By PABLO A. TARIMAN
AT 6”4’ and every inch looking like a matinee idol, Andre Paras towers over the rest of his contemporaries namely model-actress Sam Pinto, television find Yassi Pressman and singer Gino Padilla’s son, Josh Padilla.
The four youngsters are the newly recruited video jockeys (VJs) of MTV Pinoy, which was launched last February 14 by Viacom International Media and Viva Communications, Inc.
The new music channel will be different as it promises original content and equal airing of OPM music and latest overseas top hits.
The good-looking VJs with assorted backgrounds all look forward to the new challenge as they project what is exciting about their generation.
“I came from the movies and so becoming video jockey will allow me to meet people who make news in the entertainment scene,” said Pinto.
As for the younger Paras, Andre admits being VJ is another challenge outside of basketball and he intends to make the most of it.
Andre, now with the UP Maroons, is one of the two celebrated sons (the other being Kobe who is with the La Salle team) of retired rookie now actor Benjie Paras who plays Kathryn Bernardo’s father in the top-rating teleserye, “Got To Believe.”
Says the son of his father: “Obviously we are tied by common love for basketball with our common build and height. But I am also interested in other things. I want to explore the music of my generation, I want to meet other people who make news in the field of entertainment and my work as VJ will enable me to do all that. When Dad was my age (18), he was only into basketball and turned to showbiz later.”
Asked how he describes his generation, Andre expounds: “We are obviously up-to-date with the latest technology and with the latest trends. My Dad’s generation is probably not keen on this but ours is more aggressive. I have no regrets that we were born this way. I guess we are in a position to help our parents better when we are abreast with the latest and we share it with people. That’s the way we are.”
For now, he is taking a sports-oriented course at the UP and is deeply keen on taking film-making. “Filmmaking will allow me to express something about what I see in people. I naturally love people, how they act, how they smile. I am drawn to how they express themselves when watching something. Through the movies, I hope to share my love for films with everyone.”
With basketball, studies and VJ job occupying his work-a-day world, he has no time left for relaxation. Basketball practice is everyday routine with twice a week classes and the rest taping for MTV Pinoy.
“I really want to be a VJ for many reasons,” he confides. “I want to be in media on the lighter side of it. I know it’s hard work but I do need to be kept busy. If you love what you are doing, you will find time to work at it.”
Obviously, he had to let go of his social life as well.
“My new families are members of the taping crew and my fellow VJs. I have lots of friends but now I can hardly find time to talk to them. You really have to sacrifice a lot of things to be in this business,” he adds.
MTV channel head Andrew de Castro said the goal is to eventually widen the programming hours even as it develops its content. “We are aiming to be more innovative with programs that they can’t find in other music channels. We will add three-and-a-half hours of local content per day to the programming of MTV Southeast Asia,” he said in a recent press briefing.
De Castro pointed out hiring sons of celebrities will help them widen their market easily. “With Andre and Josh (Padilla), we got them because they represent the young and carefree and the hardworking. They are a good mix of personalities from the girl-next-door type to the boy-next-door type. I guess it helps that they came from showbiz families. For this reason, the TV screen will be filled with vibrant young people who are immediately recognizable.”
Starting February 14, MTV Pinoy will be seen on Sky (Channel 71), Destiny (Channel 47 or 71) and Cable Link (Channel 37).