MANILA, Philippines — Ruru Madrid was grateful for being given the opportunity to star in his first Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry as prison guard Xavier Gonzaga in “Green Bones.”
He said he manifested the role last year when he watched 2023 MMFF’s Best Picture and Best Screenplay winner “Firefly” by Zig Dulay, who’s also the director of “Green Bones.”
“Last year, when I watched ‘Firefly,’ parang bigla kong naramdaman nung nanonood kami ni Bianca (Umali, his girlfriend), I told her, ‘Mahal, I feel that I will have an MMFF (project) next year,’” he recalled during an interview with select press, including The STAR.
His manifestation materialized this year after he was cast in Zig’s latest film alongside Dennis Trillo. “When I read the script, I said, ‘It was meant to be.’ That’s how I feel. And I’m very grateful to be part of this project because it’s a solid and beautiful story,” he added.
The inspirational drama is presented by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs and is co-produced with Brightburn Entertainment, Dennis’ film production outfit with wife Jennylyn Mercado, and distributed by Columbia Pictures for Sony Pictures Releasing International.
It is based on the original concept of GMA Public Affairs senior manager for documentaries JC Rubio, written by National Artist Ricky Lee and MMFF 2023 Best Screenplay winner Anj Atienza.
As per the media release, “Green Bones” is about the story of a soon-to-be released prisoner Domingo Zamora (Dennis) who was incarcerated for the murder of his sister. His release is put in jeopardy by newly assigned prison guard Xavier Gonzaga (Ruru) who makes it his personal mission to keep Zamora behind bars.
The film touches on the belief that finding green bones in a person’s remains is proof of one’s goodness in life. Ruru’s character Xavier, jaded from the tragic death of his own sister in a senseless crime, does not believe criminals could hold such a bone in their body. His suspicions about Dennis’ character Dom are fueled by the latter’s strange behavior inside the penal complex, even as the prisoner’s reputation is that of an already reformed man.
As part of his preparations, Ruru underwent workshops and watched the movies of Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai.
“I feel that I need to visit the world of cinema — what’s the difference between cinema and TV. I made major realizations and it’s very different,” he shared. “I mean, of course, this is on the big screen. Most of the time kailangan mas pigil yung bawat emotion na kailangan mong iparamdam.”
Ruru also did meditation training so that he could focus on every scene that he would do. “And then meron din akong ginagawang proseso na naghanap ako ng scent ni Javier. Para ‘pag ka yun yung gamit ko, automatic mararamdaman ko na nandun agad ako sa character.”
After filming the entire movie, Ruru found it difficult to let go of his character, saying, “I feel that Javier is still in my system but I enjoyed the whole process of doing the film.”
Dennis, who was also at the interview, asked about the scent Ruru used. “It’s like baby cologne. Kasi parang feeling ko parang fresh, new, parang mas naïve, parang mas inosente pa siya. Every time I smell it, my mind becomes clearer. Everything I learned in life, naging clear siya tapos parang bago,” explained Ruru.
On his thoughts about persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), Ruru opined, “For me, kahit naman sinong tao parang hindi naman dapat nating husgahan kung ano yung mga nagawa nilang pagkakamali, especially if we don’t know them personally… hindi naman natin alam ang puno’t dulo kung bakit nila nagawa yung mga ganung bagay.”
“So might as well be a good person. Let’s choose to be kind to everyone regardless of their life’s status or job. Let’s respect them,” he concluded.
Michael de Mesa, Ronnie Lazaro, Wendell Ramos, and Alessandra de Rossi are also part of the movie, with the special participation of Iza Calzado and Nonie Buencamino.
Joining them are Mikoy Morales, Royce Cabrera, Sofia Pablo, Sienna Stevens, Kylie Padilla, Pauline Mendoza, Gerhard Acao, Raul Morit, Victor Neri, Ruby Ruiz and Enzo Osorio.
(Catch ‘Green Bones’ in theaters beginning Dec. 25).