Star Magic eyes a global environment as it brings its talent breeding programs overseas in partnership with Artist Movement Productions, Inc. (AMP) in Canada. The creative collaboration started in 2020 and has slowly blossomed into broader horizons with the objective of honing talents with top-tier training.

Helmed by Star Magic Artist Training and Workshops head Direk Rahyan Carlos, the workshops will serve as an avenue for strengthening an artist’s work ethic and performance expertise. As the only certified and official Chubbuck Technique coach in the Philippines, Direk Rahyan trains his students with utmost seriousness.

Director Rahyan Carlos, Head of Star Magic Artist Training and Workshops Star Magic

“’Yung training kasi is napakahigpit talaga. ’Yung disiplina, nandu’n, e,” Direk told Metro.Style in a recent media roundtable. “For example, in my workshops, if you’re one minute late, you’re out of the room and you [will have to] wait to be seated,” he forewarned future participants, inculcating professionalism among them even ahead of training.

When asked what pushed him to partner with AMP, Direk Rahyan answers right away. “Una sa lahat, kasi maraming Pilipino dito, pero napaka-importante sa lahat ’yung who really understands the process and the commitment of what we’re doing in the workshops,” he revealed. “Nu’ng first time akong nakipag-tie up with Rechelle Everden and Chalen Lazerna [of AMP], they understand and respected the process.”

Of all the countries across the globe, Canada has become Star Magic’s country of choice to build a continued connection with, especially that its endeavors align with that of AMP. He added, “Chalen and Rechelle respected that so I trusted them. I think that’s the most important—’yung nandu’n ’yung tiwala and buo ’yung tiwala ko sa kanila. That’s the reason why we pursued this.”

On the topic of who and when to train, Direk Rahyan Carlos guarantees that as long as the goal of becoming a better actor and performer is alive, one can always catch an opportune time to undergo training with the Philippines’ prime artist management agency: “We start from the age of 6 up to 86—for as long as you can do the workshop.”

“Ang pinakamatanda kong workshoppers—I have 82, 83, at nagkaroon sila ng career nu’ng nag-workshop sila nang 78 sila,” he continued. “Ngayon, may billboard na sila sa EDSA. For as long as they can make time, there’s no age in becoming an actor. For as long as you put your heart into it, I think commitment and time—’yun lang naman ang requirement.”

From left: Star Magic's Ed Capulong; AMP's Chalen Lazerna and Rechelle Everden; Star Magic's Rahyan Carlos; Guest Artists Liza Diño and Ice Seguerra; Star Magic's Julie Reyes Photo courtesy of Star Magic

Another exciting news is that aspiring entertainers and newcomers to the industry can improve their contact table by beefing it up with new connections and networks. The workshops, according to Direk Rahyan, are already a head start on the headhunting game. “Usually, the pool of workshops is a pool of networks already,” Direk Rahyan shared. “Minsan, may mga Star Magic din silang kaklase.”

“There are directors, there are producers, there are writers there who are taking the training as well. Kapag nakita nila ’yung mga kaklase nilang ang gagaling, para bang du’n na sila namamalengke ng mga artista nila. ’Yung workshop namin, pantay-pantay. Walang nakakahigit—artista ka man na [o] sikat na sikat ka,” the acclaimed director added. “We always go back to training. The gauge is you’re just as good as your last work so you go training.”

After all, he asserted, “There are no small roles, only small actors.”

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“May mga students kami from LA—hindi lang sa Pilipinas—nakukuha sila either from a commercial or a short film, so nakakatuwa kasi na-a-apply nila not only in their work but in their lives,” Direk Rahyan proudly shared. “Nu’ng nakita ko ’yung development nila—that they embrace the technique, that they embrace Star Magic training, mas napalapit ’yung puso ko to really continue this para sa kanila.”

Lead photos courtesy of Star Magic