Xavier Herrero |
Madrid (EFE) , assure those responsible, that they are voices that know how to connect.
“It is that we do not seek; we found the best”, affirms to EFE Noemí Galera, director again of the Academy in which the chosen ones will later be trained and visible head of that selection process that starts this Monday in Barcelona, with stops in the next few days in eight other cities such as Valencia, Las Palmas, Seville or Madrid.
On the way to victory for these talents, everything helps. “That they know how to play instruments, that they know how to speak another language, that they know how to compose, that they produce… but if they don’t do all that, nothing happens,” says Galera, before pointing out what probably makes them stand out as potential “triumphs”: personality.
“We cannot put people who do not transmit anything”
“Obviously there has to be a coexistence and you can’t put people who sing very well but who are a mushroom. If he’s a mushroom on a television show, then it’s probably hard for him to engage or have a good feeling with his fans or on stage. We cannot put people who do not transmit anything and have nothing to say, ”she insists.
Galera flees, however, from the term that has been coined to speak of a type of participant “who gives game” in reality shows today, that of “character”. “It is a word that pulls me back, because they are not characters, they are people who participate in a contest”, she specifies.
Thus, the emblematic images of long queues of anonymous faces identified only by a number and just a few seconds to test their voice will be repeated. “You can immediately see the one who sings badly, the same as the one who does it well. And when in doubt, always inside and we’ll see what happens in the next phase”, argues Galera, before acknowledging that with some of the former participants they knew that they would go far from these tests.
“Be careful, with him”, when seeing David Bisbal
“I saw it clearly with Miki, for example. And with Alfred. To Amaia, because we already knew her from other talent. And my partner Mónica Carbonell, who is now back with us to do the casting tour, in 2001 she saw David Bisbal and said: ‘Be careful, with him’”.
Since the first “Operación Triunfo” gala was broadcast that year, in which Rosa López, Bustamante or Chenoa also took part -who in this next edition will act as the presenter of the program-, the profile of the participants has changed remarkably.
“The youth of 2001 had nothing to do with that of 2017 or with that of now, who are much more prepared. Thanks to Youtube and the networks, it is easier for them to access content such as tutorials and they are more open-minded. The society is different and the format is a bit the reflection of each moment of the country”, observes who has been linked to the program since its origin.
As part of the team that chose the songs, as a jury or, in the last stage, as director of the Academy, hers is a privileged perspective to understand why “Operación Triunfo” has remained the talent show that has survived the longest. .
“Because it has it all: it’s basically a music show and do you know anyone who doesn’t like music? Then there is coexistence, which allows you to meet your idols for three months and their daily lives, see how they grow, suffer and overcome their challenges. And that it is a program that is made from love and that is transmitted, so it ends up being a big family ”, he lists.
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In addition, he reminds the viewer that acting is a risk that can hardly be resolved with automatic pilot: “At the weekly galas we try to teach them to handle themselves in a scenario like that, which I can assure you is a piece of scenery.”
For the first time in its 22-year history, in its twelfth edition, “OT” leaves open television to move to a paid platform, Prime Video, although it will keep the galas live, as well as a 24-hour broadcast that can also be followed via YouTube.
“If this (this jump) had happened maybe 5 years ago, then I would have said that I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but the platform thing is something that is already very up-to-date,” she says confidently before another edition. of success.