ANTIPOLO CITY – Following the tremendous success of her recent blockbuster film "Hello, Love, Again," acclaimed director Cathy Garcia Sampana has embarked on an exciting new venture with the launch of Klinik, a talent agency dedicated to nurturing and promoting emerging artists in the entertainment industry. 

Klinik, a talent management arm of NICKL Entertainment, aims to discover and support newcomers in various artistic disciplines, including singing, dancing, and songwriting. 

With a vision to provide aspiring talents with the guidance and opportunities they need to thrive, Cathy hopes Klinik will serve as a launchpad for the next generation of stars. 

During a recent media conference, Cathy elaborated on the inspiration behind establishing a talent agency. She explained that the idea emerged after discussing the exorbitant fees charged to foreign artists. 

This prompted a deeper inquiry into the reasons behind these high costs, leading them to consider the potential for creating a local agency that could offer competitive alternatives while fostering homegrown talent. 

Cathy's insights shed light on the challenges faced in the industry and the motivation to provide a platform for aspiring artists.

"Bakit ang mahal mahal ng bayad sa mga foreign artists? Yung mga Pinoy hindi. Kinukuha namin noon yung BTS para mag concert sa Pilipinas. 

(Why are foreign artists paid so much? Filipinos don't. We used to hire BTS to do concerts in the Philippines.)

"Noong nakita ko yung presyo, Diyos ko po mahihimatay ako. If only a tenth of that amount can be paid to Filipino artists, ang saya sana. 

(When I saw the price, I thought, 'Oh my God, I'm going to faint. If only a tenth of that amount can be paid to Filipino artists, that would be great.)

So I asked myself, 'Filipinos are talented, so why can't they be paid like that?' So, we should love and support our talents," Cathy said.

The popular female director believed that the talent agency could help discover new acting talent.

"As a director, I have seen talents who cannot act, and I want to send them home. With the help of God, kaya natin ito. Maipapakita natin ang talento ng Pilipino," she added.

(As a director, I have seen talents who cannot act, and I want to send them home. With the help of God, we can do it. We can showcase the talent of the Filipino people.)

Their talents include regular gigs at hotels and being cast in several ABS-CBN programs. "We did not create an agency but a family."

"I will teach them to perform and become good people. At least humble people. I was trained to become a humble person," Cathy said.

She added: "Bawal lumaki ang ulo dahil mapapalo po ako ni Olivia Lamasan at nang nasira natin na si Marilou Diaz Abaya." (I can't be swollen-headed because Olivia Lamasan and the late Marilou Diaz Abaya will beat me.)

Cathy also shared a plan for Klinik to enter into a partnership with ABS-CBN soon.

"I am going into partnership with them because I asked permission. I love ABS-CBN, and I had to ask permission. Tita Cory (Vidanes) told me, 'Why don't you partner with us?' We hope to. I am open to that partnership."

Cathy also shared the keys to success in showbiz: discipline, humility, a good attitude, and the ability to act.

"Aside from the X factor, at kung bagay sa role, tinitignan namin ang ugali. Alam naman natin kung gaano kahirap ang trabaho sa industriya. 

(Aside from the X factor, and if it's appropriate for the role, we look at the character. We know how hard the job is in the industry.)

"Tapos makakakuha ka pa ng talent na nagpapahirap sa buhay mo, parang hindi worth it. Kahit hindi ka kagalingan Pagagalingin na lang kita basta mabait ka. Aanhin ko naman ang magaling kung attitude ka."

(Then you'll get a talent that makes your life difficult; it doesn't seem worth it. If you're not good at acting, I can teach you to become a good actor if you are nice. What should I do about someone who has a bad attitude?)

"As I've stated before, being a star is a gift, much like being a journalist. Not everyone possesses a unique style of writing.

"Again, it's not all about beauty. Just look at Billy Ocean. He has the talent. So you don't judge a person based on beauty unless your role is Miss Universe." 

"But most of the time, I get headaches from talents with no talent. You should ask yourself first if you can do it or not. I know you want a job, but I'm also working. And my job is to tell a story. So, how can I tell a good story if you cannot portray the character based on the script?

"One time, I needed a driver for a scene. I asked the guy if he could drive, and he answered, "No." And there's another one. I needed someone who could portray the young Kim Chiu. But the girl who arrived looked Indian," Cathy also said.

