November 23, 2007 | 12:00am
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight star Brandon Vera came here in his father’s country of birth to train Richard Gutierrez for GMA 7’s action, fantasy series Kamandag which airs weeknights. But little did he know his trip would lead to the discovery of a career in acting, especially when the downtime of UFC comes in. Brandon only fights twice or thrice in a year.
“I liked the experience,” says the half-Pinoy, half-Italian mixed martial arts artist of his cameo role as The Assassin on Kamandag and first acting venture. “It was fun. I want to continue what I have started.”
Brandon is serious about his newfound interest, the same way he handles his every fight on the UFC ring.
How did his whirlwind romance or love-at-first sight with acting start?
Executives of the show approached Brandon and broached the idea of him doing three sequences of intense action with short speaking lines. For someone like Brandon who is used of doing many things, acting for Kamandag was perfect idea to while his time away after his training session with Richard.
At the end of the talk, Brandon loved the idea and accepted the offer outright.
“It’s different from what I do,” says Brandon of acting for the cameras. “As a fighter, the closest I’ve had of TV work was doing interviews and being filmed for UFC’s behind the scenes.”
Brandon is one of the deadliest Nemeses of Kamandag/Vergel, played by Richard. His character will add spice to the story about half-human, half-beast creatures. The Carlo J. Caparas based TV series also revolves around the place called Ambograw where mortals belong to the lower status of the society and are considered slaves.
The San Diego, California-based fighter recalls his interest in acting has been intensified when he saw for himself how things work behind and in front of the camera. The 6’3” wrestling and jie jetsu enthusiast says acting is an art and requires hard work. Brandon looks forward to be cast in action projects where he could put his fighting skills in good use. Many think a Mr. & Mrs. Smith-inspired movie is a perfect vehicle to jumpstart Brandon’s career as an action star, opposite his wife, a Muay Thai fighter herself.
Asked how Richard fared in the eight-session training Brandon supervised and designed for the young actor, the trainer says, “His brilliance in acting translates in his performance during the training. I had to be strict and a disciplinarian so he won’t have difficulty and get hurt doing his stunts for the show. Richard works hard. He is pretty good. Besides, Richard attended training in martial arts before.”
What surprises many about Richard’s trainer is, Brandon is every inch Pinoy in spite of being raised and having lived all his life in the States.
Brandon speaks Filipino fluently and eats local dishes and delicacies like adobo, laing, bibingka, bilo-bilo, diniguan and balut. Like any Juan dela Cruz out there, Brandon puts family first above everything else. If ever he and his wife will have a child soon, Brandon would like to go lie low with UFC and enjoy fatherhood.
During his sojourn in Manila, Brandon was able to visit local sites. He liked his side trip to Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan and Punta Fuego in Batangas. He wishes to build a house in Punta Fuego. Aside from TV and movie work, Brandon sees business opportunities here like putting up a gym.
Brandon, who left the country last week before Kamandag premiered, says he will be back soon to shoot some scenes for Kamandag.
Whether his return will take a long time or not, one thing is certain: Televiewers will welcome Brandon with open arms because of his sincere enthusiasm about anything Pinoy.
