Former Star Magic head Johnny Manahan, otherwise known as Mr. M, is now officially with GMA Network.
The film director and talent manager, whose career in showbiz spans over five decades, is starting a whole new chapter in his career as a Kapuso after her signed a contract with the network on July 13.
Present during the virtual contract signing ceremony were GMA bigwigs including Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., Felipe S. Yalong, Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, Lilybeth G. Rasonable, Angela Javier Cruz, Gigi Santiago-Lara, Simoun Ferrer, and Jojo Aquio.
Mr. M. has been widely regarded as the man behind the success of some of the biggest names in the local entertainment industry. Apart from being a star builder, he also directed classic films and television series that are still remembered up to this day.
“I'm very happy that Atty. Gozon and the rest of the executives have given me this chance, an opportunity to work with GMA-7 and become a Kapuso,” Mr. M said.
“I am very happy with that. I'm not exactly a stranger to GMA. Long time ago, GMA-7 was known as Channel 7 and I worked on many shows there and also a lot of musicals. So this is like a homecoming of sorts and I am very proud,” the star builder recalled.
In a virtual junket with the entertainment press, Mr. M admitted that he was already considering retirement after leaving ABS-CBN last year.
"There was a time when I really thought I would just leave it all behind and just become a grandfather, you know? Play with my apos but after a while, parang you need to do something," he shared.
"'Di ako mapakali 'pag wala akong ginagawa, so I guess I missed it. I really missed the business, so here I am again, refreshed after a rest, and let's see what I can do," he added.
As a consultant to GMA Artist Center, Mr. M expressed his excitement to work with its talented pool of artists.
"Our main aim is to develop a new breed of GMA artists and perhaps change the imaging and styling of the more established ones," he concluded.