Cathy said Olive reminded her that in the entertainment industry, "you need 10 percent talent and 90 percent good attitude to become successful. It's all about good attitude."

"So malaking bagay talaga kung paano ka makikisama sa trabaho. Professional ka ba? Yung talent naituturo yan eh. Pero yung ugali. Mahirap na baguhin yung nakagawian mo ng yabang ng ibang tao

(So it's a big deal how you interact at work. Are you professional? Talent can be taught, but not attitude. It's hard to change the habit of being arrogant towards others.)

Cathy expressed that she does not believe in workshops for developing the talents of newcomers.

"I don't believe in workshops. Workshops take away the rawness from the actors. So I don't. But I can give tips, especially regarding behavior and professionalism. I will also teach them the basics.

"I would call it an acting clinic. Workshops are different. There's a process for doing a crying scene or something like that. I don't like that. My stars know that on the set. What happens now happens now," she said.

Working with big stars

Cathy said she had turned down offers to work with Vilma Santos and Sharon Cuneta, saying she was too shy to direct them.

But she played a significant role in promoting some of the country's biggest stars through their successful movies. She recalled some memorable moments with Kathryn Bernado, Daniel Padilla, Sarah Geronimo, Bea Alonzo, and her favorite star John Lloyd Cruz.

"I mentioned how I made Kathryn Bernardo's life difficult in Hello, Love, Goodbye. Walang kakausap kay Kathryn noon. Bawal siyang mag-cellphone especially during their first taping ni Ethan. May nagbigay (ng phone). 

(I mentioned how I made Kathryn Bernardo's life difficult in Hello, Love, Goodbye. No one talked to Kathryn then. She wasn't allowed to use her cell phone, especially during their first taping with Ethan. Someone gave her the phone).

"Pero nakita naman ninyo sa 'Hello, Love, Goodbye.' I didn't see Kathryn. But I saw Joy. So I was happy for her. Nagtampo siya sa akin. Pero napatawad na naman niya ako."

(But you saw it in 'Hello, Love, Goodbye.' I didn't see Kathryn. But I saw Joy. So I was happy for her. She was upset with me. But she forgave me.)

Cathy remembered the time she also drew Kathryn and Daniel's attention when they worked together for the first time in "Got To Believe" in 2013. It was also the first time she met them.

"During a story conference, my team was presenting, but they were not paying attention. They were whispering to each other. I then called their attention and told them to separate," she remembered. 

Direk Cathy laughed and clarified that she was not the cause of KathNiel's split in November 2023.

"Sarah (Geronimo) listens, so there's no point in scolding her. Bea (Alonzo) is a professional. But nothing beats John Lloyd Cruz. If he's preparing for a scene, he doesn't mind if your not friends today. 

Preparing for a scene in "One More Chance" in 2007, Cathy said John Lloyd arrived on the set quietly. "Bea and I invited him to eat, but he ignored us. So Bea asked me, 'What's his problem?' I said, 'I don't know.' 

"After the scene was shot, John Lloyd apologized. He was quiet on the set because he was already in character. The scene was shot in one take. That was one of my favorite scenes."

With all humility, Cathy said she expected "Hello Love Again" to be a box-office success. But she was surprised when Hello Love Again was a big hit. "When the teaser for the sequel was released, and I got positive comments, I knew we had a hit movie."

Listen

Director Cathy discussed some reasons that give her headaches on a film set.

"I hate it when stars don't listen. I want to correct something. I was never angry at someone who could not act. But I get angry if you don't listen. That's why you were not able to act out a scene.

"Usually, when you act, it's just a set of instructions. You do this, and you do that. You are just wasting time, not mine. Yours as well and everybody else's. Time is money. When you are directing, expenses accumulate quickly, like a running meter. 

"So I don't need delays like that because it affects the budget. I also hate latecomers. I hate them. I don't like people waiting for them on the set. Senior stars are always on time. I am so ashamed of seniors when newcomers arrive late on the set.

"You should have left early if they told me there was traffic. Unless it's an accident. You know where you live, so you should be familiar with the traffic in your area.

"First offense, I would tell the person I don't like it. Please don't do it again. But when you do it again, I will slap you. I am the kind of person who doesn't want to be scolded for the second offense. So I expect the same from people," she added.