So, here's the thing...
I made a career out of watching TV. That's my excuse for being a junkie/couch potato.
Writing about it? Never considered it as my job. Couldn't claim I'm part of the press. Always felt like I'm such a poser when I do that.
But...
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| "AIR QUOTES" hehe. |
I've written for US TV fan sites under someone else's name or for an outfit several times. I have "interviewed" TV people --- such as that late night TV host who announced he was retiring, but really didn't; and that adorable TV actress who was, back then, about to begin a comedy series that only recently fired the showrunner/creator (and the show's not the same now, booo!)
I put "interviewed" in "quotes" because...I never really got to meet them.
How it worked was, someone from the team/s I write for would tell me to prepare the questions, which they would then email to the publicist/agents/reps. I'd wait a couple of days to receive an email back with all the questions answered, so that I could do a piece about it.
That was how far my experience of being close to TV
stars went. And that went on for several years. From where I sit, it was more than I could ask. #grateful
So, when this happened a few days back, things got real:
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| PRESS! I was part of it for a day! |
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| What I said when I checked-in on my Facebook account. |
How It Happened
My friend KV (mwaaah!) alerted me on Facebook about Patrick J. Adams (PJA) coming to Manila. When I saw that it was going to be a JackTV event, I knew I could do something about it.
Since 2008, I've been writing for the local
TV Guide from Atlas Publishing (as seen on the press ID). The mag is a little known publication, but it has been around for over a decade. You can buy the magazine at National Bookstore! (Exclamation point,
talaga. Sapilitan. Bumili naman kayo! Hehe.) I've talked about it a few times on this blog, too.
The mag's primary focus is on putting correct cable and network show schedules on print. The ex-pats love this, we were told. The articles that I (and a pool of writers) submit are only secondary contents.
Cable outfits, like JackTV, have a good relationship with the mag I contribute for. So, knowing what I know about PJA's arrival, I frantically sent out a text message to my Managing Editor. I've NEVER done this before, despite the magazine getting invites fairly often. I didn't even know if I was actually gonna get it, but few days prior to the arrival, my editor confirmed to me that the assignment was mine. (Thank you so much, Marnelle and Ma'am Mel!!!)
And that was that.
The Press Conference Experience
I kept saying on Facebook that I didn't know what I was doing at the event. It sounded
ma-drama...but given my press "credentials", I was voicing my honest feelings --- I really had zero clue. I haven't even registered and introduced myself to the JackTV people and I was already shaking.
The great thing was that the people behind this event were nice professionals. And the whole thing? It was organized. It was on time. Everything was planned well and I was impressed. If I were two decades younger, I would so love to do their job! (Big thanks, by the way, to Ed Uy, Angela Robinson and Miss Tessa!)
It was also a good thing that I'm online friends with one of the more experienced press people who was also there to cover the event. I met her in person for the first time that day. (Hi, Dinna! Thank you for reeling me in your table!)
And Then Patrick Arrived...
When he walked in, time stopped. I'm such a big fan of
Suits that seeing one of its stars in the flesh was --- as you would've guessed --- so surreal. He started talking and I just sat there...frozen.
It took me awhile to gather my bearing and did what I came to do. I took photos and notes. But once in a while, I'd fall back into this dream-like state.
Ganun pala yun. Ang jologs ko lang. :P
I've already posted some photos on my Instagram/Facebook accounts. But here are a few more....
PATRICK J. ADAMS
Mike Ross on SUITS
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| This guy has the gift of gab... |
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He was candid, smart & insightful.
I can understand the attraction between him and Troian.
#SameWavelength |
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| Conversant and sensible, almost like a real lawyer. |
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I forgot what he was talking about here. Season 2?
I was fixated on his arm band. I wonder what that piece is to him?
Never got to ask, there wasn't enough time. |
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| The cake his fans gave him, which he posted on his Instagram as well. |
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"I'm watching you..." he says to the bouncer/security who took
his cake from him, so that he could join his fans for the picture-taking. |
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What a cutie pie. Hehe. Look at that smile!
Would've been better if I got it at the right angle. |
She's Gorgeous, She's Tall and She's Honest
#NotAPrettyLittleLiar
After PJA, Troian's presscon came next. (Well, technically, lunch first hehe.)
