Chard against the machine
There’s something about Richard Gutierrez and machines.
The first time we did a shoot with Richard, the stylist attached tubes and tubes of medical supplies to his hair, making him look like an electrocuted Loch Ness monster slash neo Frankenstein coming out of the water, Sin City style. Another time it was a whole-day production, make-up and costume intensive transformations from super being to mystical animal and back. With each shoot he delivered the goods with the grace of a veteran and the excitement of someone who wants to make a distinct mark in the industry. ”I want to be instrumental in creating something really iconic,” he once told me inside a cab while stuck in a traffic jam in Istanbul, as we recalled awe-inspiring and unforgettable images from decades gone by.
“Sometimes I want to break out and veer away from the rules,” he once told me a few years back when I found a YouTube clip of a coming-of-age movie he once did. But now the rules are different. When you are a star of this magnitude, somehow the rules are bent to your favor. Not that Richard is in any way a prima donna. Far from it. Time and time again, he would always offer suggestions on how to make certain scenes work better, some new input based on his current favorite toy (like his Porsche) or his chosen advocacy (Greenpeace). And why not when it works? Aside from all his prime-time top raters, his other projects (like his involvement in the GMA climate change documentary, Signos) were all very well received, to say the least.
Now set to take his primetime leadership to the next level, he takes on another conflicted, double life leading character in Codename Asero. ”This is the biggest budgeted TV series that GMA has produced in its history,” so said Wilma Galvante, GMA’s chief visionary officer. ”This is our greatest challenge. I like challenges. This is exactly what I need, continuous challenge,” said Chard in response.
Playing Grecko Abesamis, a secret agent out on a mission, Chard treks and does chase scenes on deserts and runs after terrorists in GMA’s action-packed season front-runner. I asked Chard if he were given the chance to spy on something, what would it be? ”What goes on in the political system — what’s the real deal?” And what would prospective spies have worth spying on him? ”My edge,” he said, without batting a secret agent spy lash.
A plus Action auteur
One lead role after another (I think Chard hasn’t had rest in years), does he feel pressured with all of this? ”I’m showered with blessings now so it is such a big responsibility. I am extremely thankful for everything. I just really concentrate on the work that has to be done, the character I have to portray. And besides, I’m working with an incredible team,” he said as he reminisced about the car chase scenes he shot in Dubai, as he had to be in full control of the 4x4 vehicle across the sandy desert.
For Asero, Richard also got to direct his own fight scenes. Star plus stunt director equals action auteur. ”I’m more involved with my projects now—this is how I sustain my craft, so I won’t slack off — maintain my A game and to make myself and the show much better.”
Chard has this certain intensity — he has that great ability to take his work seriously and at the same time be able to mingle and laugh and chill with everyone on set during breaks. Again, other stars of his stature would be so guarded of their moves, for fear of watchful eyes — but not Chard. At a birthday party of a friend in a yacht, he looked out into the ocean and said, “The water looks fine,” and proceeded to take his shirt off and jump into the azure body of water. While all of us were happy in the shade chilling, Chard the Explorer had already wandered around and explored the territory. How’s that for zest for life?
Yes, he IS linked to ALL his onscreen partners, but that is normal in this industry. When work is done, Chard is just like any other twentysomething bachelor who wants to live his life to the fullest — meet new people, obsess about his wheels, go to the gym, watch movies, chill with his buddies and hang out with his brothers. Outside the action star persona is an obedient son who loves his family (it’s a Gutierrez trait and I’ve personally witnessed this) and loves his girls, too — whoever she may be. Oh, but that’s another story meant for another secret agent.
