Cropped image from one of the BTS photo posted @ TV5's #FollowArchuleta

David’s sojourn into a more in-depth action arena starts today with the photoshoot of the TV5′s mini-series, Nandito Ako (Here I Am). As Josh, David will be torn between two love interests. Here are glimpses of their photoshoot. What do you think?

Glimpse of Nandito Ako Photoshoot thanks to MYK!

David Archuleta – @ #NaritoAko Promo Photoshoot – PRACTICING SPIELS (14 Jan 2012)

DAY 02 Begins for David as JOSH. Thanks Ms. Rissa for the pix!

@KarinTour - You're killing us and it is not even midday! LOL So Josh-like

MORE PICS from NANDITO AKO (here i am) PHOTOSHOOT thanks to TV5 &

BATCH 01 – BTS OF PHOTOSHOOT thanks to TV5′s #FollowArchuleta

BATCH 02 – BTS OF PHOTOSHOOT thanks to TV5′s #FollowArchuleta

BTS PHOTOSHOOT OF PROMO VID & RECORDING thanks to OS

Rehearing some lines for Nandito Ako promo - caaannnt WAIT!

Girls, girls... don't shoot, am just the messenger, ok? Just think, it is just make believe...

THE PLOT
David’s mini-series is titled Nandito Ako. He will play an international singer born in the Philippines.

According to the plot, his character was five years old when a fire ravaged his home, separating him from his mother. He grew up in the United States.

Years later, he will come back to the Philippines to look for his family, and a girl he befriended during the fire.

ON WHY HE IS DOING THE MINI SERIES

Although he declined to say how much he was offered, he admitted that he agreed to do the project because he loves his Filipino fans.

“Even though I may not be a [professional] actor, I thought this would be a really great new experience to try.

“Especially in the Philippines because I feel very comfortable with the people and I feel the fans here are very warm,” he explained.

Dapper David, I mean, Josh

A new hair cut by @pinantonio of Cutting-Edge! And a new do for the photoshoot! Do you like it?

@dantenicogarcia The boy is so warm, humble and so well-mannered… It feels like directing my little brother… I just directed the plug of the mini-series… We just did a scene in a hotel staircase with two girls fighting over him.

… @Jana__OR: Slappy? lol! — ‘Slappy’ because @DavidArchie got slapped by a girl in the scene that I directed.

Nandito Ako director Mac Alejandre - Folks, I feel good that he is at the helm of the teleserye

MORE MEDIA BUZZ

DA Excited to Start Nandito Ako Shoot (subtitled) @ Juicy Top HL (14 Jan 2012)

DA – Nandito Ako Pictorial feat @ Aksyon Journalismo (14 Jan 2012)

~ Will add more later ~

David recording the mini-series’ title song “Nandito Ako”, Philippines, January 2012.

Da w/ Direk Mac Alejandre during Story Conference

The only thing I have to say is to quote JR:

“he’s young enuff to be my son, he is young enuff to be my son….

~marlie7

Sometimes I think David knows what we know. He knows how much we see in him. He knows that his sophistication makes us forget that he is a teenager and expect too much from him. And he lets us know he knows by giving us that look, but only every once in a while, and thereby, of course, proving that all of our outsized expectations of him are entirely justified and absolutely true. I sound like Orly when I say that David is nothing but a tease. Alas, I am resigned to the fact that it will be years before I hear him sing “Isn’t It a Pity” and “So Easy to Love,” and the Jimmy Webb catalog, and Elton John. But in the meantime, I’ll take this pic, and interpret it to mean, “patience; there’s a lot more to come.”

– Rascal

Wow. Do we really have to comment on these photos taken at the London Hammersmith Apollo by Christie Goodwin ? According to her website, Ms. Goodwin “is the leading rock photographer of this generation. Her striking and atmospheric images capture the true soul of the musician. Her iconic live photography and intuitive portraiture has gained critical acclaim in the music industry and is used by top recording artists.”

Can we repeat that? “Her striking and atmospheric images capture the true soul of the musician.” Wow. Just wow.

Thank you Ms. Goodwin.

View the complete set of published pictures.

http://www.ccphotoart.biz/index.html

I realize the Clayton photographs are old news already (sometimes I think this fan base gets news of things before they actually happen), but I’ve been waylaid with attempts to mitigate that impact of the financial crisis on practically every aspect of professional and personal business. Occasionally my career has to come before David’s. But only occasionally.

I like the Clayton photographs. I don’t love them. Aside from the styling (not diggin’ the hair), the problem for me (and it’s not really a problem so much as it is a stylistic choice) is that there is really nothing in the way of attitude or viewpoint in these layouts.  Nothing to really sink your teeth into, as it were; nothing even remotely inscrutable. Clayton is a skilled photog, but more of a talented journeyman than an artist. His work is lovely, classic, fresh, and authentic. He avoids, for the most part, anything mawkish or trite, even as he stays quite safely within the bounds of well-established convention. Nice work, nothing more.

I remain in a state of chagrin about the continued pimping of David in those awful teen magazines. I was given a vivid reminder of why I’m so against this strategy (or lack of one) when I read recently about the actor Chris Evans, and the issues surrounding a much passed-around shirtless photo spread of him that appeared in Flaunt magazine. The shoot lead to a ban by the actor’s publicist on photo shoots of that nature, so as to protect his chances at becoming a serious actor. Said Evans of the shoot: “I really didn’t think twice about taking my shirt off at the time, but my current publicist would pull her hair out if I did that photo shoot today.” Evans’ publicist is exactly right. Image is everything in show business and the careful crafting and aggressive control of perception is especially critical if an artist wants to be taken seriously. David cuddling stuffed animals in the pages of Teen Bop Tiger Pop undermines his potential to be seen as a serious musician just as surely as Chris Evans flaunting beefcake in Flaunt compromises his intentions as a serious actor.

It’s time for David to decide what his intentions are, and make certain that the people who work for him are carrying out his wishes.

The short-sighted narrow mindedness of Jive that has resulted in the over-saturation of Archie in almost exclusively teen and tween oriented events and publications diminishes the scope of his appeal and undermines his artistic credibility, but he will rise above it. In the meantime, there are compensations. Here’s one.

Random observation: I’m liking the self-deprecating humor that’s creeping into his (extremely well-written) blogs; there’s also a delightful intimacy about it that acknowledges how well his audience already knows him:

“I don’t think I can explain (not like me being unable to explain something is anything new) how intimidating and nerve wracking it was to be sandwiched between Kanye West and Chris Brown in the lineup…”

David may be keeping the lid on, but there sure are moments when the pressure seems to be mounting. Click for a larger view.

Looks like you’re going to have to broaden your definition of the word, “hunk,” David, to include the luminous beam of a young singer in the midst of realizing his dreams.

Click the image for an XL view.

One of the great things about immense talent is that it inspires others with great talent: A virtuous cycle that cross-pollinates from music to photography to journalism to fashion to songwriting and back again. I confess I didn’t think we would see David in the Christopher Makos – Interview – Late 20th Century – Classic Rock Icononography photo mode quite so soon. But, indeed, what else for a seventeen-year-old pop god?

This image is part of a series created for Elle Magazine of some of the Season Seven Idols, in which, I believe, one can arguably conclude through objective assessment that Mr. Archuleta accomplishes the most arresting image — by a landslide.