I no longer watch
Pretty Little Liars. I do not have any more patience for all the ruse, to be honest (Sorry, T!) But from the beginning, I've already loved Troian's Spencer Hastings. (Aria comes in at second place).
Troian, as expected, was gracious, endearing and smart.
TROIAN BELLISARIO
Spencer Hastings on PRETTY LITTLE LIARS
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Troian channeling Spencer Hastings with that look on her face. Hehe.
She did say something about going on Spencer mode while doing the interview. |
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| Adorable and super nice. Like her boyfriend, she also spoke really well. |
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Gorgeous. She was wearing heels as long as that mic she's holding. Haha.
Seriously, it was so high, I was worried she would trip. |
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| Hug. Hug. Such an emotional moment with her fans. |
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| See? #tears |
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Like a kid receiving gifts from Santa!
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You can check the Instagram photos I have here:
Bits and Pieces
The press people? They asked really good questions, I got a feeling Patrick and Troian were impressed by it, too. Patrick did remark,
"That's a really good question!" three or four times.
Troian got to taste Durian and said,
"It's like the cheese of fruits!" No one in the audience liked Durian. The question they asked was:
Who here does not like Durian? If they asked the opposite, I would be raising my hand. :)
Troian likes Donna on
Suits.
"She's so sexy." Yeah-uh!
Troian said that if she were on
Suits, she could never play the role of Rachel, who is played by Megan Markle. The relationship between Mike and Rachel on the show is tense; there's always that push and pull...and Troian said something like,
"But he's so adorable, I know I could never pull back."
Patrick doesn't get jealous over the men Troian has to do love scenes with. But if he didn't understand the nature of their work, he would've beaten up Keegan Allen, Troian's TV partner, already. Haha.
He also said that if he had a photographic memory in real life (like his character, Mike Ross), he would use it to his great advantage as an actor; to memorize his lines and every other script. Clever!
Patrick said that he was partly responsible for choosing the theme song for
Suits. If you're watching the show, then you know that cool opening theme by heart by now. The song is
"Greenback Boogie" by Ima Robot :
In Conclusion
That night after the press event, I began to develop FEVER. Haaay.
I don't know if it was a combination of:
- having woken up really early, since we live far from the venue and I had to avoid traffic, thus I got no ample rest.
- that nauseating feeling when you're doing something for the first time. Okay, wait. Technically it's the second time, coz I covered a National Geographic event for the magazine back in 2011.
- the thrill of experiencing something for the first/second time.
- the joy of being a fan.
- having eaten nearly nothing. I couldn't eat. I had soup and bread and some of the cold cuts at the hotel banquet, but that was it. (And I didn't eat partly because --- I DIDN'T WANT MY LIPSTICK RUINED WHEN I FACE MIKE ROSS!!! HAHAHAH, ang arte! By the way, not that anyone cares I know, but I was wearing Lip Bloom from Updated Trends with NYX Lip Butter from Digital Traincase. I would like to thank them for my make-up!)
- the airconditioning that was blasting at the back. The cold air cut right through my bones, my body currently feels like it's been hit by a truck. #defensesDown
I'm still recovering from my fever as I prepare this blog.
I haven't watched any of the other TV shows for two days now. #SaddestDaysEver #OA
How do those TVpress people in the States do what they do fairly regularly with all the FanCons, Upfronts, TCA and stuff... and still get to watch everything?? I only went to ONE TV event and I've been sidetracked!
But...
I'd love to this again, that's for sure. Yet like I've said a few times already --- please, please US TV stars, don't come to Manila often. It's bad for my physical and emotional well-being!!!
P. S.
My coverage of this on Atlas TV Guide comes out in the April 2013 issue, since the coming March issue has been put to bed early Feb. That's the way it is in this particular publication. Other facets of that interview, which I have not shared here, are in the articles.
On Philippine cable TV,
Suits airs on
Jack TV, while
Pretty Little Liars is on
ETC.
For the most part, I enjoy watching the first series of Mr. Selfridge because, as someone who's guilty about loving shopping, it's fun to follow what goes on behind a fashion empire's rise to the top.
