In this video, VIVA Artists Agency President Veronique Del Rosario-Corpus shares what it takes to be a star maker of the country’s brightest talents—the likes of Sarah Geronimo and Anne Curtis. She has a lot of stories, including what made her fall in love with producing movies, the biggest career hurdle she had and how she overcame it, and the most important lesson she learned from her dad Vic Del Rosario, undoubtedly one of the icons of the entertainment industry.
If you want to learn more about her fascinating career path, watch this video!
VIDEO PRODUCED BY: Cass Lazaro
VIDEO SHOT AND EDITED BY: Jez Villapando
Special thanks to Viva Artists Agency
If you want to learn more about her fascinating career path, watch this video!
VIDEO PRODUCED BY: Cass Lazaro
VIDEO SHOT AND EDITED BY: Jez Villapando
Special thanks to Viva Artists Agency
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00 Hi, this is Veronique.
00:03 Welcome to Cosmo Women at Work.
00:05 Come in.
00:06 Basically, my role for Viva Artist Agency,
00:13 I oversee the day-to-day activities of my artists,
00:17 create their career plan, their roadmap for their careers,
00:20 and also sell them to various clients like agencies, TV networks,
00:26 to get them projects.
00:28 It also includes training, workshops, anything that will improve their career.
00:32 And for Viva Live, also under Viva Live, we mount concerts,
00:36 we create concerts and events from pre-production to the end product.
00:41 Actually, I'm more of a TV producer.
00:45 That's where I started when I graduated from college.
00:48 So I used to read scripts, I used to evaluate them, and also do casting.
00:53 So I fell in love with it because it's a fulfillment
00:56 when your project gets to be watched by a lot of people.
01:00 My shows before, TGIS, it's a cult following among the teenagers at that time.
01:05 Ana Karenina and all that show.
01:08 So it's very fulfilling and at the end of the day, you build up stars from that TV show.
01:12 They get to be recognized.
01:14 It's a good stepping stone to build up your artists.
01:17 For television, as I've mentioned, the TV shows that I produce,
01:23 because we created artists at that time,
01:26 and for management, it's connected because of the TV shows,
01:30 from their movies we created, I helped in the creation
01:35 of some of the successful icons in the industry now,
01:38 like Ann Curtis, Sarah Geronimo, because I discovered her from the TV show,
01:44 Handpicked Cheering Audition.
01:46 So before we show them to the boss, the chairman,
01:50 I screen, handpick everyone from the audition.
01:53 So that's very fulfilling when you see them now as an icon in the entertainment industry.
01:59 Same with Christine Reyes, same with Rachel Ango.
02:04 She came from our TV show, Search for a Star, so Mark Bautista.
02:08 So it's nice to get to help them and see where they are right now.
02:12 And you have a hand, or at least you contribute to the success of their careers.
02:19 Mentor and advisor. Basically, it's really hard work.
02:23 There's no shortcuts in the industry, even if you're the daughter.
02:26 You have to prove to everyone that you can handle pressure,
02:32 you can handle the business.
02:34 It's also important that you have to be sensitive to the needs of your,
02:38 aside from your employees, your artists.
02:40 That's why I can be their friend, I can be their mother,
02:43 I can be their sibling, their sister.
02:46 So that's why it's important you nurture the relationship.
02:49 Obviously, our artists have lasted for 25 years.
02:52 Anne has been with us for 25 years, Sarah 20 years, Christine 18,
02:57 and the others more than 10 years, Yasi, Bella.
02:59 So I think it's the way you treat them.
03:03 You treat them like family.
03:05 So you're there in any situation.
03:08 And also, we also value clients.
03:11 So it's important that you have a good relationship with the clients.
03:14 Because at the end of the day, when the artist is already gone or has retired,
03:19 you talk to the same people.
03:21 And you sell your artist, no artist to them as well.
03:24 So it's important that you keep good relationships in the industry.
03:28 And that's what my dad has taught us.
03:30 And actually, that's why he's well-loved in the industry.
03:33 As I've mentioned, for newbies who are into production,
03:40 into creating concepts,
03:42 they have to be aware of what's happening in the trend.
03:44 They also have to be a team player.
03:46 They have to listen. They have to be to the trends.
03:49 It's important that you know what's happening in the industry.
