Why Alden Richards is at a career crossroads

In an early December interview, Alden Richards gave the entertainment press a staggering impression that he found his career at a snail’s pace at one point last year.

It is for this reason that depression consumed him, and he even questioned his self-worth.

Speaking in the vernacular, Alden expressed: “Pakiramdam ko, wala akong silbi (I felt useless)!”

He was then able to trace the root cause of it all: it was his woebegone life.

It was a crisis that involved every aspect of his being: three months of no job offers, a string of business undertakings not doing well, plus “personal demons” he had to deal with.

Despite being one of the country’s biggest stars, Alden Richards admits that he has experienced feelings of worthlessness before. INSTAGRAM PHOTO/ALDENRICHARDS02 

If our timeline proves accurate, this period was shortly after he wrapped up work in GMA Network’s Filipino adaptation of “Start-Up,” which paired him with Bea Alonzo.

It took GMA, however, to make him realize he was wrong — short of saying it was all in the mind.

“Maybe, I was just being ungrateful,” he sighed.

Alden’s case of depression — he admitted — nearly spiraled out of control, “But not to the point that I thought of doing drugs!”

All that he needed to invalidate his feeling of worthlessness was simply a job, one after another.

It was when he began shooting for the film, “Five Romances and A Breakup” with Julia Montes did Alden acknowledge something was amiss with his life perspective.

It literally didn’t take five romances and a breakup before his next project came along — that with Sharon Cuneta for last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival.

Instantly, Alden was able to break free from the shackles of depression.

It is also intriguing to note that Alden’s episodes of depression coincided with talks some media outlet out there was poised to pursue the actor no matter what.

Reportedly, it was to the observation of a representative from the anonymous media entity (or, to be blunt about it, a TV network) that Alden was “being shortchanged” in terms of projects.

In the words of a reliable Vignettes tipster: “Nasasayangan sila sa talent ni Alden (the media outlet felt Alden’s talent was being wasted), considering he’s a homegrown artist at that. Spanning his 13 years with GMA, there’s much to be desired.”

Did such words, supposedly coming from the unknown mercenary, contribute to what Alden had aptly termed as depression?

Did the actor in any way bargain with the media rep — that if he still gets thrown into a tailspin — career-wise — this 2024, then out he goes?

* * *

GUESS WHO?

A small group of Canadian-based Filipino concert producers has vowed never to let this in-demand actor (IDA) perform there again.

Nah, the problem is not about the IDA but his handler.

One of the producers told Vignettes: “We booked the IDA for a live concert. The show simply carried his name. Doing the front act was Ai-Ai de las Alas, and guess when the show was slated? On Ai-Ai’s 59th birthday! So it was a celebration of sorts, but of course, Ai-Ai knew she wasn’t the star of the show. We got her for comic relief, and also since she’s close to the IDA.”

The problem arose, however, when the IDA’s handler started throwing her weight around. The show producer continued: “Imagine, she wouldn’t allow even a single photo op with the shrieking fans who trooped to the venue? Kesyo hindi raw ‘yon naka-stipulate sa contract. (Apparently, it wasn’t stipulated in the contract). So we had no choice but to let it pass.”

What got the producers’ goat was when the IDA’s handler told them pointblank that the policy also applied to them.

“Kaming mga producer, bawal din daw magpa-photo op!” they exclaimed in exasperation.

They had nice words, though, for Ai-Ai, who even went near the fans to have her pictures taken.

“Fat chance for the IDA kung kukunin pa namin siya uli for a show here, pati tuloy siya nadamay sa inasal ng handler niya! (Fat chance we’d get the IDA again but only because of his handler),” the miffed producers swore.