Actor-politician Richard Gomez was emotional as he attended his first showbiz media conference in seven years for the upcoming thriller "Salvageland," produced by Rein Entertainment and Viva Films. The movie will be shown on Nov. 26.

Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez (Images courtesy of Viva Films)

"Na-miss ko kayong lahat. Kanina ininterview ako sa labas. Na-overwhelmed ako sa mga old faces. Sabi ko, 'Oh my God!' These people.' Then lumabas na yung emotions ko. I am happy to be back in the circle, and I am so happy to see you guys. (I missed you all. I was interviewed outside a while ago. I was overwhelmed by the old faces. I said, 'Oh my God!' These people.' Then my emotions came out. I am happy to be back in the circle, and I am so happy to see you guys)," said Richard during an interview at The Fishermall in Quezon City recently.

The congressman from Leyte, also known as Goma, added, "Ito yung kinalakihan ko eh. From teenager, nag-asawa ako, naging pulitiko. Kayo na ang kasama ko. So ngayon magkakasama tayo uli. (This is where I grew up. When I was a teenager, I got married and became a politician. You are my companions. So now we are together again.)"

The last movie Goma did was 'Three Words to Forever' with Sharon Cuneta in Ormoc in 2018. "Mayor pa ako nun. Naging matagal (ang pagbabalik ko sa movies) kasi pumasok ako sa pulitika at naging busy. (I was still mayor at the time. It took me a long time (to return to movies) because I entered politics and became busy.)"

"The movie is very realistic. Coming from being a mayor and like Lino (Cayetano) na naging mayor din before, alam mo kaagad ang takbo ng isang organization or ng isang pulis. So noong ibinigay sa akin ang script, nasakyan ko na agad yung ugali ng role ko. Being a mayor, meron din kaming mga pulis na magre-retire na. Naka-relate agad ako sa story. When the cast was presented, sabi ko ang galing ng mga artista. (Coming from being a mayor and like Lino (Cayetano), who was also a mayor before, you immediately know the way an organization works. So when I was given the script, I immediately got into the nature of my role. As a mayor, we also have police officers who are nearing retirement. I immediately related to the story. When the cast was presented, I said the actors were great)," he said.

Richard also said that he's a script-based actor who thoroughly reads the script before agreeing to a project.

From left: Mon Confiado, director Lino Cayetano, Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez, Elijah Canlas, Cindy Miranda, and Angela Morena.

"Hindi ko naman iniwan ang movies dahil maraming offer na script tapos binabasa ko naman. Sa dami ng script, ito talaga yung nagustuhan ko. Ever since, I have been a script-based actor. Binabasa ko talaga yung script. (I didn't leave movies because I was offered many scripts and I read them. Out of the many scripts, this is the one I liked the most. Ever since, I have been a script-based actor. I really read the scripts)," the actor said.

Richard recalled feeling nervous about reporting to the movie set, which he hadn't visited in a long time.

"Kinakabahan ako ng first two days ng shooting. Ang haba ng mga linya tapos ang galing ng mga kasama ko. Sabi ko baka maiwanan ako rito. It was a challenge to me. These people challenged me as an actor. (I was nervous the first two days of shooting. The lines were long, and the people I was with were great. I thought maybe I would be left behind. It was a challenge for me. These people challenged me as an actor)," he said.

Award-winning actor Mon Confiado said it was a pleasure working with Richard, whom he also describes as a fine actor.

"Nagulat lang ako kay Cong. dahil hindi nagbago ang galing siya sa pag-arte. Inuumaga kami sa disyerto. Kahit na umagahin kami sa set nasa tabi lang sya at walang reklamo. Nakaupo lang sya roon. Wala ka ng maririnig kahit ano. (Cong. is still a good actor. And we stayed in the desert until early morning the next day and he didn't complain. He just sits there)," Mon said.

But Goma admitted that he got curious about another award-winning actor, Elijah Canlas, who plays his son in the movie.

"I was very curious about Elijah, kasi hindi ko siya kilala, doing this movie — that time meron siyang play. So noong napanood ko yung play niya, sabi ko, 'Ang galing pala niya.' (I was very curious about Elijah, because I didn't know him, doing this movie. At that time, he had a play. So when I watched his play, I said, 'She's really good.) He's very good at what he's doing."

The official film poster of 'Salvageland'

The project marks a return for director Lino S. Cayetano, who re-enters feature filmmaking after spending 15 years focusing on television directing and producing at Rein Entertainment, the company he co-founded. Lino said he's been a big fan of Richard since he was a film student.

"I was a student at UP Film Center. And nakikita ko si Richard na pumapasok din doon. When I was a student, yung mga pelikula niya ang pinapanood namin. Cong. Richard has worked with some of the brilliant actors. He studied in New York and UP. (I was a student at UP Film Center. And I see Richard, who also attends there. When I was a student, we watched his films. Cong. Richard has worked with some of the brilliant actors. He studied in New York and UP.)

"May mga kuwento na yung ibang direktor, kinakabahan din na maka trabaho siya kasi alam niya yung lente, blocking. But it was such a privilege. I love working with everyone, but it was such a dream come true to work with Richard. People may have forgotten that he is an artist. He is meant for the cinema. Ang sarap niyang panoorin," Lino said.

Variety.com, a popular entertainment site in the US, shared the synopsis of "Salvageland:" Set in a fictional town near Metro Manila, against the backdrop of the volcanic landscape of Mount Pinatubo, this thriller follows a veteran police officer and his rookie son. They must defend their police station when a crime syndicate seeks refuge there. This challenging situation forces the father-son duo into a violent confrontation that tests both their relationship and their survival skills.

"Napaka-interesting sa akin na makapanood ka ng movie na gusto mong i-debate at gusto mong itanong kung tama ba ang decision ng mga tao na ito? (It's very interesting to me that you can watch a movie that you want to debate, and you want to ask if these people's decisions are right?) That's the beauty of watching this film, that you get to ask about these things. We also want to pay tribute to Viva Films for allowing us to tell the story of 'Salvageland,' Direk Lino said.

Lino also said, "Ito ay kwento ni Direk Shugo Praico. Sa concept, may dalawang bagay: kayamanan at krimen. Kapag humarap sayo ang kayaman at krimen, yung moralidad mo at kunsenya mo talagang masusukat. Isang pamilya ito na tine-test ang kanilang konsensya at moralidad sa mga decision. (This is a story by Director Shugo Praico. In concept, there are two things: wealth and crime. When wealth and crime confront you, your morality and conscience are truly tested. This is a family that tests their conscience and morality in decisions.)"