Video Beat Extra Extra - DREAM ACADEMY - September 2006

James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Tuesday September 5, 2006

ABS-CBN SCHEDULING PROBLEMS - EXPLANATION WHY FILIPINOS SPEAK IN A BROKEN LANGUAGE - FIRST EXPERIENCE? - ENHANCE SUCCESS… DOES SPEAKING ENGLISH MAKE A DIFFERENCE? - Miss Cambodia Contest DENIED

PINOY DREAM ACADEMY

This is becoming a nightmare trying to figure out when television programs start here in Southeast Asia. One thing that is for sure is YOU CAN NOT COUNT ON ANYTHING. Scheduling programs on time and at specific times seems to be like finding a pearl in an oyster.

The Malaysian TV 3 channel failed to telecast this past weeks The Apprentice show at 10pm on Sunday September 3.

The ABS - CBN network did it again when the DREAM ACADEMY show started at 10 minutes before the hour and went on until the top of the following hour which equates to 8:50pm to 10pm.

To be fair the text on the TV screen said the show was a live telecast. That means when technical problems occur the show can be delayed. What happened in this case remains a mystery.

The PROFESSIONAL broadcasting BUSINESS works off a specific schedule on what is referred to as a HOT CLOCK. Obviously ABS-CBN isn't aware there is such a thing.

THE SHOW

The Dream Academy show hosted by Toni Gonzaga, Nikki Gill and Sam Malby was vastly improved over the previous week. The top 16 talents that earned their scholarships performed admirably considering they had to learn how to perform in groups or four or five as if they were in a Broadway play.

Singing and dancing is a part of that process but when you do a live TV show, as in their effort, hitting the mark (where to position themselves on stage) is critical. Being that for most of the talent it was the first time they did it they did well.

The cast were groomed and some looked as if they were two different people from the previous week. Unfortunately there are no great voices in this group such as ASAP's Sarah Geronimo.

That brings into focus the choices made by the judges that granted the scholarships. Having good looks and voice didn't seem to be the primary qualification. The judges are seeking something that is not obvious.

One of the contestants has a Rosanne Bar figure (stout) but has a tremendous personality but limited vocal skills. Could she become a character actress?

This is what makes this show so interesting. The fact that they speak very little or NO ENGLISH forces an English language only viewer to listen more intently to try and figure out what they are saying. But it all comes down to is it good entertainment… language or not

The improvement of the Dream Academy performers and their ability to learn and be teachable is evident. How the judges can select who will be eliminated from a group performance is questionable.

Some singers had to sing in a key that was too high or low for them. There were singers that were eliminated and didn't receive a scholarship that had much better voices than any of those that were accepted.

The cast live in a HOUSE together as the cast did in the BIG BROTHER show.

This was televised Sunday before after nine but before 10pm and went off air around 10:10pm.

You see what I'm saying about the lack of consistent scheduling? It is difficult to recommend anything telecast by the network since they aren't consistent.

As in Cambodia's Freshie 2005 competition when the Freshie contestants spent several days together at a hotel were judged on how they interacted with each other and their manners, according to Freshie organizer Noy Rauv..

Could this be a factor with the Dream Academy?

For an English speaking only viewer the show is difficult to watch since there is hardly any English spoken and the performances aren't that good BUT THEIR IMPROVEMENT IS.

That is why this is such a hard call. The contestants improvement earns the viewer interest rating.

To see who will improve the most and walk away with the title is worth the viewing if you are interested in the development of people who are entertainers.

NOTE:

It seems that the Filipinos that I've talked to don't know why Filipino's speak sentences with some English words and the rest in their native tongue.

Finally... there was a rational explanation from Filipino musician Rick Pumes, who is working in Siem Reap, Cambodia with his band In Sync.

The 40 year-old Pumes explained that they did teach the English language in schools in the Philippines when he attended.

Around 1993 the government emphasized that the people speak their native language.

We pointed out to Pumes that was around the time that the USA military were booted out of the country and if that had something to do with being (in my opinion) ANTI ENGLISH SPEAKING.

Pumes claims that he felt that had nothing to do with it. He noted that the young generation speak in a broken language.

Pumes has two singers in the band that are 23 and 24 years-old and they speak to him in English though one of the girls speaks more fluent English.

And this is MY POINT. If a person speaks English they have MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. Since In Sync is playing at the upscale Sokha Angkor Hotel and previously at the Sokha Resort Hotel in Sihanoukville, Cambodia they come in contact with English speaking clientele.

In show business a key to ones success is how well you communicate. In a club/lounge type situation customers like to talk to the band and often buy them a drink.

With the current Philippine and ABS-CBN mindset they are limiting their options and the career potential of their talent.

Yes ABS-CBN is targeting a Philippine audience but they are marketing it's programs internationally particularly in Australia.

It is understandable they focus on their core audience. BUT with some programs such as ASAP that also have some older English speaking talent as well as a some of the younger talent can speak English this show can be marketable beyond the limitations of a Filipino language only show.

There are some that would say that network is limiting its potential…. AGREE OR NOT?

COMING... WHO IS ABS-CBN?

Miss Cambodia Contest DENIED

As we noted earlier regarding the Miss Cambodia contest....Stay tuned for this. Given TIC (This Is Cambodia), schedules can change at the last second..

We hate to be an I TOLD YOU SO BUT... The Cambodian government denied Planet Communications permission to produce Miss Cambodia Contest.

August 1st was the original first day of accepting applications to enter the event. The date was then rescheduled to August 15.

The contest was to begin September 10 with the final scheduled to be held October 28. The intention was to enter the winner into the Miss Universe contest.

The Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts is involved in the planning process of the event. There was a concern regarding the contestants wearing a swimsuit in the Miss Universe Contest Stay tuned

Planet previously noted that applications for the Freshie Boy & Girl contest will be taken in October. The contest will begin in November. The Freshie contest is for boys and girls 16 to 20 years of age.

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