Directing a step out of Jericho’s comfort zone

Jericho Rosales

I now have greater respect for filmmakers and directors,” actor Jericho “Echo” Rosales said after directing for the first time a campaign video that features actress and Philia frontwoman Arci Muñoz.

Shot on a barge in Batangas, the video will be released online this summer. “There were projects before—music videos —that I directed but wasn’t able to release, for personal reasons. But for something branded, this is my first,” said Echo of the project he did for the “True Wanderer 2018” campaign by Wrangler, the clothing brand he endorses.

At the launch on Wednesday night in Makati City, Arci was proclaimed the brand’s first female ambassador. (The “Live2Wander” campaign, which includes a contest that will give away an all-expense-paid trip for four to any Philippine destination and other prizes, runs until April 12. Details at Wrangler’s Facebook page.)

“This video is all about adventure, so it’s close to my heart. Working on it has made me appreciate how much time, effort and energy a director spends on a particular project,” Echo explained. “It’s time-consuming, but I put my heart into this.”

For Echo, directing allows him to step out of his comfort zone. “The best part was the postproduction work. I enjoyed coloring and putting music—we used original compositions.”

The shooting, he recalled, was equally interesting. “The weather kept changing. We had no control of our location. When you’re a director, you have to be open [to unexpected circumstances]. It was thrilling to translate into video the concept that we had written down on paper,” said Echo, adding that he closely worked with cinematographer Odyssey Flores, TV host-actor Mike Abrera and the team behind his website Mr. Manileño on the video.

It also helped that Echo’s lead star is a longtime friend. “It was easier to express myself, because Arci knows me and my style. She knows how I execute things,” he said.

The shoot with Arci was a breeze—it lasted for only two hours, he added. “She was game. She took my instructions well after I explained to her the storyboard, and did everything quickly. We were done before sunset.”

Echo said that 2018 has, so far, been a great year for him. He has recently renewed endorsement deals, has a coming TV series (“Love Will Lead You Back” on ABS-CBN), and will work on a film before the year ends.

His marriage with Filipino-British model Kim Jones “has been amazing,” he disclosed. “We’re always together. The family is OK—we’re happy, although having kids isn’t in the pipeline for now. Kim and I are enjoying our time together.”

What Echo is into these days is covering as many roads as he could on his dirt bike with his Mr. Manileño team. “There are many places in Bicol that I plan to check out. I recently went to Daet, where there’s a newly built road that’s great for riding,” he shared with the Inquirer. “There are many places in the Philippines that I want to visit—like Batanes, Camiguin and Samar.”