Back to the daily G.R.I.N.D.

MANILA, Philippines - Every generation has its youth-oriented show. And G.R.I.N.D., which means “Get Ready It’s a New Day,” is the one for millennials. Following the tradition of GMA 7’s T.G.I.S. (Thank God, It’s Sabado), the Wizpher Mac Production venture presents the multi-colored, dynamic life of today’s youth — and invites viewers to experience a millennial’s daily grind.

“You can compare it to T.G.I.S. of before,” shared Benedict Campos — one of the show’s lead stars along with Bruno Gabriel, Ayra Mariano and Jazz Ocampo — with The STAR in a chat before the usual roundtable interview. “G.R.I.N.D. will show how millennials live their lives and how they can relate to their parents (in spite of)  the generation gap. (So the generation before them) will understand what goes on inside millennials’ mind and their everyday dealings. It (lives up) to the show’s tagline of medyo drama, pero astig pa rin.” Benedict added that there will be drama in the plotline but the show won’t dwell on it for the audience to feel good.

From starring in Together Forever, Mundo Mo’y Akin and Karelasyon, Benedict is back on TV as G.R.I.N.D.’s happy and gay millennial.

“My character is Reynaldo Katakutan Jr. or RK for short. He is interesting and challenging,” said Benedict. “It’s my first time to play a role which is out of my comfort zone. I play a gay millennial here.” And that explains the word “gay” in his character description. In real life, however, Benedict is what one may label as your regular guy.

“Since he is a gay millennial, he is no longer the beki (girly) type, like he is not loud. The ‘gay’ in my character depends on the person he is with... Iba yung paturing (niya) sa kanila. He hasn’t come out yet. May mga twists na may girlfriend siya, (na) may mga ex siya.”

The G.R.I.N.D. joins the discourse on gender diversity and gender sensitivity by mainstreaming a character like RK. “That’s why I find (him) challenging,” said Benedict. “I’m excited doing my character, napakaganda ng pagkakasulat nito.”

The other characters RK will be interacting with in the G.R.I.N.D. main narrative are overachiever Carlo Yuson played by Bruno; Ms. Pangkabuhayan Showcase and hopeless romantic Lui Gonzales (Ayra); and Tagapagmana (heiress) Solanj Martinez (Jazz).

Unlike in most shows populating the small screen, Benedict, Bruno, Ayra and Jazz will hopefully veer away from portraying stereotypes. “What people see in real life is what they will see on it.”

Viewers are not only expected to meet Carlo, Lui, RK and Solanj, but also know them like their neighbors on the block. “It’s an advocacy that we want parents understand what millennials go through,” said Benedict of the show’s thrust. “Parang nagagalit ang mga magulang natin na bakit ganito tayo, bakit ganyan (tayo) sa social media. They will know what’s behind all this.”

Benedict Campos as the happy millennial RK: You can compare the show to T.G.I.S. of before

According to Benedict, there’s an overall story that encompasses and connects the lives of Carlo, Lui, RK and Solanj. Each episode may focus on one character but “they are always complete. You can also compare (G.R.I.N.D.) to (shows) like Friends. Magkakasama kami sa bawat nangyayari sa buhay namin. In the first few episodes, (viewers) will see how we are going to meet and join together and how our lives intertwine. My character RK is ‘centralized.’ Alam niya ang sekreto ng bawat character, bawat galaw nila. Sila ay lumalapit sa kanya kapag may problema sila. He has nothing much, money-wise, as compared to the other characters, but he is not that poor. (Pero) siya yung pinakamasaya.”

“(The show) will explore what will usually happen in life like work, love and money,” he added. “The characters are in their 20s. We are playing our age.”

Asked how he prepared for the role, Benedict replied, “We had workshops to learn the right approach to our characters. In every episode, you will see the characters grow. It is a weekly episode — makikita mo yung malaking difference ng mga character. We’re coming from different social strata — may mayaman na di masaya, may mahirap na masaya.”

What can he say about the observation that straight actors (such as Dolphy, Eddie Garcia, Ronaldo Valdez, Dennis Trillo, Gardo Versoza and Christian Bables) are more effective in playing gay roles?

“I heard about it,” he answered. “But there are pros and cons (in playing a gay character). (But the bottom line is) you should know your role well to give it justice and (find time) to study it.”

Away from the klieg lights, Benedict is busy attending to his businesses. “I have my own,” he said. “We also have family businesses. I’m into transport and printing businesses. I also do projects with Viva. I have incoming projects like movies and (TV) series. I also host and I do commercials.”

(G.R.I.N.D. premieres tomorrow, Aug. 19, on GMA 7 after I-Witness and airs thereafter Saturday nights at 11.)