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Getting votes is only half of the survivors' job. The other half involves winning the council’s approval. What exactly are the council members looking for?
Winning your vote is only half of the "StarStruck" contestants’ job. The other half consists of getting the council’s nod of approval when it comes to talent, aesthetics, and discipline. Failing in one category would mean giving up the chance to become the next biggest star. But what exactly are the three council members looking for? That’s what iGMA found out! Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos by Mitch S. Mauricio. Direk Louie’s ‘Attitude Box’ It’s Louie Ignacio’s third time to serve on the StarStruck council, and as an established TV and film director, his job includes training the wannabe actors and actresses to behave professionally off-screen. “I’m more into discipline. But the X factor is, of course the brain and beauty. That’s number one,” he says. When asked to describe himself as a judge, Direk Louie didn’t bat an eyelash when he replied, "I’m a disciplinarian. (I’m) very strict when it comes to professionalism, that’s why I have this ‘Attitude box.’ Mga pasaway in short. All the pasaways will be inside the box then iro-roast ko sila during the show. Straightforward ‘yun, walang paligoy-ligoy. Basta may ginawa ka, pasaway ka, lagot ka sa akin!” He says that it’s too early to cite the worst behavior from Season 4, but he was quick to mention the “computer issue” from last year’s StarStruck season. “The worst was last year, the one with Jackie Rice, Iwa Moto – the computer issue. Yeah, that’s the worst! So far, ‘yun pa lang, e. Ngayon wala pa.” The “computer issue” he is referring to happened on the sixth week of Season 3, where a few remaining female survivors opened a confidential file on the show’s computer and told the other finalists about the upcoming challenges. StarStruck even aired footage captured by surveillance cameras showing the girls taking turns at the computer. All of them, however, denied opening any confidential file. The issue led to many accusations, and eventually, the elimination of involved individuals. As someone who knows the ins and outs of the industry, Direk Louie shares what it really takes to make it to the top four. “Talent is number one, then the mass appeal. Jennylyn has the mass appeal, Mark (Herras), (si) Rainier (Castillo), lalo na! Fifty percent of the viewers kasi on television is the masa.” For him, Batch One is still the best when it comes to the popularity of its members. “Sumikat, you know? In terms of popularity, very popular sila. Well, ayoko na banggitin, pero pinakasikat na batch pa rin is still Batch 1. Almost 70% of them talagang star na.” So what can the current batch do to gain Direk’s approval? “Try to have good attitude of course. Just be professional, magkakasundo tayo sa mga StarStruck nights natin.” LT’s Talent Meter "Parang nagiging magkakamukha na lahat ‘yung StarStruck from Batch 1 to 3 e! ‘Yung sa mga babae, halos pare-pareho mukha, so ‘yung hinahanap ko, ‘yung iba ang itsura, ‘yung iba ang mukha than the past winners,” says Lorna Tolentino, who is on her second stint as a judge in the show. This veteran award-winning actress explains, “‘Yung hindi siya F4 ang dating, hindi siya ‘yung usual tisoy, mestizo-mestiza. And makikita mo naman right away, once na nagsalita na, once na nag-perform na. ‘Yung talent nila, it adds up to the aura nila na nagiging different sila from the others.” LT describes herself as a straightforward judge. “Diretso lang. Mayroon man akong makita, sinasabi ko lang agad. Kung mayroon akong narinig na alam ko, kasi sometimes, mayroon talagang nagla-lie about their ages, so ‘yun kaagad, point blank hinaharap ko kaagad ‘yung issue na ‘yun.” She adds that she also helps the contestants handle their emotions on the show. “‘Yung mga ilalabas nila about themselves, kung saan ‘yung makakaapekto sa kanila, kung saan ‘yung maiiyak sila o matutuwa sila.” LT also observes that this batch is far more mature than that of the previous ones, which she attributes to the wider age range of the contestants. “Mas mature ng konti ngayon, kasi before, mga teens talaga, medyo immature. So ngayon may maturity kang makikita, like may single mom diyan. May 20, may 16 years old, may variation. Sa itsura, iba-iba ‘yung mga mukha nila. Sa tingin ko, ito yung pinakamagandang batch, at gwapong batch!” she says with a smile. The prestigious top four may not be announced yet, but for LT, all the remaining contenders are already winners in their own right. “Para sa akin, winners na ‘yan. Iyun pa ang isa pang difference, nakapag-commercial na sila, so hindi sila bago sa showbiz, hindi sila bago sa industry. Mayroon na silang experience kahit papaano. So siguro alam na nila kung papaano sila sisikat, or papaano nila hahawakan ‘yung trade na ‘yan if ever.” Tito Douglas’s Star Radar This season’s newest council member is talent manager Douglas Quijano, who’s in charge of determining whether a contestant is pleasing to the public’s eye. “That’s one thing you cannot describe, ‘yung ‘X’ factor. Pero we have 12 weeks to decide, and they have 12 weeks to bloom. At this point, mga raw pa ‘yan, e,” he says. He adds, “I always believe na if you take somebody out from anonymity, thrust them into this particular contest, lahat ‘yan, nagbu-bloom, nagbabago – even the losers. Usually, give them six months, or three months. Si LT in charge of performance, I think si Direk Louie in charge of professional attitude. Me, I have to look at the faces. Problema nung iba ‘yung (talent and attitude), problema ko ‘yung mukha. Otherwise, we’d just be getting actors from the stage, from wherever, from schools, pero kakagatin din ba ng publiko yun? It’s the looks that mater, then performance comes in, and then attitude. These are the three things that should be present in every candidate.” Tito Douglas may only be looking at the surface, but the other two council members are in charge of the other elements that make a star. “Mine is superficial. It’s just the star quality that I’m looking for,” he says. He also agrees with LT that there are definitely more good looking candidates for this season: “Parang mas maraming maganda (at) mas maraming gwapo ngayon!” he says with a grin. But good looks aren’t enough – especially when you’re just copying somebody else. “Stop looking like a copycat!” Tito Douglas advises the contestants. “There can only be one Iwa Moto, there can only be one Dawn Zulueta, there can only be one of this and of that. If you have a carbon copy, you’ll never make it. And siguro, add more life. Kasi bago pa (sila). Baka after 12 weeks, hindi na (mahiyain)!” Be part of local showbiz history! Vote for your favorite finalist by texting STARSTRUCK (name of candidate) and send to to 367 for Smart and Talk N Text subscribers or 2344 for Globe, TM and Sun subscribers. You can also vote online by visiting www.starstruck.tv.