More stars are set to join programs to be produced by BrightLight Productions!
This was revealed by former Congressman Albee Benitez of Negros Occidental, owner of BrightLight Productions, who just launched six programs on TV5 in partnership with Cignal TV, during an exclusive interview in Timog, Quezon City recently.
"Hindi naman sa 'nililigawan' namin. What we do is kinakausap namin," said Benitez."Some are Kapamilya stars while others are from other networks."
Benitez however clarified that these stars are not exclusive to TV5 or to BrightLight Productions.
"The stars to the six programs we just launched are not exclusive to our company. They have contracts to the show pero hindi sila exclusive. So anytime gusto nilang lumipat or magtrabaho sa ibang network, puwede naman basta tapusin lang nila ang commitment nila sa BrightLight," he said.
Benitez said that BrightLight and TV5 have a blocktime arrangement for six months. "After six months, we will shift to co-production status. Sa ngayon happy naman ang TV5 sa mga shows. Perhaps later we will discuss about additional time slots for the network."
Some of the stars who have programs under BrightLight include Piolo Pascual, Catriona Gray, Maja Salvador, Donny Pangilinan, Jake Ejercito, Jane Oineza, RK Bagatsing, Beauty Gonzales, Jerome Ponce, Daniel Matsunaga, Billy Crawford, Bayani Agbayani, KC Montero, Alex Gonzaga, K Brosas, Wacky Kiray, Ariel Rivera, Korina Sanchez, Ian Veneracion, Dimples Romana, Sue Ramirez, among others.
Benitez also praised former ABS-CBN director Johnny Manahan, popularly known as Mr. M in the industry, for coming up with a wonderful variety program "Sunday Noontime Live" which kicked off the six shows on TV5 recently.
"Siya talaga ang poste sa show na ito. We asked him kung ano ang nababagay sa show. After conferring with him, siya ang nag advise kung ano ang nararapat," Benitez also said.
Asked how he felt after launching his six programs the past week, Benitez said: "So far so good. Before the launch, there was tension and pressure. Nagtatawagan pa kami noon ng team hanggang 2 a.m. just to keep the show rolling. Ngayon may relief na because we have presented the shows."
The six new programs produced by BrightLight Productions for TV5 are: Sunday Noontime Live (variety show), I Got You (drama series), Sunday 'Kada (comedy show), Lunch Out Loud (daily noontime variety show), Rated Korina (news magazine and lifestyle show), and Oh My Dad! (comedy series).
Benitez said that he's happy with the "noise" these shows have created on social media. "Napapag-usapan din kasi sa social media itong mga shows namin."
Once in a while, Benitez said that he would drop by the set of the shows to see to it that all the requirements of the stars and crew members are met.
"Sa ngayon wala pa naman mga artistang sakit ng ulo. Lahat sila excited for the shows," he said.
Benitez said that he is enjoying his stint as a movie and television producer. Being in show business allows him to be creative, he said. He also revealed he has no business partners in BrightLight Productions.
"Hundreds of millions pa lang naman ang nailalabas ko na budget for these programs. We plan to go full blast in 2021," said Benitez when asked about the budget in producing these TV shows.
Benitez urged for reforms in the country's entertainment industry. He expressed hope that movie ticket prices would be cut so that many people would enjoy the luxury of going to the theater.
He also encouraged authorities to step up the campaign on film piracy especially now that many entertainment projects have gone online.
On why he did not pursue acting when he was younger, the billionaire businessman laughed and said: "Yung anak ko na lang siguro (in reference to his son Javi Benitez)."
Javi Benitez, 25, is a rising leading man under Star Magic, the talent-management arm of ABS-CBN.