The biggest perk of being a freelancer is best demonstrated by these hard-working stars, who have ongoing TV shows in both ABS-CBN and GMA.
Have you ever tried changing the TV channel, only to see the same actor you just saw on a show from the previous channel? This actor is appearing on another show, on another channel? Your eyes are not tricking you. They have the same actors. Especially in primetime, freelance actors are practically everywhere—wherever work is available, that is.
Take, for example, the dashing 61-year-old dramatic actor, Albert Martinez. He plays Dr. Smith in the widely-promoted and big-budget Kapuso series, ‘Voltes V Legacy’. He is also appearing in the Kapamilya action-drama series, ‘The Iron Heart’, which is nearing its 6th month on the air. While it’s worth noting that the Voltes V Legacy has long completed filming, it is also necessary to also note that it has long been a customary practice, as an expression of courtesy to the network, for actors to not appear on shows produced by rival channels.
But with ABS-CBN now reduced to being a content provider, and network exclusivity no longer opted for by many actors, freelancing actors have become commonplace in local showbiz. That’s a fact best illustrated by the number of actors who enjoy multiple projects at the same time, including Martinez.
Similarly, Christian Vasquez is also one of those actors who currently stars in ongoing shows on ABS-CBN and GMA Network. Aside from Voltes V Legacy where he plays Emperor Zambojil, he additionally appears on ABS-CBN’s ‘The Iron Heart’ as the funny villain, Orcus. The Ilonggo actor also appeared in the recently-concluded Kapuso daytime drama, ‘Underage.’
Ryan Eigenmann is a freelancer who has appeared both on the GMA Network and ABS-CBN. Like Martinez and Vasquez, he stars in both ‘Voltes V’, and Baron Zander, and ‘The Iron Heart’ as Adonis. Multi-awarded actor, Epy Quizon, is not part of the Richard Gutierrez-starrer but he stars in another Kapamilya primetime drama, ‘Dirty Linen’ as Ador Pavia. Like the aforementioned actors, however, he is also visible on GMA Network, via ‘Voltes V Legacy’ where he plays the Boazanian Zuhl.
It seems that this new practice is poised to become routine for more actors in the future. This is especially true since the former’s fierce rivals, ABS-CBN and GMA, have started forging partnerships. Star Magic actors have also guested on Kapuso shows. This suggests the invisible wall created by network exclusivity has already been taken down.
