MANILA, Philippines ? GMA-7?s ?Starstruck 5? talent search has picked its 14 final bets?now, what? It?s time for the chosen few to strut their stuff for viewer-voters? delight and delectation, so that they will become increasingly popular and survive the tilt?s weekly elimination process, all the way up to the competition?s finale.

We have no control over the popularity-based voting process, but it must be noted from past editions of the tilt that it hasn?t always succeeded in producing standout stellar discoveries. Some winners haven?t really prospered in the biz, while some ?losers? have made it big in other ways, even after striking out of ?Starstruck.?

To make the talent search even more productive, therefore, it?s time to tweak its process this way and that, to assure the discovery of really strong stellar prospects.

The first consideration is the most basic: Looks. Since local show biz fans like their stars and starlets really cute or lovely, outstanding physical features are preferred. Of this season?s finalists, we see five or so comers who could go the distance in this regard. That?s a pretty good percentage, so props to the tilt?s jurors and mentors.

Combination

We must note, however, that ?looks? don?t mean simply a superlative combination of physical features, they have to be blended into an exceptional personality or temperament that makes this starlet more appealing or exciting than the rest.

It?s too early to tell which of the tilt?s five lookers have this extra stellar quotient, but the show?s jurors should be especially on the lookout for this key ?plus factor.?

Another important element is talent. To go the distance in the biz, aspirants need to be exceptionally talented. Great lookers can become stars, but their careers? life span is bound to be severely limited if they aren?t talented.

The key realization here should be: The tilt doesn?t have enough time to develop its finalists? performing abilities, so the advantage goes to starlets who?ve already developed their skills to a sufficient degree.

Some people think that young talents can be taught to sing, dance and act in two months? time. Reality check: They can be ?taught? to do all those things?but, not well. As a result, newcomers? initial efforts fall short, and this often limits their prospective careers? future prospects.

Performing myths

It would also help if the finalists could be disabused of some performing myths, so that they can develop their talents in more productive ways.

First, good acting is achieved by thinking, feeling and being, not by ?discussing? a problem. Some ?acting? exercises on ?Starstruck? make the new talents talk a given problem to death, so no real emotions are generated. This also deludes them into thinking that a lot of ?emotional? argumentation means that great acting is happening in a two-actor exercise. Alas, all that the attendant hue and cry engenders is a lot of ?emotionalizing? chatter.

As for the new ?singers,? most of them can?t really sing, so all the tilt can generally hope to achieve is to teach them to be in tune. The real singing lessons can take months and even years to make a big difference, so let?s not delude ourselves into believing that musical miracles will happen.

Expectations

Dancing is similarly a problem, because it also takes a long time to get it right. So, the talent search could lower its expectations in this regard and instead focus on simple but well-executed steps.

Finally, the competition should concentrate on discovering, not 14 strong comers, but perhaps four or five really promising youths in this year?s batch. Even if they?re voted out, GMA-7 should pinpoint who they are and continue to develop them even after ?Starstruck 5? has had its say and day.