Star Magic talent Joseph Marco lauds his experience shooting for the second season of The Bridge, produced by Viu and in association with HBO Asia Originals. The series premiered on June 15 on Viu, HBO GO and HBO across Asia.
The award-winning series returns with Singapore’s Rebecca Lim and Malaysia’s Bront Palarae reprising their lead roles. In season two, the cast has been expanded to include talent from Indonesia (Ario Bayu) and the Philippines. TJ Lee and Jason Chong return to direct, alongside Zahir Omar.
In the 10-part series, Marco portrays Filipino-Singaporean Christian Salvador, head of an environmental non-profit organization that gets drawn to Serena Teo, the lead character played by Lim.
“It’s an incredible experience, all the challenges I encountered just to be in Malaysia in time for my first shoot was all worth it, very worth it,” the 31-year-old actor told Manila Standard during an online presser.
In December, Marco had to fly straight from Japan, where he was shooting a Regal Films project, to Malaysia, with less than a day to spare to get in-character as Christian Salvador. In January, he had to be in Malaysia again, this time on New Year’s Day.
“It was crazy, I was celebrating New Year’s Eve then I had to be at the airport by 5:00 a.m..I didn’t get to sleep at all. I just took advantage of the time sleeping on the plane and in the van on my way to the hotel. Good thing the scene that I was doing was an apartment scene so I was able to rest in between takes,” he carried on.
According to ABS-CBN’s Ruel Bayani, he was having a discussion with Malaysia’s Double Vision’s Min Lim when the prospect of casting a Filipino actor in The Bridge came up.
Double Vision collaborated with ABS-CBN in the acclaimed drama Kahit Isang Saglit in 2008 starring Malaysia’s Carmen Soo and Jericho Rosales.
“She told me about a Filipino character that was written in for season 2, and then as Min said, they were supposed to cast someone from Malaysia. I said, ‘Why? Why not cast one of our actors? I can send you anyone you want,’’ Bayani, who is ABS-CBN head of international productions and co-productions, said.
During the online press event, Marco only had good words to say about his experience working with the cast and crew of The Bridge constantly repeating that they were extremely nice people and very professional.
“Who wouldn’t want to be part of this award-winning crime-thriller? It’s such a big thing for us actors to get an international gig. That, in itself, I was blown away, I was so excited. I’m super thankful that I’m able to be part of this,” he exclaimed.
Adapted from the original Endemol Shine series and injected with local flavor, the story picks up a year after season one. A yacht registered in Singapore drifts ashore in Johor with a deceased Indonesian family on board. Investigating the slew of serial killings that follow, the characters become mired in a web of treachery, deceit, and personal tragedy. Darker and more twisted than before, this new season plays with themes of corruption, redemption, and revenge and is set against a distinctly Asian underworld backdrop.
The Bridge was originally created and written by Hans Rosenfeldt as a joint production of Sweden’s Filmlance International, part of Endemol Shine Group, and Denmark’s Nimbus Film. It has aired in more than 188 territories/countries and spawned localized remakes in the U.K./France, the United States/Mexico, Germany/Austria, Russia/Estonia and Serbia/Croatia.
