MANILA, Philippines?Have you noticed? Some young stars have been doing ?more daring? pictorials of late, and announcing that they?re now available for ?adult? roles in the movies.
What?s going on? Well, it?s a natural rite of passage in local show business: As a starlet or star concludes his or her teen years and the ?sweet? or ?boy-next-door? roles that go with them, new job offers decline. In addition, fans grow older along with their favorite screen idols, so their entertainment needs and expectations change. Finally, some stars and starlets get so tired of playing it cloyingly and predictably cute that they feel they have to heat up their careers?or die of boredom.
Trouble is, even if the spirit?and flesh?are willing, daring and baring isn?t likely to be productive this season, because sex is no longer as big a deal on TV-film screens as it used to be.
The sexy pictorials, we can understand?even without a production to plug, they do add sizzle to a star or starlet?s public image, and fans start regarding them as more ?exciting? personalities after their sexy pictorials come out.
But, additional TV-film roles? Not likely. Take the previously ?sexy? late-night show, ?Banana Split?: It?s been reformatted to tone down its erotic content and now goes more for winking comedy rather than the sexy jugular.
As for the movies, most mainstream productions are of the melodrama, comedy and chiller sort, so there are few job prospects for cinematic ecdysiasts there, as well. True, some indie movies love to shock and titillate, but they generally aren?t major draws at the box office, so they don?t boost a star?s career all that much.
A word to the wise young-adult performer, therefore. If you really want to make a strong impact beyond the sexy pictorial and underwear billboard routes, keep your clothes on and focus instead on taking more advanced acting workshops to make you a better thespian. As your ability to do justice to increasingly more demanding roles improves, the better directors will seek you out, the bigger and better roles will come, and you?ll be home free.
Feedback
From Sandra G. Suarez of Makati City: ?The death of Corazon C. Aquino has moved the nation so much and made us remember and value the principles that guided her actions and decisions. We must hold on to this high moral ground and make sure that it won?t be eroded again in the future.
?That?s why I?m suggesting that a producer come up with her film biography. And, while we?re at it, why not also a movie on Ninoy Aquino?s life and heroism? It?s long delayed, but would still be most welcome.
?Our young people need to look up to Ninoy and Cory to keep the flame of principles and love of country burning bright in their own hearts. Any chance of a film version of ?Cory, The Musical?? (NUT: No plans for a film version yet, but the musical will have repeats at the AFP Theater at the end of the month.)
?Chef Abroad?
Every Wednesday at 10 p.m. on Discovery Travel and Living, ?Chef Abroad? shows chef Michael Smith searching for fascinating people and stories behind food cultures and traditions worldwide?from the Google food cafeteria in California to the Ice Hotel in Sweden.
?Idol? without Paula
The TV world is buzzing with reports that Paula Abdul has decided not to co-host ?American Idol? starting this incoming season. This is regarded as big news, because Abdul helped set the template for the hit talent search.
What was the sticking point? Most observers believe Abdul didn?t get the raise she was holding out for, while Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest have been getting top money.
What will ?American Idol? be like without Paula? Quite a number of people say they?ll miss her and her occasionally flighty ways and statements. And they predict that the show?s declining ratings will fall even further now that she?s been taken out of the hit show?s formula for success.
Well, all this could just be part of the bargaining process, so either Abdul or the show?s producers could still reconsider their decision. Failing that, will the program replace Abdul with a new host, preferably a singer like her who can help boost the singing tilt?s musical credentials?
