longer manages people. “Well, halimbawa sa [ABS-CBN], mas nakakonekta ako sa, ayokong tawaging power structure eh, yung people who manage. Dito [sa GMA], I chose na ayoko na, gusto ko consultant lang.
‘I didnt want to get involve sa mga decision making, administrative jobs, management this and that. so purely consultative. Reading scripts, meeting with the writers and the other consultants and then also workshops. Training not just of the writers, but workshop even with people involve sa promotion, sa production, other departments in the network,” he shared.
Lee acknowledged the inevitable differences in approach between networks, both in terms of shows and the overall process.
‘Inevitably naman magkakaiba yung mga network nang atake eh, even sa mga shows nila eh from the root to the process. so dun may pagkakaiba dun.”
Lee’s move to GMA was influenced by the non-renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise in 2020. Before the transfer, he served as the creative manager for Star Creatives at ABS-CBN, contributing to notable works such as ‘It Might Be You’ (2003), ‘Maging Sino Ka Man’ (2006), and ‘Magkaribal’ (2010). Additionally, he worked as the creative manager for Asia’s longest drama anthology, ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya.’
