VOICE OF THE YOUTH NETWORK BLOGGER

PAOLO BEDIONES
SUCCESS COMES..."FROM NOT LETTING PEOPLE TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO"
Interview by JobsDB.com Phils Editor Cora Llamas

The title of his show, "Extra Challenge!" is apropos for broadcast journalist, professional host, and all-around athlete Paolo Bediones. The man genuinely thrives on adrenaline, going where none has gone before, and climbing mountains that have not yet been reached. But no challenge has been as exacting and trying as Paolo's own rise in showbusiness. His success is hard-earned and he has the battle wounds to prove it. Only a few years ago, when "Extra Challenge" and "S-Files" were just an idea in the network's collective mind, Paolo almost turned his back on the dreamed that he loved and aimed for, after one discouraging rejection after another. But he didn't, and instead brushed the dust from himself, squared his shoulders, and moved on. Like the trying tasks that his guests perform on his shows, his life story is an exercise in heroism and should serve as an inspiration for many, especially those who have been failing but could not quite give up.

"Extra Challenge" is said to be the number one show on TV right now. Any opinions on why it became such a tremendous success?

I've been fortunate that all my shows have four elements: they entertain, educate, inform, and inspire. That makes for good TV. Of course, in "Extra Challenge," we have your real life drama once in a while, conflicts major or minor which makes for colorful TV, celebrities who are willing to undergo certain tasks that normally they wouldn't do in their lifetime. At the same time, we give the viewers a sneak peak into what their real personalities are. After a while, the celebrities forget about the cameras and their natural color comes out, which is often a pleasant color for the viewer; sometimes it can be a bit irritating for some, ghastly for others. Celebrities sometimes forget that TV can be a powerful medium. At the end, everything comes together and they change their personalities as soon as possible.

We maintain our ratings as high as they are because quality is never sacrificed. The kind of editing and the graphics that we do in post-production. TV is a visual medium. You can't just stay in a locked frame and bore the viewers. The cameras roll 24/7 but we know exactly what we to look for in a particular scene, what shot is more effective. When the emotions are flowing, a close-up is better; if it's a bitter rivalry, a wide shot shows the scope and then it's back to the close-up.

It's my show, and it's a show I'm very proud of having. It's a show that none of us thought would click. We just celebrated our anniversary last February.

Are there certain ingredients that can make a show successful?

The people you work with must have a passion to come up with the same quality programming as you. They have to love the job. Working relationships are of utter importance when it comes to TV because it's a group effort. If at any point in time, the common vision is not shared, then you have conflict. We all have to know what we want. We can change concepts and certain challenges and fine-tune certain ideas, but at the end of the day, the main focus should be coming out with better programs each and every time. The message that we convey should be a positive one.

I don't believe that for ratings' purposes, the celebrities should be put in a bad light, and the image they are taking care of compromised. At the most, we put them in embarrassing situations that they willingly place themselves in, where they'll feel helpless or naturally drained and exhausted. Like when they climb a mountain or jump off a plane. The physical and emotional stress is immense, but the rewards far exceed the physical discomfort and emotional trauma they may experience.

Safety is of utmost importance; we have an ambulance on stand-by. I let them know that it is a positive, safe challenge, and the degree of difficulty will be adjusted if I find it too hard. I am the perennial guinea pig; but that's the price I have to pay to keep the quality at a very high level. We give the celebrities a good time and they give us their time and personality so viewers may be endeared to them. It's a win-win situation.

What got you to where you are now?

The road that it took me to get to where I am was so difficult. [I started during] that time when people in TV had to be mestizo. At that time, there was only one Richard Gomez and he was the only one who could get away with his color. At that time, it was unheard of to be just a professional host. I started as a professional model, competent, but not excellent. When the Caucasians and Fil-Ams came in and stole my job because of my color, I decided to dabble in hosting, but not before I had many discouraging and depressing bouts. I totaled over 200 VTR auditions where I did not get any call back.

I could not accept the fact that no one would accept me for a commercial. I struggled as a model, from six jobs a month to one. I had bills to pay and moved out of the house, and that was my only income. I would be approved for a commercial and then on rehearsal day, just because I could not look lustfully at my co-star, I was replaced. It was a beer commercial - I was excited - but if it's not for you, it's not for you. It was very painful.

