Doing action not new to Richard

Curtain-raisers:

• From famous serial novelist Elena Patron on Funfare’s “optical illusion” feature yesterday (How did we get inside the bottle?): Your exciting experience in Bangkok is similar to my novel Bihag which is currently being serialized (22nd chapter in Liwayway magazine). The story is about a man imprisoned inside a wine bottle. How can “bihag” free himself? How I wish a movie producer would get interested in Bihag! (Paging Mother Lily, Malou Santos and Vic del Rosario!)

•From reader who didn’t give his name: I just want to inform you that in the Philippines, we also have a similar 3D illusion place called the JOYous Visual Tricks Art Gallery near SM North EDSA, with different illusions. I discovered it when I visited the place last February. We really enjoyed it. I hope you get to feature it also since it’s more fun in the Philippines, right?

•From Martin Lopez, director of President’s Committee on Culture, Far Eastern University: I read your article about the upcoming production of National Artist Felipe de Leon’s Noli Me Tangere at the Resorts World Manila (in September) and would just like to correct the producer’s statement about its last being staged 27 years ago. On the occasion of De Leon’s centennial, Dulaang UP staged a full production directed by Alex Cortez. A concert version of that production was then performed at the FEU Auditorium in January 2013 where the work was premiered in 1957.

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Peace be with you!

That, according to Richard Gutierrez, is his message not only to his family but also to people focused on the activities of his family, particularly the exchange of harsh words between his mom, Annabelle Rama and his girlfriend Sarah Lahbati’s mom Esther Lahbati on social media after the joint baptism/birthday party of his and Sarah’s son Zion.

“Everything is okay now,” Richard told Funfare before he got on air on Startalk last Saturday to promote Overtime, his GMA Films starrer with Lauren Young which is showing nationwide starting tomorrow, July 2. “Naayos na kung anuman ang nangyari.”

Beyond that, Richard opted to keep mum and would rather talk about Overtime which people wrongly think is his first action assignment. Jointly directed by Earl Ignacio and Wincy Ong, Overtime revolves around the lives of a hacker and his victims. Richard plays Dom Garcia, the hacker who seeks revenge against a pharmaceutical company, with Lauren as Jody Amistoso, an executive assistant working at the said company and the one sent by Richard’s character on a deadly mission.

Overtime departs from the rom-com Richard has been doing. GMA Films president Annette Gozon-Abrogar said, “The audience can expect something new in this suspense-thriller because it has a fresh approach to the genre.”

Actually, doing action is not new to Richard who has hosted a few documentaries for GMA’s news and public affairs department, including Survivor Philippines (shot at an island in Bangkok), Extra Challenge and Pinoy Adventures. He has also starred in Kapuso adventure series such as Captain Barbell (as the hero in tights), Zorro, Mulawin, Lupin and Sugo, for all of which Richard underwent rigid physical training.

“Even as a kid,” recalled Richard’s dad Eddie Gutierrez, “Richard already showed his love for martial arts. When we were living in L.A., one day we were driving along Santa Monica when Richard, who was in his teens, spotted a school for martial arts. He asked me to stop the car and went inside the school to inquire. After only a few weeks, he was made a scholar, and then he became an instructor because he was very good at it.”

Does Overtime signal his entry into the action genre?

“As an actor,” said Richard, “I don’t want to be branded as a romantic actor or an action actor. I’d rather do all kinds of roles, basta bagay sa akin ang roles, basta challenging and the script is good. But I am as comfortable in action roles as I am in any other role.”

His Overtime role is admittedly a bad guy but, added Richard, “there’s a redeeming value in the end. He has good intentions even if his ways are not okay.” You know, the end doesn’t justify the means. “The psychological-thriller is about revenge. And there’s a twist at the end.”

What qualities of the character does Richard (who’s cool and composed…unless provoked?) identify with?

“His guts to fight for what is right and what he believes in,” replied Richard, “and taking up the cudgels for other people.”

In real life, how far would he go in fighting for what he believes is right?

“If I believe in what’s right, I will really fight for it, even if I have to do it for other people,” said Richard.

Incidentally, the family reality-TV show It Takes GUTZ To Be A Gutierrez will soon start shooting its episodes for the second season. The show will be aired (from the beginning) on TV5. In a review that came out in Malaysia’s The Star, writer Sharmila Nair described the show as “annoying,” adding, “…nevertheless, it cannot be denied that It Takes GUTZ To Be A Gutierrez is funny, dramatic and entertaining, and has the potential to become our latest guilty pleasure. Now, if they would only change the absolutely horrendous theme song…,” concluding that the show is “entertaining and lovable, it is not hard to see why the Gutierrezes are adored by many…”

Claudine and Raymart make peace

And finally, after a tiring year of swapping heated words and court charges, estranged couple Claudine Barretto and Raymart Santiago have decided to kiss and make up — well, “partially” — after an extended court-suggested mediation a few days ago from which they emerged wearing a big smile. They did it for their children Sabina and Santino.

“The kids need a father figure,” Claudine’s lawyer, Ferdie Topacio, told Funfare.

Despite a court order preventing him from getting near Claudine and the kids within a 500-meter radius, Raymart can now see the kids.

“It’s transitory visitation,” clarified Atty. Ferdie. “The reconciliation is called ‘cordial truce.’ The court cases have yet to be discussed.”

In a text message to Funfare, Raymart said, “Hindi pa namin napag-uusapan ang mga kaso.”

Claudine’s mom Inday Barretto can now breathe easily — “partially,” that is.

“Mukhang OK ang process,” she texted Funfare. “The kids consented to see their father na without resistance.”

As Richard Gutierrez said, Peace to you, peace to us, peace to everybody!

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)