RICHARD GUTIERREZ FLIES AGAIN!
MANILA, MARCH 11, 2011 (STAR) CONVERSATIONS With Ricky Lo - They say that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Not true in the case of Richard Gutierrez's re-invented costume in Captain Barbell in which he reprises his role as superhero champion of the oppressed and the criminally-inclined.
Designed here but done in Hong Kong, the suit proved to be a bit loose when Richard tried it on. What happened in the several weeks between the measuring and the fitting? Read on.
Fresh from hosting Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition (won by Brapanese Akihiro Sato) and the box-office success of his Valentine movie My Valentine Girls, Richard flies high again in the iconic red cape and is expected to set the rating soaring higher than the first one did.
This time around, still directed by Dominic Zapata, Captain Barbell (the title role character was created by the late komiks genius Mars Ravelo) features several changes not only in the special effects but also in the number of love interests between Captain Barbell and his alter-ego Teng, namely Isabel Oli, Lovi Poe, Michelle Madrigal and Solenn Heussaff (rumored to be Richard's real-life girlfriend, but something neither of them has confirmed…yet).
Richard's father Eddie Gutierrez plays General Armando, head of Liga ng Kalayaan, with Christopher de Leon as main antagonist Nero and Child Wonder Jillian Ward as the character Teng's sidekick and pseudo-adopted daughter.
More members of the cast: TJ Trinidad, Bianca King, Sam Pinto, Mike Tan, Marky Lopez, Ces Quesada, Elvis Gutierrez, Paolo Paraiso, Akihiro Sato, Frencheska Farr, Bea Binene, Jake Vargas, Ervic Vijandre, Jon Hall and Ellen Adarna.
Australian production designer Peter Collias is in-charge of the set and costume designs. He's the same person who designed the sets of The Matrix and Moulin Rouge.
You are seeing Richard in his Captain Barbell costume for the first time, only in The STAR.
How different is your costume in the new Barbell series from the previous one?
"The design is more modern. The suit is darker. The color pattern is done in a way that shows the evolution of Captain Barbell."
How was the design made?
"The design was done in Hong Kong and it had to be approved by GMA. It was also shown to the Ravelo family for approval before it was shipped back to Hong Kong para gawin 'yung suit."
Did the suit fit?
"Hmmmm, not quite. It had to be sent back to Hong Kong because of some adjustments."
Such as what adjustments?
"Medyo maluwang 'yung suit because between the measuring and the fitting, I lost a lot of weight, about 10 pounds, because I trained in martial arts and I went on a crash diet. I also did a lot of running. Talagang pinaghandaan ko ang Captain Barbell."
When you tried the suit on, did you show it to Solenn?
"Hmmmm, initially d'un lang sa mga producers, director at writers ng Captain Barbell. When the suit was altered, I had myself photographed, and asked Solenn, some friends and my family to take a look at it."
What did Solenn say?
"Maganda raw, kasi it looked darker than the first one which was lighter. She liked the color."
It looks tighter.
"Yes, much tighter."
Nothing underneath?
"I wore compressor shorts."
No padding?
"Hmmmm, mayroon din — in certain areas. Kasi as Captain Barbell, I have to look bigger than Teng, his alter ego who is thinner."
Side question: Mag-ano ba talaga kayo ni Solenn…friends, more than friends or "MU" (Mutual Understanding)?
"Hmmmm, we're friends."
Friends in love?
"Basta, friends."
Aside from martial-arts training and running, how else did you prepare for Captain Barbell? Aljur Abrenica had his Machete Diet. Did you have your own Captain Barbell Diet?
"I won't call it a Captain Barbell Diet. I just went on an 'eat-healthy' diet…low in carbs, no fatty foods, no sweets."
What about your nightlife?
"I cut down on my nightlife. I tried to get enough sleep. Bawal magpuyat."
What about your love life?
"Hmmmm, not much."
Sex life?
"Almost zero."
What challenges is Captain Barbell confronted with this time?
"They have to follow the series to find out. One thing I can assure everybody is that the special effects are more advanced, kaya more exciting. Technology has advanced dramatically in the past three years and televiewers can expect a far better Captain Barbell. Maski ang lipad niya ay ibang-iba na. Teng has matured a lot, too. In the first Captain Barbell, Teng was in high school. He has grown up since then. Marami na siyang na-experience."
In real life, who are you like, Captain Barbell or Teng?
"Hmmmm, a mix of both."
Before, you had only two leading ladies, Rhian Ramos and Camille Prats. Now, you have four. With whom are you having love scenes?
"Sana with all of them. Hehehehe!"
Another side question: Is it true that during the first Captain Barbell, Rhian slapped you when you begged off from kissing her…was it on-cam or off-cam?
"Mayroon bang ganoong issue? What I know is that Rhian was very young then and her mom didn't let her do any kissing scene. Kung gusto ni Rhian, sino ba naman ako para tumanggi?"
Maybe as part of your preparation, did you watch "superguy" movies like Superman, Batman, Iron Man and Spider-Man?
"You know, I've always been a fan of superheroes. Sinusubaybayan ko ang mga 'yan."
Who's your favorite superhero?
[PHOTO - Jillian Ward plays Teng's sidekick and pseudo adopted daughter]
"Right now, Iron Man (played by Robert Downey Jr.)."
You are the reigning Superhero in Philippine television not only because of your adventure-series starrers but also because you have hosted docus about disasters (Typhoon Ondoy, etc.) and the horrible effects of global warming. Which is harder and more challenging to do, superhero series or docus (that place you to be, so to speak, in the line of fire)?
"Both are not easy to do but I enjoy doing them. Great passion ko talaga ang acting so I find doing TV adventure-series challenging. Hosting docus naman is my means of giving back, my way of doing public service by disseminating information. For docus, I work with the Public Affairs team, and I get a different feeling, a different satisfaction. I'm doing another docu this year. Right now, we're narrowing down on possible topics."
Maybe something about earthquakes and tsunamis (like the 8.9 tremblor that hit Japan and that spawned a killer tsunami along Japan's coastal areas and kept several countries, including the Philippines, on tsunami alert)?
"As we talk, I'm watching the tragedy on CNN and it's very scary! Nakakalungkot at nakakatakot ang nangyayari sa Japan ngayon. The experts are saying that after Ondoy, ang dapat nating paghandaan ay earthquake na sana hindi mangyari. Hayun, tumama na sa Japan, sa China, sa Indonesia, sa New Zealand. Where will it hit next? Just the thought really frightens me. We should be prepared for it; the government should continue drills and giving tips on what to do if and when it happens. We should remember that the Philippines is in the Pacific Ring of Fire, di ba? It could hit us anytime."
Back to Captain Barbell…How different is it from your previous starrers of the same genre (Mulawin, Asero, Sugo, Kamandag, etc.)?
"Well, other actors have played Captain Barbell (among them Bob Soler and Edu Manzano, including the late Armando Goyena who played a similar role in LVN Pictures' Kidlat Ngayon! 60 years ago), so it's a big honor and a big challenge for me to be this generation's Captain Barbell. He's an enduring Pinoy pop hero and years from now, I want the new generations to remember me as the New Millennium's Captain Barbell."
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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