Richard Gutierrez is back on GMA Telebabad through Codename: Asero. The first sci-fi romantic series of the Kapuso Network will start airing on Monday, July 14.
During the grand press conference of the show last Wednesday, July 9, at the AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, GMA-7's senior vice president for entertainment Ms. Wilma Galvante declared that Codename: Asero is the most expensive project of GMA Network so far.
"I will tell you honestly, frankly, this is the most expensive one so far. Talagang nagpaliwanag kami kay FLG [Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, CEO and Chairman of GMA Network], ‘Atty. Gozon, payagan ninyo kami dito dahil maganda ito.'"
In the first two weeks of the show, Codename: Asero will showcase some scenic places in Dubai, including the Al Ain desert, Jumeirah Beach, the Spice Souk, the Gold Souk, the Villa Rotana, the Qamardeen Hotel, and the Dubai Creek. Aside from the places, the program also features state-of-the-art props and grand set designs. The production team also uses high quality film and equipment to create a unique and distinct texture on screen.
The viewers should not only watch for these expensive production elements, they should also look forward to the stunts of this action-packed series because its fight director is none other than Richard Gutierrez, who happens to be the lead character in Codename: Asero.
Richard said that he would be choreographing all his action sequences in Codename: Asero. The young actor even trained on the Filipino martial arts called Tapondo, which would fit his character as a secret agent.
Tapondo, according to Richard, is "a Filipino martial arts derived from combat aikido. This is what the our military use and what our police enforcement use also."
He also said that he has been training ever since he was taping for his previous show Kamandag. "Actually, inaral ko 'yan during Kamandag pa in preparation for this show kasi alam ko pagpasok ng show na ito magiging sobrang hectic ang schedule ko."
The 24-year-old actor also told the press that he will be doing most of the stunts himself, without resorting to a double. "So far, ako pa ang lahat gumagawa. Pero siyempre kapag itataya na ang buhay...Siyempre hindi naman siguro kami aabot sa ganun. Pero siyempre as much as I can, I do my own stunts," said Richard.
NEWEST KAPUSO IN CODENAME: ASERO. The show will not only feature gadgets and stunts, it will also be the first teleserye of Heart Evangelista in her new mother network.
Although this would be their first time to work together, Richard said he already felt comfortable with Heart, especially on their kissing scenes, after they had some bonding time together.
He related, "Noong binigyan kami ng kissing scene ni Direk Mark, he saved it, e. Hindi niya kaagad kinunan kahit nasa first week 'yong kissing scene. The prodution team made sure na nag-bonding na kami ni Heart, close na kami ni Heart, para wala ng ilangan, para kapag nakita mo on-screen maganda na 'yong chemistry namin.
"Noong nagkaroon kami ng pagkakataon na mag-bonding ni Heart, nakilala namin 'yong isa't isa. Magkaibigan na kami noong ginawa namin 'yong kissing scene."
He then went on to describe Heart as a co-actor, "Si Heart kasi sa una, siyempre iisipin mo parang ang hirap niyang lapitan. Intimidating kasi ang beauty ni Heart, e, pero once na makilala mo siya, once makausap mo siya, malalaman mo kung gaano siya katotoong tao at kung gaano siya ka-sweet. Not a lot of people know this siguro, pero si Heart napaka-sweet niyang babae, not only to me but to a lot of people."
Joining Richard and Heart in Codename: Asero are Richard Gomez, Janno Gibbs, Michael V., Carmina Villaroel, and Paolo Contis. Also in the cast are Ramon Christopher, Ehra Madrigal, Chynna Ortaleza, Francine Prieto, Rhian Ramos, and Ms. Caridad Sanchez.