When an opportunity came for me to audition for a hosting job in "Game Plan" in 1996, I grabbed it. I remember my salary was P4,000 a month with tax. But I could not put a price tag on the lessons I learned there; I would have done it for free, looking back. But I made the mistake of not valuing my work then as I should have and ended up delinquent, skipping shoots because of other hosting jobs that paid the bills more. A year later, my contract was not renewed, and I was out of a job.

I auditioned for MTV Asia, got into the 27 finalists, and during the finals' night, everyone was telling me that it would beme. They announced the two winners; I was not one of them.

That was the worst Christmas ever: I was out of TV, I did not have a job, I didn't know what to do for the next year. I sent out all my resumes to the multi-nationals, but job openings were very scarce. At a point of desperation, I didn't know what to do, I was willing to accept rank and file and take anything that would keep me alive.

In February, I got a call from this independent producer of a fitness show in Channel 9. I did it, my salary was P10,000 a month, but the show lasted only for 3 episodes because of the lack of advertisers. I was even marketing the show myself. After that, I still wanted to try out TV and auditioned in each and every network except Channel 7, because I figured that they knew where to find me. I assumed that there was no intention of [GMA] getting me again.

I had people telling me that there was no way I was for TV, and that maybe I had a different calling. In one discouraging incident, they flat-out told me that there was no hope for me. I found myself crying in the car.

Just when I was about to hang up my gloves, I got a call from GMA and they said they were going to get me as one of the hosts for the Binibining Pilipinas. For me, it was an ultimate dream that I didn't know if I was gonna fulfill. Martin Nievera, and Eddie Mercado had hosted the Binibining Pilipinas. I told myself that if I could do that, I could die.

During rehearsals, I showed them what I could do; network execs stood up and came up to me and offered me "Mornings sa GMA." I accepted it; two months later, they gave me "S-Files." In August, MTV Asia asked me to audition again, I became one of their VJs from August to December with Donita Rose in Singapore. I was shuttling back and forth. In December, I was told I had to leave MTV and the morning show because they were giving me a news and public affairs shows, "Extra! Extra", which required a certain amount of credibility. I had two shows in 1999; sometime November, I was offered the "Digital LG Quiz". Since then, many good things have happened.

In September 1, 2003, the first episode of "Extra Challenge" was aired, and it's been a fantastic ride ever since.

How did you manage to hang on and not give up?

It's a matter of attitude. If I had allowed all the discouraging things to affect me and believed what people said about me, I would not be where I am now. You take the good and bad. How do you twist a negative experience and make it positive? How do you make something that outwardly looks bad and make it good? What kept me going was a true sincere desire, passion and love to be on TV, a dream that I wanted to fulfill on my own. Nothing good ever came easy. I paid my dues, and I'm working even harder now.

I'm not yet "there." When people said I've made it, that's the wrong way to look at it. If I look at it that way, what more do I have to achieve? I have so many more dreams that I want to fulfill.

I would want to help more people get into the industry, I've helped a couple. It really makes my heart fly when these people acknowledge me as their instrument of getting them into TV. I want to change the face of showbusiness TV.

I don't think character assassination is necessary [to achieve showbiz success]. It destroys a person's life---that should not be in your hands. It makes those who air the show look bad. Especially when you are talking about certain incidents that should not be aired on TV. We in TV have a great responsibility to people - old and young, to people with dreams and who are impressionable. You can't just carelessly show what you want just for the sake of ratings. You should have a conscience when you are on TV. I always think of the viewer first, and everything else follows.

You take care of your talent, the people who are in your show. You want the viewers inspired, educated, informed, entertained. The love and the passion follow because the viewers are the reasons why you are there.

How do you stay on the cutting-edge and remain competitive?

I'm a very competitive person, but I'm for healthy, and not cut-throat, competition. You keep on top by finding other ways and means of doing the job differently but with the same result. Variety is important in TV; it's a visual medium, people don't want to see the same thing over and over again. I've jumped 4,500 feet from a plane; try to top that if you want to make the viewer see something different---I'd say, "That is healthy competition; it's keeping us on our toes." Healthy competition happens when you better each other by playing fair. You top what the other guy is is gonna do, and you hope that he tops you. The viewers are entertained.

