It’s always refreshing to interview studio executives. Ang dami ng mapupulot na insights that you can’t get anywhere else. You get a clear view on how the heads constantly seek balance between the business and the creative side.
Case in point ang exclusive interview ng pikapika.ph kay Viva Communications, Inc. COO and President, Vincent del Rosario, who was born on the exact year—1966—when his dad, Vicente “Boss Vic” del Rosario, Jr. put up Vicor Music Corporation.
Twenty years later, in 1986, he joined his dad’s business—which had since grown into a movie production company called Viva Films—as an acquisitionist.
Nag-aaral daw siya sa San Beda noon—where he was schoolmate and buddies with Herbert Bautista—when his dad had this idea na pa-katukin siya sa mga film offices na naglipana noon sa Escolta na malapit lang naman sa eskwelahan niya.
“Maybe eighty percent of the firm producers, they’re all staying there in Escolta, Sta. Cruz,” recalls Vincent. “Sabi n’ya [dad], ‘After mo ng klase, katok ka...do the rounds. Kausapin mo, tanong mo if they’re willing to sell to us ’yong mga rights ng kanilang pelikula for television, for video...’
At karamihan daw ay napa-oo niya.
“I think that time, parang hindi pa naa-appreciate gaano ng mga producers na the content they produce can last a lifetime. They were all thinking okey na naipalabas na sa sinehan. Nabalik ang investment. So, they’re all looking at us, ’yong offer namin as licensee for them as parang bonus nalang... hulog ng langit during that time.”
In his recollection, nakabili siya ng more than 500 movies—na karamihan daw ay bold at action movies—na siya umanong naging backbone ng iba pa nilang film-related business gaya ng PBO (Pinoy Box Office) channel, ng dating highly successful na video rental hubs na Video City, at maging itong bubuksan nilang steaming platform na VivaMax.
From there, Vincent—along with his siblings Veronique, Valerie, and VR—has learned the ropes of his dad’s trades, na mula sa pagiging record producer company ay naging isang entertainment empire (music, films, TV, cable, books, talent management, social media agency, and even food!)
This time, papasukin na rin ng Viva ang direct-to-consumer venture na streaming services—ang VivaMax— na three years na palang binubusisi ni Boss Vic.
Ani Vincent, hindi rin raw sila makikipag-kumpetensya sa Netflix, kundi magse-serve lang sila as a “nice complement to Netflix.
“I mean maganda for people to have a parang second subscription wherein they can gain access to movies that are not offered to other platform—which is mostly Filipino content. Kasi iro-rollout hindi lang dito sa atin kundi para sa mga Pinoys abroad, so global s’ya.”
Medyo costly daw, hindi lang ang pagbuo ng VivaMax, kundi maging ang pagme-maintain dito lalo pa’t naka-commit ang Viva “to drop one fresh content every week.”
“This is outside of what we already have, so every week,” pagbibida ni Vincent. “May bagong either series, pelikula, documentary...So, as a subscriber, you’ll get your fill of entertainment. So, kung anuman ang hilig mo, more than likely may matatapat sa’yo na magugustuhan mo.”
VivaMax is yet another of Boss Vic del Rosario’s vision that is coming to life, full blast by 2021. For at 75, he remains on top of his game. Thus, when asked if he—whom boss Vic has often referred to as “the captain of the ship”—has finally emerged from his dad’s shadow, the shy next-in-line Viva boss became even more self-effacing.
“Alam mo, lagi kaming natatanong niyan...ano pa rin... we’re happy to be able to assist si daddy. I think we’re comfortable the way we work...kaming magkakapatid—kasi I cannot just speak for myself—’yong gusto namin, just complement him. I think do’n kami nasanay.
“Wala kaming ano... like maybe others will take, you know, doing it by themselves. And I’ve seen other companies have second generation move out of their core business... ano, nag-solo. Kami hindi. Kami nasanay kaming dito parang to complement nga si Boss Vic and then kaming apat [na magkakapatid], wala kaming ano hindi namin in-entertain ang thoughts na ganito mangyari... we still ano...parang Viva is a team. Shared responsibilities. Ayon.”
Know more about the colorful and fascinating history of Viva—from the eyes Vincent del Rosario—and the details about the exciting VivaMax by clicking the video above.
VivaMax, by the way, will have its soft launch tomorrow, December 15.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
This is Showbiz Episode 14: Carol Banawa, fulfilled at inspiring ang buhay sa Amerika
This is Showbiz (Ep.12): Manilyn Reynes, nag-detalye kung paano siya nasungkit ni Aljon Jimenez noon
This is Showbiz (Ep.11): Mga hirap at sarap ng buhay-Amerika ni Beth Tamayo
