GMA-7 Hosts Workshop for South East Asian TV Practitioners

GMA Network, Inc. (GMA) renewed its partnership with the French embassy after hosting a workshop on drama production dubbed as “Soap Opera: From the Idea to the Production” for television practitioners from South East Asia.

The series of courses, which successfully ran from November 14 to 17 in GMA Network, is the second of four legs spearheaded by the French government this year.

The four-day seminar sought to improve and match with international standards the participants’ skills in creating soap operas, a format especially popular in the Philippines. Topics that were covered include character treatment, dialogue elaboration, among other new and emerging trends in drama.

Two French television experts namely, Benoit Delorme, producer, TV director, and concept developer of several French and international productions, and Nans Delgado, scriptwriter, creative director, and artistic coordinator for well known production houses, and TV and movie companies in France, shared their time and expertise with the delegates from different Asian countries.

The training program culminated with an intimate gathering graced by the representatives from the French Embassy, Mr. Martin Macalintal, Audio-Visual Attaché of the French Embassy in the Philippines, and Ms. Stephanie Rabourdin, Regional Audio-Visual Attaché of the French Embassy in Singapore, GMA Network officers, Ms. Lilybeth G. Rasonable (VP for Drama), Ms. Roxanne J. Barcelona (VP for GMA Worldwide), and Ms. Gigi S. Lara (AVP for Alternative Productions), program managers from GMA Entertainment TV and other GMA employees.

Meanwhile, Kapuso actress and Amaya cast member Roxanne Barcelo provided entertainment as she serenaded the audience with songs from the musical Chicago.

Being the first Filipino broadcast company to host the French Regional Program, GMA welcomed this opportunity to work hand in hand again with the French Entertainment Industry thru Ms. Geraldine Mouche, Program Manager for the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), to improve television content not just locally, but also in our neighboring countries.

GMA has been in partnership with the AIDB and the French Government for the past three years.

After holding workshops in Thailand and the Philippines, the series will continue in Malaysia and Indonesia and will run until January next year.

GMA Worldwide VP Roxanne Barcelona with French television experts

French TV practitioner Nans Delgado with writers and producers from various South East Asian countries during the workshop