Peque redefines sexiness

MANILA, Philippines -  If Oro, Plata, Mata paved the way for Peque Gallaga to graduate from production designer to filmmaker, Seduction had made him come back to mainstream filmmaking. Richard Gutierrez, Sarah Lahbati and Solenn Heussaff topbill the Regal Entertainment, Inc. movie which explores the “psychology of sex, attraction and seduction.”

“I knew Richard,” offers direk Peque. “I was a production designer in one of his teleseryes. I knew what he could do. I watched him work. I was itching to direct him. I didn’t know who Solenn was and who Sarah was. I’m retired. (When the opportunity of directing the movie came,) I was just gardening in (my house in) Bacolod. When I met them for the first time, I told myself, ‘God, these people are beautiful.’”

And came the misconception about good-looking individuals. That’s why direk Peque decided to concentrate on their acting and delegate the composition work to his director of photography. But the director was proven wrong during his first workshop with the female stars. “They knew what we were going to do,” he shares. “Then, I went back to (concentrating on) directing and production designing.”

Direk Peque is excited about seeing and showing a different Richard in Seduction. The Ram role challenges Richard to go out of his comfort zone of playing the good son or the knight in shining armor. 

“His character is antipatiko na may pagka-asshole,” says direk Peque. “And Richard isn’t afraid to be one. He has been playing the good-boy characters. The story is about a man who has been facing a lot of problems and falls in love with two women at the same time.”

Seduction will see Solenn as the fire woman named Sophia, who is “exciting, thrilling but dangerous and destructive,” says direk Peque. Sarah, on the other hand, represents the rain (Trina). “She is conservative and kind. Like rain, she is life-giving.”

The Regal Entertainment, Inc. 2013 opening salvo, Seduction, redefines sexy movies. Viewers will not be treated to “hard-sell” seduction. “They are not seducing (each other),” says direk Peque. “Their self is a form of seduction. You have a man who loves two women. Gusto niya ito. Gusto din niya ito. This is not the type of seduction which is trying hard. Their being or their personality is the seduction. Who will he choose? Then, he chooses somebody and the other one goes crazy. There’s no kontrabida. It’s a strong love story and everybody is in love. There are no stereotypes.”   Seduction tries to veer away from cut-out big-screen characters. Sophia, Trina and Ram can be kontrabida or bida at some point of the story. The acting is organic and natural.

Even if the storyline and some sequences are unpalatable to the conservative taste of many, the think tank behind Seduction is trying its best to get the R-16 rating so that many can watch it in theaters, especially at SM Cinemas. By the way, the film will open on Jan. 30, 2013.

“This is a birthday gift of sorts to me from direk Peque and Regal,” says Richard who will celebrate his special day on Jan. 21 with twin brother Raymond. “It’s an exciting film. We’re all excited to watch it. There are beautiful scenes. There seems to be a surprise and something comes up nice every shooting day. This is my first time to play this kind of role. I get out of my comfort zone, which is my goal for doing the movie. In the beginning, I told direk Peque that I’m willing to do anything and I trust him.”

Given the artistic reputation of direk Peque, Richard is in good hands — and everything will be done cinematically and in good taste.

“The love scenes are not ‘technical,’” shares Richard. “May istorya bawat movement namin. It’s a fresh project from me. (Being daring) is all part of the story. I can’t really pinpoint one daring scene kasi hindi pa rin tapos yung pelikula at may mga gagawin pa ring ibang  eksena.”

To bring his character’s raw sexiness onscreen, Richard goes by his “instinct and gut feel. It’s hard. It’s tough. (Solenn and Sarah’s characters) are two different, extreme personalities. It’s interesting to know how my character will react to a certain type of woman or another type of woman.”

Let’s see how Richard will fare in his latest acting foray and “seduce” the critics’ nod of approval.