'Idol' producers made RP their last stop, says Pilita
Pilita Corrales says the producers of "Pop Idol" made the Philippines their "last stop" because "they knew they were going to have a difficult time here."
Pilita is one of the judges of the country's version of the reality talent search that originated in England in 2001 (and whose most popular version is the wildly popular "American Idol"). The two other judges are master composer Ryan Cayabyab and singer-TV host Francis Magalona.
"That's what the judges are experiencing now. It's really tough to say no to so many talented youths," Pilita told Inquirer Entertainment. "In 'Philippine Idol', we're not looking for just any singer -- there are other contests for that. What we're looking for is a singer with plus and plus."
The first phase of the auditions that began on June 8 at the PICC in Pasay City yielded 240 contestants from Luzon.
SCREENINGS
Another 25 are expected to be picked from the Mindanao auditions on June 23 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City. Still another 25 will come from the Visayas region via the auditions in Cebu City on July 4.
ABC 5 acquired the "Idol" franchise from the UK-based Freemantle Media. The "Idol" franchise is now in 35 countries.
"Freemantle has had Indonesian, Singaporean and Malaysian Idol shows, but their expectations with the show here is really high. They know how much talent we have here," explained Pilita.
The most difficult part of being a judge, she said, was being firm before applicants who beg, cry and drop to their knees when rejected.
"If we could only say yes to everybody," she sighed. "But the applicants are told, 'You have only one chance [to sing].Make sure it's the right song.' I know it's nerve-wracking for them. But usually, after hearing the first four or five lines of the song, we already know whether the applicant will make the grade or not."
According to ABC 5 Creative and Entertainment Production head Perci Intalan, the three judges will eventually whittle down to 100 the number of contestants. Of these only 24 -- 12 girls and 12 boys -- will then be chosen as semi-finalists during the theater elimination at the CCP Main Theater in August.
REGISTRATION DESK
Intalan said a special registration desk will be put up in SM Davao for fast-track screenings. He added that his team is currently discussing with Big Foot Entertainment, a Hollywood production company based in Cebu, the possible use of a portion of the 8,200-sq. m. facility for the auditions there.
"I guess it's also because this is the search for the first 'Philippine Idol' that so many want to join," Pilita said. "Even the professional singers and recording artists have turned up; they're not embarrassed. But not much has come out of this, so far. We don't even have a final date for the start of the show."
by Marinel R. Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Pilita is one of the judges of the country's version of the reality talent search that originated in England in 2001 (and whose most popular version is the wildly popular "American Idol"). The two other judges are master composer Ryan Cayabyab and singer-TV host Francis Magalona.
"That's what the judges are experiencing now. It's really tough to say no to so many talented youths," Pilita told Inquirer Entertainment. "In 'Philippine Idol', we're not looking for just any singer -- there are other contests for that. What we're looking for is a singer with plus and plus."
The first phase of the auditions that began on June 8 at the PICC in Pasay City yielded 240 contestants from Luzon.
SCREENINGS
Another 25 are expected to be picked from the Mindanao auditions on June 23 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City. Still another 25 will come from the Visayas region via the auditions in Cebu City on July 4.
ABC 5 acquired the "Idol" franchise from the UK-based Freemantle Media. The "Idol" franchise is now in 35 countries.
"Freemantle has had Indonesian, Singaporean and Malaysian Idol shows, but their expectations with the show here is really high. They know how much talent we have here," explained Pilita.
The most difficult part of being a judge, she said, was being firm before applicants who beg, cry and drop to their knees when rejected.
"If we could only say yes to everybody," she sighed. "But the applicants are told, 'You have only one chance [to sing].Make sure it's the right song.' I know it's nerve-wracking for them. But usually, after hearing the first four or five lines of the song, we already know whether the applicant will make the grade or not."
According to ABC 5 Creative and Entertainment Production head Perci Intalan, the three judges will eventually whittle down to 100 the number of contestants. Of these only 24 -- 12 girls and 12 boys -- will then be chosen as semi-finalists during the theater elimination at the CCP Main Theater in August.
REGISTRATION DESK
Intalan said a special registration desk will be put up in SM Davao for fast-track screenings. He added that his team is currently discussing with Big Foot Entertainment, a Hollywood production company based in Cebu, the possible use of a portion of the 8,200-sq. m. facility for the auditions there.
"I guess it's also because this is the search for the first 'Philippine Idol' that so many want to join," Pilita said. "Even the professional singers and recording artists have turned up; they're not embarrassed. But not much has come out of this, so far. We don't even have a final date for the start of the show."
by Marinel R. Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
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