After three years of anticipation, the most expensive TV production of GMA, “Voltes V: Legacy” will finally make its grand premiere on primetime this May 8.
The country’s biggest series this 2023 faced several challenges before its much-anticipated world premiere. Helen Rose S. Sese, GMA’s assistant vice president for drama, related how the show began its production at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
“Nag-start kami mag-shoot noong simula nag pandemic, naka-lock in kami. Imagine ‘yung threat ng COVID-19 at that time and ‘yung gastos ng network na lahat kami naka-lock in.
Dagdag pa ‘yung mahigpit na protocols na kailangang sundin.”
“Voltes V: Legacy” is led by five sought-after Sparkle artists: Miguel Tanfelix as Steve Armstrong, Ysabel Ortega as Jamie Robinson, Radson Flores as Mark Gordon, Raphael Landicho as Little Jon Armstrong, and Matt Lozano as Big Bert Armstrong. Sese revealed the team had to make significant adjustments with the character of Little Jon.
“Three years kaming magkakasama. Si Little Jon (Raphael) maliit pa noon. Tatlong beses kaming nagpagawa ng costume niya at isa ‘yun sa malaking challenge na pinagdaanan ng production kasi hindi pwedeng mag-shoot noon ang minor.
“We had to finish all the sequences without him. There were meetings pa kung papalitan ba si Little Jon, but no. Nanindigan kami. May hope kami na huhupa ang COVID-19 and thank God dahil natapos namin ang project na ito,” Sese added.
She also reminisced the personal sacrifices of the production team to put up a grand series like “Voltes V: Legacy.” But everything has paid off, she said.
“We sacrificed a lot of our time. ‘Yung time na we’d be spending with our families, wala kami du’n. But I’m not complaining because this is such a legacy project and I’m really proud na sa amin ito napunta because tangay na namin ito forever. Credits to the team behind me na never sumuko sa lahat ng challenges.”
Sese expressed her gratitude for the trust of GMA Network, “We’re very thankful sa network kasi ang dami naming pinagdaanan na additional taping days just to finish this. I’m very thankful for the support of the network to come up with such a good project.”
The live action series is produced by GMA Network in partnership with Toei Company, Ltd. and Telesuccess Productions Inc.
Acclaimed local animators from GMA’s Post Video Graphics and Audio team and Riot Inc. handled the program’s heavy CGI and other visual effects.
“Voltes V: Legacy” is produced by the award-winning GMA Entertainment Group headed by senior vice president Lilybeth G. Rasonable; vice president for drama Cheryl Ching-Sy; assistant vice president for drama Helen Rose Sese; and executive producer Darling Pulido-Torres.
The talented team behind this world-class live action adaptation is composed of creative director Aloy Adlawan; content development consultant Ricky Lee; senior creative consultant RJ Nuevas; creative consultant Denoy Navarro-Punio; head writer Suzette Doctolero; and writers-brainstormers Liberty Trinidad-Villaroman, Jake Somera, and Loi Argel Nova.
Kapuso viewers can finally join the five heroes and their machines in the highly-anticipated “Voltes V: Legacy,” under the helm of Mark Reyes, starting at 8 tonight on GMA and at 9:40 p.m. on GTV.
