How do you sell a TV show to a world now preoccupied with worry due to the ongoing health scare?
This was foremost in our mind when we we’re invited to a recent virtual press conference meant to announce the return of the local adaptation of the hit Korean series “Descendants Of The Sun” on TV.
We would go on to ask its stars, Dingdong Dantes, Rocco Nacino and Jasmine Curtis the same.
Note the show, recognized Most Popular Foreign Drama at the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards, is also set to debut in Netflix soon.
For Nacino, the answer is simple: You don’t.
Apparently, he is banking on the continued support of the show’s core audience.
He related, “Every day we’re being asked on social media, ‘Kelan kayo babalik?’ ‘Miss na namin kayo...’ and with that alone, we know there are people who are still excited about it so no, I don’t think it’s necessary to actually sell the show.”
He went on to stress how they gave much effort to satisfy the perceived excitement.
“Sobrang effort talaga,” Rocco maintained. “Nung nagbalik kasi kami sa set, iba yung pagkasabik namin sa trabaho and I think makikita yun nang mga tao, yung effort namin.”
Curtis-Smith, on her part, shared they are not keen on ramming the show into viewers' throats but they are hoping people would watch it if only to help boost local production, something which she believes is much-needed, more than ever.
She intoned, “I think it would be good for everyone to watch it because it's ours. It's Filipino. More, because it shows our resilience, it shows the capability of local production, and how we are able to pull through despite limitations. And the fact that Netflix picked it up, attests to its value.”
Dantes, the show’s main star, who was awarded the Star Prize also at the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards, was succinct.
He said, “When we started the show we made a promise to our audience that we would complete it, that we will see it through and this is us simply fulfilling that promise despite the circumstance.”
He went on, “There’s a scarcity of programs on TV and I feel that it is really quite nice to see GMA-7 pushing something like 'DOTS' to keep things going."
"We’re simply trying to serve the viewers’ best interest. At siyempre dahil lahat tayo nanonood ng Netflix, maganda din na madagdagan ng show dun na bago at galing pa sa Pilipinas,” he added.
“It’s actually surreal. This is going to be my first series on Netflix, and it’s a dream come true, it’s very exciting,” said Curtis-Smith.
“Yeah, I’m very, very proud as well to be part of a project that has become a game changer of sorts. I believe it will open up more avenues for local talent,” remarked Nacino.
“Happy ako hindi lang for ‘Descendants Of The Sun’ and GMA-7 but mostly for Filipino talents gaining wider reach, gaining more viewers though Netflix, because we deserve it, lalo na ngayon,” Dantes opined.
“Descendants Of The Sun PH” will start airing on GMA-7, Oct. 26.