(From left) Daniel Padilla, Baron Geisler, Anthony Jennings, Ian Veneracion, Kaila Estrada, and Richard Gutierrez. Image: Courtesy of Netflix Philippines
“Incognito” was an opportunity for Richard Gutierrez, Daniel Padilla, Ian Veneracion, Baron Geisler, and Anthony Jennings to elevate the action genre to new heights, as it explores the lives of a group of misfits navigating their own lives while getting entangled in deadly missions.
The Lester Pimentel Ong-helmed action drama, which stars Gutierrez, Padilla, Veneracion, Geisler, and Jennings, as well as Maris Racal and Kaila Estrada, revolves around seven individuals joining forces in a private company while braving their personal battles.
This is not the first time “Incognito’s” male stars have delved into the action genre. However, they said in a one-on-one interview with INQUIRER.net that the drama reminded them of how much they could do more with the genre while developing their acting skills in the process.
“I feel like I can do more. I always feel like we could elevate action more and this is the right project, the right vehicle to do that. I’ve done many action series in the past but I think this is the biggest one I’ve done,” Gutierrez said.
Among the action dramas Gutierrez starred in include “The Iron Heart,” “La Luna Sangre,” “Mulawin,” and “Zorro.” But it was the “new techniques” and the talent of its cast that motivated the actor to do more.
(From left) Daniel Padilla, Kaila Estrada, and Richard Gutierrez in a scene from “Incognito.” Image: Courtesy of Netflix Philippines
“With a great ensemble cast, we’re shooting all over the world and over the Philippines. With Direk Lester’s new techniques in filming action, I think we have a really good project. It keeps me motivated. It keeps me excited to work. I get up every day looking forward to work and I look forward to work,” he said.
For Padilla, he said he didn’t want to give in to the pressure of his family’s legacy — as the Padilla clan is mostly made of action stars — but working on the drama made him realize that he enjoyed doing it after all. “I realized that I can do different things. I can do different projects.
“For me, in ‘Incognito,’ I realized that I love doing action. I was worried at first knowing my uncle and dad, parang everyone is expecting me to be an action star so [I was prompted], you’re the next,” he continued. “But while I was doing it, I realized that I truly enjoyed it. It was fun to do.”
Meanwhile, this is not Jennings’ first time to be part of a drama of the action genre. But “Incognito” allowed him to combine his comedic and action chops.
“I always wanted to do action ever since. But this drama made me realize that it’s fun to be an action star and a comedian at the same time. You can pull off both. And it lightens me up. It makes me happy,” he said.
Easy working relationships
Despite the intensity of its action scenes, Veneracion said he had no problem working with his co-stars. He was able to build a rapport with them in the past and was able to strengthen their friendship through the drama.
“They’re very easy to work with,” he said. “It’s very easy because everyone is so light. At the same time, we take our jobs seriously. There’s a certain playful vibe but when it’s time to focus on training and action scenes, they take their jobs seriously. It’s fun and easy.”
Geisler, on the other hand, said he was “amazed” by the passion of “Incognito’s” younger lead stars. He then looked back at a behind-the-scenes experience with Estrada, noting that she makes an effort to pull off an intense scene where she was supposed to be hit by a bullet.
“I couldn’t forget a scene with Kaila where she was hit. A lot of things were going on. A lot of bullets were flying while I was stitching her wound. Kaila needed to show that her character was struggling to breathe, and she was already suffocating. Anthony and I couldn’t hold back our tears at the time, and the emotions brought by the scene crossed over to us,” he recalled.
“That’s when I realized that the young actors now are different. They’re very passionate when it comes to their jobs. Kaila then became really dizzy after and we got really worried,” Geisler added, which led to Estrada cutting him off with an “I’m fine” while giggling.
The cast of “Incognito” while awaiting the press for their 1-on-1 interviews. Image: Courtesy of Star Creatives
After the scene, Geisler said he reminded Estrada to not take herself too seriously while filming.
“I told her to not take it too seriously. Don’t portray the struggle of breathing too much. It’s just acting. I reminded her to take care of herself and to not use reality to define her acting skills,” he said.