RURU MADRID is so proud to star in the Viva Films-GMA Pictures co-production, “Video City”, that will be shown in theaters nationwide on September 20.
“When they offered the project to me, na-excite ako kasi kakaiba ang story about time travel at si Yassi Pressman daw ang kapareha ko,” he says.
“The character that I play, si Han, is an aspiring filmmaker who wants to follows the footsteps of his mom, played by Suzette Ranillo, na isang multi-awarded film director but is now sick and bedridden.
"Si Han will be magically transported to 1995 dahil sa isang mahiwagang rewinder that will really rewind time for him.”
He also enjoyed the idea of being reunited with Yassi.
“I really look forward to working with Yassi kasi the first time we got to work together was in GMA’s youth oriented show, ‘Dormitoryo’, that started airing in September of 2013, so exactly ten years ago. Siya ang first crush ko then.”
He says he has followed Yassi’s career through the years and he is happy and proud of all the accomplishments she has achieved during the past ten years.
“Working with her again, I didn’t expect na ganito kasaya ang magiging samahan namin at mas magiging closer ang friendship namin,” he adds.
“Siya pa rin yung dating cheerful na Yassi na nakilala ko before. She’s the Yassi na nagbibigay ng liwanag sa lahat. Na para bang when she is around, masaya ang lahat.
"She’s very talented, very generous hindi lang sa food na dinadala niya sa set kundi sa emotions and dedication she brings sa bawat eksenang ginagawa namin.
"I really feel so lucky na nakatrabaho ko siya ulit dito sa movie and also sa series na ginagawa namin ngayon for GMA, ‘Black Rider’.”
He’s glad when he hears people saying they have a good chemistry on screen.
“We owe a lot to our director, Raynier Brizuela, who is young like us, kaya we all get along fine sa shoot.
"Yung style niya kasi, hindi kami pinupwersang dapat magpakilig kayo rito. He really just trusted our tandem at dahil doon sa malaking tiwala niya sa amin, mas nagkakaroon kami ng confidence sa mga sarili namin.
"Hindi kami hard sell na magpakilig, hindi lahat, planado. Mas more on puso kami ni Yassi kasi first time pa lang namin to be together again, doon sa aming look test, tinginan pa lang namin sa isa’t isa, nakaramdam na kami agad ng connection with one another.”
And when they started shooting, they pledged to truly be supportive of each other.
“We said na magtutulungan kami and we did, from day one. For some reason, we really can feel yung rapport namin sa bawat eksenang ginagawa namin.
"The chemistry between us just flows naturally, doon siya nabubuo, hindi pilit, all natural lang talaga and I’m sure viewers will feel it also when they watch the movie.”
Direk Raynier says the concept for the movie stems from his own experience when he developed a crush for a store attendant in the Video City branch he used to frequent as a teenager in Navotas.
He’s thinking what if he could do time travel and meet her again. So how about Ruru? Does he have a similar experience?
“Oh yes, I was in grade school, grade 5 ako when I had my very first crush,” he shares.
“Yung teacher ko, maganda siya, pero hindi siya conscious na maganda siya. Sobrang crush ko, so niligawan ko talaga.
"Seryosong ligaw kasi yung baon ko, iniipon ko to buy her flowers and I help her carry her bags. So after some time, sabi ko, ‘ma’am, puede ba tayo na?’
"And she said, ‘Sorry, I’m taken. Ikakasal na nga ako.’ Siempre, I lost hope na agad. First crush ko, basted agad.”
One thing is sure about Ruru and Yassi: they can not be linked with each other to help drum up interest for “Video City” as everyone knows Ruru is already taken by Bianca Umali.
“Hindi naman kailangan yung romantically linked kayo for viewers to watch your movie,” says Ruru.
“And ‘Video City’ can stand on its own kasi maganda talaga ang story, ginastusan ang movie in reconstructing the video store na setting ng film.
"Alam nyo naman, wala namang video stores ngayon. Last branch daw ng Video City closed down years ago pa.
"And kami ni Yassi and all our co-stars, including si Direk Raynier, we really gave it our best to make sure that the audience will be entertained by ‘Video City’ from beginning to end.”
