Cristine Reyes (left) and Baron Geisler —VIVA ARTISTS AGENCY
In one of his past stints in rehab, Baron Geisler used to pass time watching movies, including some that starred Cristine Reyes.
He saw “No Other Woman” (2011) and “The Gifted” (2014) but as much as he enjoyed those films, they also had him feeling a twinge of sadness and regret.
“I remember being in awe at how good Cristine and her co-stars were. But at the same time, there was a part of me that thought that I wouldn’t be able to return to show biz. I thought I would just spend the rest of my days as a fisherman or something,” Baron said at a recent press conference.
Baron’s struggles and history of alcohol abuse and misconduct are well documented. But thankfully, he said, he’s now sober, trying to rebuild his life and earn back the trust of people in show biz. Just imagine his surprise when he got an inquiry from Viva Films to do a film titled, “Dearly Beloved,” opposite Cristine.
“I was starstruck,” said Baron, who initially felt nervous, despite having already worked with Cristine on the 2008 drama series “Eva Fonda.”
“Dearly Beloved,” which opened in cinemas last Saturday, is a family drama that follows Deo (Baron) and Shel (Cristine), two people who unwittingly find love in each other, after their failed marriages. Since they’re still legally married to their respective ex-partners—with whom they have children—they try their best to navigate their lives in a blended family setup.
Big responsibility
“I didn’t want to disappoint anyone … It’s a big responsibility to have Cristine as a leading lady,” he said. “Suddenly, the scenes I saw her in came to mind.”
Baron had nothing but good words about working with Cristine, whom he described as “collaborative” and “professional. “She’s always on time, she knows her lines. Even before our director gave us notes, we took it upon ourselves to read our lines together. I would go to her and figure out how we’re supposed to do a scene,” he related.
He made sure that he looked presentable all the time, too. “She joked that I looked like I smell good these days,” he said, laughing. “I made it a point to brush my teeth and put on cologne before I went near her and did our scenes.”
Eager to prove himself, Baron couldn’t help but feel nervous at times, especially during his kissing scene with Cristine. “My hands were shaking. I was like, ‘Direk, ‘di ko yata kayang gawin ‘to.’ I felt like fainting. I wanted my blood pressure checked. And the kiss we were supposed to do wasn’t event torrid, it was meant to be just sweet,” he said.
“But then Cristine said, ‘Baron, tama na ‘yan, i-shoot na natin ‘to,’” Baron said. “That jolted me back to my senses.”
Outside work, Baron said he felt touched by Cristine’s kindness toward his wife, Jamie Evangelista, when the latter visited the film set. “She made an effort to talk to my wife. I think that’s when I really started to feel comfortable working with her,” Baron said.
Blended family
For the 41-year-old actor, “Dearly Beloved” hits close to home, because like the character he plays, he also has a blended family. He has a 4-year-old daughter, Thalita Cumi with Jamie. In addition, Baron has one daughter each from two past relationships; Jamie, on the other hand, has two sons from her previous partner.
“When we first started dating, it wasn’t only her that I courted. I also courted her two boys. By loving their mother so much, her sons’ respect for me came naturally. I built a relationship with them. Now, I see them as my own,” related Baron who tied the knot with Jamie in September 2019.
“It takes a lot of maturity to understand each other’s pasts and traumas. We had to heal together or figure out where we’re headed. There’s that feeling of security in knowing that, no matter what happens, we will respect each other as individuals … I know her past, and she knows mine. She just has to stumble forward and be prepared for what life gives us,” he said.
The movie also touches on second chances. If there’s one person who would know about second chances, it’s Baron. “I had second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth chances. But by God’s grace, my wife believed in me. In life, if you’re really willing to change, and are sincere about it, you will honor your vows and stick by them. And then perhaps you will regain the trust,” he said.
With his wife’s love and the industry’s consideration, Baron is feeling optimistic about his future. “I hope to have a career like that of Eddie Garica or Dante Rivero. I love my work, so I’m really praying to be consistent with my sobriety and how I take care of myself, my family, and my relationship with God,” he said.