MANILA, Philippines ? Some show biz comers make it as stars in less than an entertainment season, but many others have to bide their time for years before they become popular and bankable. After that long wait, they finally make their bid for stardom, hoping that they?ve acquired the experience and appeal needed for them to succeed.

This show biz season, some heretofore second-level talents are making their big push to end up in the star circle of certified lead players. How are they doing it, and how successful have they been?

First love

Derek Ramsay used to play also-starring or ?third-wheel? roles, all the way up to this year?s ?And I Love You So,? the Bea Alonzo-Sam Milby starrer, where he was cast as Bea?s first love, who expired after a grave illness. Next year, he can be expected to make his big bid to move up to leading man status.

Is he up to it? His biggest drawback is his being no longer as young as some other screen comers are. But, if his breakthrough lead role is cleverly conceptualized and executed?and if the project costars him with real-life squeeze, Angelica Panganiban?he could make it.

Zanjoe Marudo is younger, so his big stellar bid could be an easier feat for him to pull off. He?s also very visible on the TV and movie screens, with the new TV series, ?Lovers in Paris,? as his current thespic calling card. His drawback is his lack of depth and versatility, which he?s trying to make up for with his many and varied portrayals.

A suggestion for both Derek and Zanjoe: Since the show biz scene already has too many ?dramatic? leading men, they could stand out more if their respective breakout vehicles would have a strong ?action? component, the sort that the likes of John Lloyd Cruz, Piolo Pascual and Dingdong Dantes can?t do justice to all that convincingly. Other male comers who could be ready to move up from second-tier status include Rafael Rosell, Sid Lucero and TJ Trinidad.

Advantage

On the distaff side, Erich Gonzales is the young talent to beat, thanks to her believable and empathetic portrayal in ?Katorse.? Will she be gearing up for movie stardom, as well? If so, her best bet could be a starring vehicle that takes full advantage of her youth and ?sweet but seductive? appeal.

For their part, Kris Bernal and Aljur Abrenica have just come from a successful TV series, and have recently been introduced to film audiences as the young leads of the big-screen melodrama, ?Nandito Ako?Nagmamahal Sa ?Yo.?

How will they fare as film stars? Their TV series had them go the usual pa-sweet and pa-cute route, so their prospects as dynamic and vital film leads are less than exciting.

However, if their first big-screen costarrer turned out to be successful, the momentum could be used to propel their ?joint? careers to the next and possibly bigger test.