Inabot ng 'sangkatutak na aberya ang dambuhalang action-adventure series ni Ruru Madrid, ang Lolong, sa panahon ng pandemya.
Na-compromise ba ang over-all vision ng palabas?
“I think this is why it took us two years to produce,” pag-amin ng GMA First VP for Public Affairs na si Nessa Valdellon sa virtual mediacon nitong Marso 11, 2022, Biyernes ng hapon.
“Because the original vision of this was an entire barangay, big scenes, magsisimula siya sa fiesta. Ngayon, hindi na fiesta yung start niya. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
“How are you going to find hundreds, actually thousands of people na extras? Hindi na puwede.
“But it’s still a big production. Just to get the animatronic crocodile up and running — actually, originally, twenty-two [22] people. Ngayon, naging twelve [12] people na lang.
“But that’s still a lot of people working with this, you know, fake crocodile to make it look real.
“And it’s been really difficult, nakailang pack up na siya because of infections happening in the bubble, ahhmm. Basta, mahirap!
“And then finally, may accident pa right when we were about to finish and everybody was ready for the cast party na tapos na.
“So, yun… punung-puno siya ng challenge but we’re almost there.
“We’re really excited about this. This was a concept by Jessica Soho. This was based on our Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho having really high ratings every time we do a story on crocodiles that are attacking a particular town in the Philippines.
“Kaya niya naisip ito. That’s why we did it.”
RURU's accident
Sa recent Instagram post ni Ruru, sinabi niya, “As per the doctor’s advice, this hairline fracture requires a cast and 2-4 weeks rest.
“It’s unfortunate that we are packing up for now and resuming in about a month…
“Sad news… but as a person who always tries to see the good in unfortunate situations, I guess I just need to remind myself that everything happens for a reason…”
Kumusta na si Ruru? Maayos na ba ang lagay niya? Apektado ba ang schedule ng production?
“Si Ruru kasi, magaling 'yan. He likes to do his own stunts as much as possible although he has a stunt double,” lahad ni Ma’am Nessa.
“So, meron siyang very simple stunt na ang nangyari, na-twist yung ankle niya. And then, the first set of X-rays, akala namin, fracture.
“Because the doctor seemed to have seen a fracture. Nung pumunta naman sa St. Luke’s for second opinion, hindi naman pala fracture. It’s just a sprain, thank God!
“So, we’ll be back to taping very soon. He’s OK. He’s healing.
“Hindi pa siya makalakad nang dalawang paa niya na… kumbaga, naka-crutches pa,” pagmumuwestra ni Ma’am Nessa.
“But very soon, we’ll be back to taping. Last six days na lang, so hindi maaapektuhan yung schedule ng airing.”
Read: Lolong delayed again after Ruru Madrid suffers fracture
THE BIG CAST
Leading ladies ni Ruru sa Lolong sina Shaira Diaz at Arra San Agustin.
Kasama rin dito sina Christopher de Leon, Jean Garcia, Bembol Roco, Rochelle Pangilinan, Paul Salas, Thea Tolentino, at Ian de Leon.
Kabilang din sa cast ng buwayaserye sina Mikoy Morales, Malou de Guzman, DJ Durano, Leandro Baldemor, Abby Viduya, Maui Taylor, at Marco Alcaraz.
Originally ay nasa cast nito si Sanya Lopez. Tinanggal dito si Sanya matapos siyang mapili na replacement kay Marian Rivera sa primetime series na First Yaya.
Nainterbyu namin si Thea sa storycon ng pelikulang Take Me To Banaue noong Marso 3, Huwebes, sa Pandan Cafe, Sct. Limbaga St., Quezon City.
Ani Thea, “Being part of Lolong, talagang nakita ko na sobrang ganda nung story. Kasi, talagang napahalagahan ang bawa’t karakter kahit kaming mga guest lang.”
Kumusta yung dambuhalang buwaya na animatronic?
“Hindi ko siya nakaeksena pero nung nakita ko… AY! Last day na niya raw! Taray, mas nauna pa siyang umuwi!
“‘Pwedeng pa-picture?’ Nagpa-picture na lang ako.
“Pero sinasabi nga nila sa akin na once inilagay siya sa tubig, kasi po, may ilog po sa location, sa Villa Escudero… para po siyang totoong crocodile!”