03:53 So I think that's very important.
03:55 And also, for new managers or for those who want to manage artists,
03:59 you have to know the strengths and weaknesses of your artists
04:02 so that you'd know how to help them hone their craft.
04:05 So you can't just be sitting down and wait for projects.
04:08 You also have to be more active in getting projects for them.
04:12 That's why they're here.
04:13 We just don't sit down and wait for calls.
04:15 We sell them to potential clients.
04:18 And of course, be there to train them, guide them.
04:20 It's very important to listen to them also
04:22 because especially the young ones, they have no ideas already.
04:25 So it's important that you keep an open communication.
04:28 Well, as a manager, I guess,
04:32 as scary as it's when your artist gets into a scandal
04:35 or something that would breach their contracts from advertisers.
04:39 We've had that, but so far, we handled it well.
04:42 It was difficult at that moment
04:44 because you're trying to manage your artist and the client.
04:48 So you can't just leave your artist there or leave your client in the air.
04:52 So you have to do something.
04:54 As I've said, I've emphasized that it's important
04:56 that you have a good relationship with your clients
04:58 because more often than not, you won't get sued.
05:01 It's just a matter of talking and trying to have some,
05:04 what do you call this, give and take relationship.
05:07 So I'm very lucky, even if there's some contractual obligations
05:12 that are not met by artists due to some controversies,
05:15 we've overcome them.
05:17 Either we settled it amicably or we're just quiet.
05:21 There's nothing that came out from that controversy.
05:25 Well, as a leader, I guess I can be firm.
05:30 I can be strict, but I'm also approachable.
05:34 And I think I handle my subordinates well
05:37 because they've been with me for several years.
05:39 And I also, they know that I mean business when I instruct something.
05:44 They know that that needs to be done.
05:47 But at the same time, they can approach me
05:49 and for whatever problems or difficulties, I always guide them.
05:53 It's important.
05:54 I train them to just tell me everything ahead
05:57 so that we can solve it together.
05:59 So yeah, I can be also their teacher,
06:02 but I can be also a student.
06:04 I can also learn from them.
06:05 So it's a team effort.
06:06 I can't say that it's just me.
06:08 My whole team are helping me in running the agency,
06:13 Viva Artists Agency.
06:15 Yes, it's really hard work.
06:18 No shortcuts, as I've said.
06:20 You have to work hard for it.
06:21 And it's important that you also listen and learn from your mentor.
06:26 And as I've said, I have a very good mentor.
06:29 I'm lucky to have a good mentor in the industry.
06:31 Everything, most of it is actually from his wisdom, from my father.
06:35 So it's important that you learn.
06:38 You cannot be too aggressive.
06:40 Just at the right pace all the time.
06:42 And it's also important to treat your artist and your subordinate really well.
06:47 You have to earn their respect.
06:48 And at the end of the day, even if they're not with you anymore,
06:51 they look up to you or they have a good relationship with them.
06:54 In the future, you might have a project together.
06:57 So that's what I learned from my dad.
07:00 Through the years, even if the artist is no longer with us,
07:03 every time that there's a project or anything,
07:06 they really say yes because of his good relationship.
07:10 So that's what I try to follow.
07:13 Keep relationships in the business.
07:15 Just work hard, no shortcuts.
07:18 And always keep within the budget.
07:23 When I was younger, it was hard because I really take it hard or emotionally.
07:28 But now, through the years, I've learned that why am I working?
07:33 It's because of my family.
07:35 So at the end of the day, I take a look at the bigger picture.
07:38 And it's my family.
07:40 Whatever problems I can handle it, of course, with prayers.
07:43 A lot of prayers and guidance and love that I have.
07:47 I just take it one day at a time.
07:52 Oh yeah, just a normal pampering.
07:56 I do some pampering every weekend or every other week with my daughter.
08:01 Family time, really.
08:03 It really recharges me from the trials and challenges of show business.
08:09 That's the non-show business side that I like.
08:12 So just spending family time.
08:17 Of course, when you have that budget, you can buy stuff for yourself.
08:21 Or more or less trips.
08:23 Actually, I really save up for trips and say thank you.
08:28 I pray and I'm thankful for whatever achievements I have.
08:31 I give it back to Him.
08:34 [music]