CHILD STAR Krystal Reyes, who top-billed the Kapuso prime time series ?Mga Mata ni Anghelita,? was discovered in one of the regular workshops conducted by the GMA Artist Center (GMAAC).

?Krystal was a student in one of the earlier batches of the workshops,? recalls Ida Henares, assistant vice president and head of GMAAC.

The workshops, the summer edition of which is currently ongoing, have been running for the past five years, Henares relates.

?We?ve exceeded the number of students this summer,? she notes. Open to the public, the GMAAC summer workshop has attracted at least 200 students, she says.

Tips from pros

?We mix our artists with ordinary students,? she explains. ?This is beneficial to both the professionals and neophytes.?

The newcomers pick up tips from the pros who?ve acted in TV shows and movies. For their part, the vets can also learn such virtues as enthusiasm and idealism from the novices.

Henares says that the Kapuso network has gathered top facilitators for the workshops which are held twice a year (in the summer and in December).

Among the teachers are stage actor Nanding Josef and filmmakers Jim Libiran and Senedy Que. GMAAC has also tapped speakers like actors Bembol Roco and Marvin Agustin, directors Mel Chionglo and Dennis Marasigan and TV host German Moreno.

Even 12-year-old Krystal Reyes has signed up as speaker in the Kids Acting Workshop program.

Classes culminate with a digital film festival, Sindie. Students from the summer and December workshops act in movies that compete for prizes in the Sindie fest.

Training venues

GMAAC has also teamed up with institutions like the Cultural Center of the Philippines?s theater group Tanghalang Pilipino, Arts in the City and the National Arts Center in Makiling?which Henares plans to tap as venues for talent development.

?We?re also working with John Robert Powers for personality development and L?Oréal for makeup sessions,? she says.

Last January, GMAAC conducted a Values Formation Seminar among its talents, with Anthony Pangilinan and Mikee Cojuangco as speakers.

?We wanted to start the year on the right note,? Henares says. ?In talent development, we are honing not just the artists? skills or physical attributes, but their spirituality, too. We are addressing the totality of the artist.?

Also in the works are exclusive workshops for its roster of 138 talents, which now include boxer Nonito Donaire.

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