On TV5’s newest talent search PoPinoy, a cooperation between the Kapatid network, Cignal, Archangel Media, and TNT, Maja Salvador has been chosen as one of the “headhunters.”
The purpose of PoPinoy is to identify the perfect P-pop ensemble in the pattern of SB19, who can play on the world scale as well as represent Filipino culture. As a result, the actress-dancer and newly-minted talent manager has the “all-important job” of honing the PoPinoy aspirants, ensuring that they’re up to the task and worthy of being proclaimed the victor in the end.
The winning all-male and all-female teams will thereafter be featured in TNT’s local advertising campaigns as well as Darren Espanto’s web program. (A primer to PoPinoy will air on June 6, 8 p.m. on TV5, a week before its premiere on June 13, 7 p.m.)
The STAR requested Maja to give some words of encouragement with the show’s contestants in a virtual one-on-one with the 32-year-old multi-hyphenate.
She began: “If ever man, kung di sila makapasok, gamitin nila yun, kasi sa bawat failure, dun tayo mas nagiging strong. From there, we will determine kung ano ba ang calling mo, ano ba yung para sa ‘yo, ano ba talaga ang gusto mong gawin.
“And if nakapasok naman kayo or pag-nakapasok sila sa next round, ‘wag silang kampante. Always explore, always challenge yourself — what else can I do, what else can I offer? Or what can I change in my look? You always have to give the audience something new.
“So, always reinvent and repackage yourself. Para hindi yun at yun lang ang naibibigay mo sa audience. There has to be something new and something that makes the audience excited about you all the time.”
Maja’s success is a result of a combination of luck and hard effort. Being found is simply one foot in the door, according to her experience. “Ako, masasabi ko na nung nagkaroon ako ng opportunity para maging artista, hindi ko rin naman po nakuha kaagad yung career na gusto ko, kung nasaan man ako ngayon.” The lead star of the TV5 serye Niña Niño continued, “Meron namang nabigyan ng oportunidad na andun kaagad, superstar kaagad, di ba? Pero kahit ano pa po yan, basta ang importante ay yung attitude, yung pagmamahal sa trabaho, sa mga katrabaho mo, yung ganun.”
Maja appears to have heeded her own advise, as she has reinvented herself and established Crown Artist Management as her own talent management firm (CAM).
“To identify talents and develop their full potential as artists and personalities while offering top-quality representation and management across all media channels,” she says of her company’s mission.
Rambo Nuez, a businessman-boyfriend, and other important members of the Crown team, according to Maja, provide her with a lot of support.
“Siempre konti palang kami sa Crown but, you know, I’m very grateful and thankful to them dahil katulad niyan, artista ako, nagpaka-headhunter ako, or nagpapaka-Niña ako, nandyan sila para makipag-usap, makipag-meeting. So after that, may araw kami for alignment, kung ano man yung dapat i-approve at hindi, yung mga ganun. So, there are days na nagpapaka-businesswoman ako.”
When asked what type of skills Crown is seeking for, she stated that they should be able to be taught. “If sa start pa lang makitaan ko ng potential, naniniwala ako sa ilang months, years of training, kailangan mong mapulido yung ano yung talent ang tingin mo na meron ka.”
According to Maja, everyone of the players in their squad has a unique set of abilities. There are also influencers and social media stars, as well as artistas, she added.
“Iba-iba yung offer namin,” she added, explaining that in this day and age, talents are no longer confined to television as there are other platforms for exposure. “It’s the digital age, so mas malawak. So, I’m very excited sa kung ano pa ang mapapakita ng ibang artists namin.”
As a Crown artist, John Lloyd
Of course, John Lloyd Cruz, who was announced as a CAM artist last month, has been her most surprising and exciting talent to date. In 2017, the 37-year-old actor took an indefinite leave of absence from ABS-CBN. Reports regarding his “TV return” on GMA Network (which began on Sunday with a TV special hosted by Kapuso blocktimer-producer and Wowowin anchor Willie Revillame) had yet to surface when this interview was conducted.
“John Lloyd naman kasi is a good friend. Masaya and very thankful kami,” she said of the dramatic actor.
As the resumption of his showbiz career has been entrusted to her now, Maja said that John Lloyd was never really out of sight, out of mind.
“He’s been doing a lot in indie films with direk Lav Diaz,” she said. “At least ngayon, gusto lang namin iparamdam na andyan pa rin siya, na nagbalik siya, and he’s relevant.”
As for her own career, Maja hopes and prays she’s still part of the entertainment industry in the next five years.
“Siguro di ako mawawala because of Crown Artist Management, di ba? Parang magiging… kung wala man ako sa harap ng camera, nasa likod, kung ano man yun. Tingnan natin, pero alam ko nasa industriya pa rin.”
With additional report: philstar
Image sources: pikapika, pep and rappler
