RICHARD GUTIERREZ

Despite “Zorro” starting and ending its run on top of the primetime television ratings game, its lead actor Richard Gutierrez was whipped with trials during the series. And like his masked-hero persona, he wasn’t one to give in to obstacles easily. Instead he found his saving grace in what he does best all throughout his showbiz career – work!

“I did face a lot of trials during ‘Zorro.’ For me to overcome or pass that, what I did best was to work harder. I have to offer something better and to make myself better at what I do,” Richard explained.

“It’s not how you fall but how you get up and make yourself better. So that’s what I’m going to do now. I think what happened to me motivated me to become a better person, and not to take anything for granted. I’m being given an opportunity again to showcase another side of me. I will grab it and do my best!”

In fact the actor only rested for a few weeks when “Zorro’s” tapings ended and immediately got into work for “Planet Philippines,” another documentary on the environment situation in the Philippines which he is hosting. Then afterwards he started shooting his latest movie under GMA Films entitled “Patient X.” What is special about this movie is that it would be the first time he would be co-producing a film.

“Everything becomes bigger for as an actor and producer at the same time, the challenges and responsibilities are bigger. I also believe that it’s perfect timing for me to co-produce because I’ve done a lot of movies and it has always been a dream for me to be a producer.”

Richard added that one of his visions in his showbiz career is to produce a film someday because he also wants to tell his own stories as well as share his artistic inputs in a film project.

“One of my artistic visions is to help also. So I feel that co-producing ‘Patient X’ is my own little way of helping the industry. Ever since I was starting I already had a vision on how I will help the industry and maybe this is the first step,” he shared.

So what interested him to co-produce “Patient X?”

“I actually heard that Yam Laranas pitched a horror movie project. I also heard that was a horror movie designed for me. So that alone interested me to do this project. And prior to that, after all the love stories I did, I told GMA Films that I want to try and do another horror movie and be a little more edgy. So this is the perfect movie for me,” he replied.

In “Patient X,” Richard Gutierrez plays a doctor in the Emergency Room of a hospital. His character became a doctor because of childhood experiences that prompted him to be one. In the ER, there’s a patient whose sickness baffled all the doctors. And they won’t discharge her until they are able to cure her. Richard is said to hold the cure for the patient (played by Cristine Reyes who takes over Heart Evangelista). Also in the film is Elvis Gutierrez and TJ Trinidad.

“I’m happy to be working with Cristine. It’s our first movie together.”

He added that the whole film happened in one day. He described it to be “fast-paced,” “fast cut” and even a “hyper-active movie.”

This will also be the first time that the actor won’t have a love interest since Cristine only plays his patient. According to him, this is part of his exploration as an actor. The movie itself whom he collaborated with Yam Laranas and Aloy Adlawan for its story didn’t require a love angle.

“This is a totally different film and we also want to showcase my other capabilities as an actor and the visions of Yam Laranas as a filmmaker. We want both aspects to match,” he quipped.

“Patient X” is also a reunion movie for Richard and Yam. Their first horror film together was “Sigaw” which was turned into a Hollywood movie entitled “The Echo” which Yam also directed.

So how different is working with Yam now?

“Maybe he has noticed that I’ve grown as an artist. I have my own ideas and I ask him a lot of questions about my character. Nagtulungan kaming dalawa to develop the character. If I always ask questions it’s because I also have gained knowledge from doing movies and TV shows in the past… we really had a lot of time to prepare for this and myself to get lots of ideas kung papaano pa pagagandahin ang horror movie na ’to. It’s great to be working with Yam. It’s an honor for all of us to be working with a very idealistic director. I’m happy to be working with him again, we have a great working relationship,” he said.

Part of his preparation too is consulting with doctors regarding the procedures inside an ER. In as much as possible, Richard wants his character to be very realistic on the big screen. He also wants to be as precise in his movements like the real doctors inside the ER and to be as natural as possible in his actions.

In terms of the next movie project he is willing to produce, he said that it would also depend on the success of “Patient X.” He is optimistic though of his upcoming horror film and hopes that he would be given more chances of producing films.

Aside from “Patient X,” Richard is hosting the sequel to “Signos,” his environmental documentary with the working title “Planet Philippines.” This time around he joins the GMA Network’s News and Public Affairs Department as a host for his upcoming documentary on the environment airing on Sept. 6.

“Working in this documentary is an eye opener for me. I really admire the News and Public Affairs Department on how they tackle real life situations and real problems that’s happening in the environment. It’s an honor for me to host the show,” he said.

“Signos” focused on the natural disasters on the country and the habitat that’s been destroyed. But for his upcoming documentary, it would focus more on the beauty of the Philippines, its natural treasures and why Filipinos should take care of them. Species that are only found in the Philippines will also be featured according to Richard.