Ronnie bounces back

First, a disclaimer: It’s not true that Ronnie Ricketts isn’t open to appearing in TV series (such as FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano or some such shows right down his alley).

“I’ve been wondering if there’s a ‘hidden hand’ blocking my way,” Ronnie told Funfare. “There have been negotiations at umaabot na kami sa parte ng talent fee. Then, nothing. I wouldn’t hear anything about the offer anymore. I can’t help but suspect na may humaharang sa akin, palaging nama-magic.”

What is true is that Ronnie is poised to make a comeback as an actor after taking a break serving in the government.

Produced (with wife Mariz) by his own Rocketts Productions, Tuldok. Wakas o Simula? marks Ronnie’s return to the action genre after five years. Ronnie not only writes and directs the movie, he also stars in with what he described as “an international cast” that includes Australian model/DJ Natalia Moon, half-Nigerian/half-Jamaican football player/model Joachim Idinye, Korean race-car driver Sung Joon Park, character actor Rey Bejar, theater actor Luigi Fernando, and Ronnie’s fellow fitness enthusiasts and L.A-based good friends Bill Toledo and Jayson Garcia.

Also in the cast are Jackielou Blanco, Renzo Cruz, Alvin Anson, Mandy Ochoa, PJ Cuartero, Ronnie’s dancer-martial arts expert Brandon Ricketts, policeman/2014 Mister International Neil Perez, Jerico Estregan, Century Tuna Superbod/Muay Thai amateur champion Mauro Lumba, Edgar Mande (US-based who came home for the shoot) and Raechelle Ricketts, the younger of Ronnie and Mariz’s two daughters.

“Did you know that Raechelle and her older sister Marella are athletic?” shared Ronnie. “Nagmana sa akin because they grew up watching me working out. Doing martial arts is our way of bonding. Marella is into Muay Thai and kick-boxing, and Raechelle is into arnis and boxing, and she plays volleyball, too. Leading a clean and healthy lifestyle is first and foremost in our family. My daily routine is running, practicing martial arts, biking, weight-lifting and playing basketball.”

Set for a November release, Tuldok is about 12 interesting characters chosen to be part of an illegal activity of a correctional facility taken to an isolated dangerous island where they must fight for survival even if it means killing each other in a race for freedom.

“I have shot 60 percent of the movie in several locations,” said Ronnie (who put up Rocketts because of his “love, passion and commitment to his work as actor, director and producer”). “We have shot in the forest of Subic, in Daraitan Falls in Tanay and some other locations. Maseselan ang mga locations namin. It took me almost a year to polish the script.”

Ronnie’s last movie, Fighting Chefs, was shown in 2013 with chef Boy Logro as co-star.

… and with wife Mariz and their daughters Raechelle (left, who’s in the cast of Tuldok) and Marella who are, like their dad, into martial arts.

“It was one of Nadine Lustre’s early movies when she was just starting,” noted Ronnie. “She wasn’t known at that time yet. She wasn’t paired with James Reid yet. Now, she’s a big star. Another actress who started in my company is Arci Muñoz (starring with Piolo Pascual and JC de Vera in the ABS-CBN soap Since I Found You).”

Because he runs his company like a family, Ronnie is admired by his co-stars and staff for his discipline, dedication and punctuality.

“I draw inspiration from my family,” said Ronnie.

Asked if Tuldok would (hopefully) revive the long-dormant action genre, Ronnie said he’s keeping his fingers crossed. “I hope,” he said. “I really hope so!”

Stephen Baldwin here to shoot Kaibigan

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (rightmost) with (from left) Presidential Communications Asec. Mocha Uson, Sec. Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President and Hollywood actor Stephen Baldwin at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Manila on Aug. 1.

Because Justin Bieber has asked him for his daughter Hailey’s hand in marriage, Stephen Baldwin is now fondly known by millennial Filipino fans as “Justin’s father-in-law.”

It’s a pity that when Stephen met the media Saturday last week, nobody asked him extensively about Hailey and Justin.

He’s here to shoot for Kaibigan, co-starring Cesar Montano(photo) who also co-directs it with Daniel Tan. Baldwin plays a significant role in the new faith-based, inspirational and family-friendly film which also stars Perkins twins Jesse and Christian, Jean Garcia and Alvin Anson.

The other day, Baldwin paid a courtesy call on Pres. DU30 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Manila in BGC, joined by Presidential Communications Asec. Mocha Uson and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go who are “guesting” as themselves in Kaibigan calculated, according to Baldwin, “to send an important message to the youth on the consequences of making wrong life choices.”

Baldwin is an American actor, producer and author who landed his breakthrough role in the double Academy Award-winning film The Usual Suspects. He has had over 100 film and TV roles that include Doyle in Bio-Dome, Barney Rubble in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, and William F. Cody in the hit series The Young Riders.

The brother of Alec, Daniel and William produced and stars in the upcoming film, Church People, a comedy starring Thor Ramsey, Joey Fatone, Donald Faison, and William himself. He is also involved in the indie feature drama Staines, based on a true story of missionary Graham Staines, who was martyred in India in 1999.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)

Baldwin with daughter Hailey and her fiance Justin Bieber. — Reprinted from People Magazine