Consistently solidifying his status as a premier Filipino action-drama star, Richard Gutierrez confidently speaks of the worthy journey and rewarding artistic process involved in joining the powerhouse cast of the upcoming primetime series “Blood vs Duty.”
As he entered the spotlight of Kapamilya Chat Grand Fans Day last March 31, Richard showed his delight at the thrilling promo runs for the action-drama series, within moments, wonderfully outlined his tenacious character of Marcus.
Firmly defined as the head agent of the Special Investigations Division with an unyielding sense of duty and impressive problem-solving abilities, Richard’s identity as Marcus is naturally entrusted with his department’s highest-risk missions. Given these insights, Marcus is believed to be passionate and dedicated in his endeavors, as well as an incredibly loving son to his family.
Even though he inevitably faces difficulties with his personal problems, he takes steps to ensure that it won’t affect his work ethics. With this in mind, Richard highlights his favorite trait of Marcus as being obsessive and passionate, particularly with solving crimes, although this also turns into a troubling characteristic at times.
“‘Yung strength niya, if pushed too hard, [it] becomes a weakness,” he clarified.
On the topic of uniqueness found in “Blood vs Duty,” Richard elucidated that despite the fact the action genre is familiar, the show has a novel approach to the battle scenes.
More than the action itself, the Kapamilya actor emphasized that the storytelling is also vital to intensify the story. Richard then followed up with immense appreciation for the show’s directors
and the entirety of JRB Creative Production. “I think dito sa ‘Blood vs Duty,’ talagang kakapit ‘yung audience natin sa kuwento… Malalim ‘yung mga pinagdadaanan ng mga characters dito,” he added.
As for what made him approve of playing the part of Marcus, Richard recounted how the opening paragraph from when it was pitched compelled him, aside from wanting to co-star in the series with fellow Kapamilya actor Gerald Anderson. “It’s something na hindi ko pa rin nagagawa before na storyline [and character]… So, it’s challenging for me as an actor… Gusto ko lagi ‘yung nacha-challenge ako,” he explained.
When asked about his acting methods, Richard said that having the capacity to immediately snap into his character depends on the day, considering there would inevitably be complicated circumstances that could influence his energy. He then mentioned that a good communicating relationship with the creative team is crucial, most especially with the directors, as it guarantees proper characterization.
“Iba pa rin ‘yung touch ‘pag andun na sa set. Minsan may magic na nangyayari lang na hindi mo pinaplano,” he commented.
In the context of stepping out of his character, Richard admitted that it was much harder during his younger years. “[Kapag] tapos na ‘yung eksena, I make sure na nagde-detox na rin ako sa character,” he disclosed.
Beyond the intense narrative of the show, the Kapamilya actor also recalled their behind-the-scenes moments, where there wouldn’t be any feelings of negativity or emotional burdens, since everybody on the set is passionate about their crafts. Richard would often exchange creative ideas with others, as well as engaging in light-hearted conversations.
Much like his multitalented co-stars Gerald and Bela Padilla, who are now both actor-directors, Richard also welcomed the possibility of entering the directing profession but wants to focus on his current endeavors since he is mindful of the prerequisites for directing.
“Right now, I’m enjoying being an actor, and I also enjoy working with great directors… If I wanna direct in the future, itong mga na-experience ko ngayon, working with great directors, lahat ‘to magiging baon ko in the future… It’s definitely going to be a movie, short format muna,” he shared.
On the sweet beginnings of his unwavering admiration for the action genre, Richard reminisced about his fanboy days, having grown up with local and international action films, where even his dad, award-winning veteran actor Eddie Gutierrez, would appear. Moreover, he proudly spotlighted his loyalty to martial arts, earning a certified black belt in Karate, and delighting in his lifelong training that he had effectively incorporated into his action roles.
“I’m still learning and re-learning… Action is also part of storytelling. It also creates a lot of eye candy for the audience [and] moves the story forward,” he conveyed.
For his dream role, he shyly admitted that even after years in the Philippine entertainment industry, he still has a lot that he yearns to portray. “Madami pa… Kung alam n’yo lang kung gaano ako kakulit sa mga management and creatives,” he quipped.
Wrapping up his talk, Richard reassured that viewers would definitely love the storytelling and characters of the teleserye, most especially the awe-inspiring cultural visuals made for the accurate depiction of the Muslim community and urban life.
“Blood vs Duty” is a project under ABS-CBN’s JRB Creative Production, the creator of “Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin,” “Darna”, “Nag-aapoy na Damdamin,” and “Sins of the Father” headed by Julie Anne R. Benitez and creative head Dindo Perez. It is directed by FM Reyes, Bjoy Balagtas, and Rico Navarro, along with action director Erwin Tagle.
Expect marvelous portrayals, enlightening narratives, and jaw-dropping twists in “Blood vs Duty,” streaming on iWant starting April 4 and airing on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL) beginning April 6.