Who have been your professional influences?

I look up to a lot of people in the industry. I know their work ethic and what they stand for.

Eddie Mercado: that guy is a living, breathing example of passion, dedication and love for the profession of hosting. He continually inspires me. One talk with him lifted my spirits up so much. At the end of my career, I want to achieve ten percent of what he had.

Martin Nievera: boundless energy, passion, dedication, true love for the job. Unbelievable, and he's a great guy.

Boy Abunda: for his interviewing skills. You can tell there's a little Barbara Walters and a little Larry King in him. He gets what he wants in his interviews. And he is one who will never compromise certain principles. Being a talent manager and PR person himself, he knows what should be shown on TV. He does not cross the line, and I respect him for that and for maintaining decency on TV.

Che-Che Lazaro: trailblazer of the news magazine show. A wonderful person, both to work with and to talk to. She has a fantastic vision. Mam Che-Che taught me a lot of things that have become second nature to me. It's because of her training that I can eat anything and sleep anywhere.

Mel Tiangco, Mike Enriquez, these people are irreplaceable. I've worked with them and know what they stand for. Mike for his booming voice and classic delivery. Tita Mel for her unbelievable motherly instinct for doing some things. I really appreciate the fact that when she's delivering the news, it's like she's telling a story, and not everyone can do that. She's a fantastic person.

I love Sharon Cuneta. I told myself before that if I were to do one movie in my life, I'd do it with Sharon. I ended up doing a movie with Sharon and Richard.

What advice would you give young talents who would want to follow in your footsteps?

Have the mentality that you should be good at a particular job. We owe it to ourselves to keep our individual identities. It's ok to aspire to be like someone, but getting there has many paths that you can follow.

Do not let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do. Believe in yourself. You need a certain confidence. Work on it.

It's all a matter of attitude. Do not take rejection personally. If I did, I'd probably be depressed until now.

Nothing beats hard work. Don't expect things to be given to you on a silver platter just because you know somebody. In this industry, talent does count. To know the sweet, you have to know the sour and the bitter; to know the good, you have to know the bad.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Be afraid when you refuse to try again and when you stop dreaming. Be afraidwhen you wake up one day complacent and you shouldn't be. Ambition is a great motivator that has to be channeled in the right direction.

Find out if you can develop a love for the job. If you don't' love the job, you won't last long. Don't get into it just for the money, because money will dictate your actions.

Have a set of principles that you will never compromise or be willing to sacrifice.

Be a consummate professional. Be on time. Know your script and lines. Practice.

If you want to be a good professional host here in the Philippines, learn how to write and speak in Tagalog. In corporate shows, you can do English. Learn how to ad-lib and not to go around in circles when you are in talking.

Pay attention to your appearance. Sadly, it is a society that puts a premium on appearance. Cut your hair. Sleep early.

What keeps me on my toes? There are 10,000 people who want to be in my shoes and are waiting for me to make a mistake. I can't afford to do that. I take care of my career as if it were my baby.

To those who want to make it in this industry, look me up, let's talk, and I'll tell you what you need to know. I'm willing to do that. If there's a group of students who want to know about hosting, I am willing to conduct a seminar. Give me 30 or 40 students and a venue. If there is one out of the 40 who genuinely want to be a broadcast journalist or TV host, then I will give my right arm and do whatever it takes to see that that person gets what he or she deserves: a job on TV.

Where do you go from here?

I'm not thinking of any new show yet because that would distract me from my duties and responsibilities from my current show. But I would want to produce a quiz show like before for the high school students so they have something to aspire for.

I'm taking care of this job like there's no tomorrow. Because even if I am more or less stable in the industry and proven something, it is not a permanent industry wherein you are assured for lifetime. As I mature, I have to work even harder because there will always be right behind me younger, better-looking, more athletic individuals who would like to get my job. Now, I'm working double time.

I love my work. Last night I hosted a pageant in Kalookan that ended at 3 a.m., then I have this meeting for an endorser at 10 a.m. then now I have this interview, then I'm off to a pictorial, then a voice-over and another meeting at night. Twenty-four hours in a day---so much time to do what you have to do.

Never ever say that you have no time. You make the time.