Director Cathy Camarillo, the genius behind big TV hits "Halik," and Wildflower," is confident on the future of the lead stars of this generation's "barkadahan" series "Tara, G!"
These include Anthony Jennings, Kaori Oinuma, Vivoree Esclito, JC Alcantara, Zach Castaneda, CJ Salonga, and Daniella Stranner.
She boldly predicted they are to become huge in the industry.
And soon.
"Yes, I may say. I can give a validation that these are the future stars," she told us during a recent meeting. "I can give you a validation on that. Magagaling, may mga potential."
She should know. She directs "Tara, G!"
Cathy spent a month with the actors under lock-in in Benguet.
"Bilib ako sa kanila," she said.
"Just imagine every day, kapag may taping, 2 hours going to the location. After babalik ulit sa accommodation nila (sa Baguio)," she shared. "At walang nale-late sa kanila. At wala rin talagang hindi dumadating na hindi handa. Lagi silang ready with their scripts; continuity ng mga gamit nila - yun naman yung nakakabilib sa mga batang ito. Actually, hindi ko ine-expect na ganun kagaling at kalaki yung inimpart nilang skills set sa show na ito."
Cathy has worked with tons of veteran actors through the years.
When asked to compare her actors, she beamed with pride noting how they already show "maturity" and "professionalism" in so many ways.
"Di pa sila seasoned stars pero yung willingness and yung passion about their craft, sobra akong natuwa."
"Itong mga batang ito ay nakakatuwa, hindi ko nakitaan ng reklamo," she maintained. "Mahal nila yung trabaho nila at gusto nila yung trabaho nila."
Cathy is sure that it will all be "felt" by audiences watching "Tara, G!"
"Alam ko naman na itong mga batang ito ay binigay nila 'yung best nila to give justice dun sa mga roles na ipinagkatiwala namin sa kanila," she said.
"I am confident that they'll be big stars," Cathy reiterated. "I always tell them na ang opportunity na ito is magandang blessing. It's up to them kung paano nila haharapin at pangangalagaan."
On the other hand, Cathy pointed out that the show will be different from previous "barkadahan" series including "Gimik," "Tabing Ilog," "Berks," and "Growing Up," among others.
For one, the show, she said, is not just about friendships, it's also about building a community.
"We will highlight here their love for the community. Yung struggles nila, yung journey nila how to make their community big enough to be sustained," she said. "So isa yun. Napaka-broad nung scenario. Ang kanilang focus paano ma-sustain yung livelihood nila. Pero siyempre may mga individual issues din sila."
"I think this is not just a coming-of-age youth-oriented series. Pinakita dito yung malasakit dun sa community and papaano nila ni-nurture yun. Yun ang main journey. Kasama na din yung pag-mature nila, pano nila haharapin mga personal choices na ginawa nila."
She assured it's a values-laden series.
"We are going to tackle a lot of that in the show. Marami kaming mapapakita sa inyo kung ano merong values yung Filipinos. Kung papano namin irerepresenta yung dynamics ng magkakaibigan sa isang lugar na ito na may talagang pagmamalasakit sa lugar nila."
“Tara, G!” will start streaming on iWantTFC this Oct. 7.