CHAD KINIS gets his biggest break in the movie “Beks Days of Our Lives” not only as an actor since he is one of the three leads, but more than anything else, as a director as he directed the film himself.
Chad is Richardson de la Cruz in real life and he just turned 37 last April 22. Why was he called Chad Kinis as his screen name?
“E kasi nga po, hindi makinis ang balat ko, e,” he says. “Pero okay lang dahil dyan naman ako nakilala.
"May nagsa-suggest na magpa-derma ako para pakinisin ang balat ko, pero wala sa isip ko yan. Minahal naman ako ng followers ko sa hitsura kong ito, so okay na yan.
"And also, I believe sa saying na beauty is only skin deep. Makinis ka nga on the outside pero ang kalooban mo naman, hindi, so mas mabuti na yung malinis ka inside.”
Chad started as a standup comic in comedy bars. He gained fame when he joined Showtime’s Miss Q & A.
He was just a runner up but Viva Artists Agency signed him up and even gave him his first single, “Basta Panget”, a novelty song released by Viva Records.
As a vlogger, he put up Beks Battalion with good friends Lassy and MC Muah and their comedic videos hit it big with viewers.
He admits he was bullied for his scarred skin.
“But I didn’t allow it to affect me. What they tell me, pasok sa isang tenga, labas sa kabila. So pangit ang skin ko, di ginamit ko yung material sa pagko-comedy.”
But it was not an easy journey for him.
“Five years muna akong umikot sa paga-audition sa iba’t ibang comedy bars bago ako natanggap.
"Sabi nila, hindi ka marunong magpatawa, pangit ka, di ka magaling. So yung panlalait nila sa akin, ginawa kong self-deprecating jokes at yun, nagustuhan ng mga tao at nag-click sa kanila.”
All the bullying he got made him stronger.
“Ang sarili kong ama, hindi matanggap na gay ako. And now, ulilang lubos na ako, magkasunod namatay ang mama ko when I was 17 at sumunod agad yung papa ko, so I really have to be strong for myself.
"Kahit anong pambu-bully naman ang gawin sa iyo, you just have to be strong. Kasi sa kabila ng mga panlalait, life goes on.’’
And all his hardships paid off when Viva signed him up six years ago.
“Unang movie ko with them was ‘Tililing’. Then, nang mag-click ang vlogs namin, pinagsama kami nina Lassy at MC sa ‘Ang Mananggal na Nahahati ang Puso’.
"Isinali kami sa TV shows ng Viva and then binigyan kami ng sarili namin concert.
"Una, on line, tapos naging live concert na sa New Frontier Theatre na, awa ng Diyos, nag-hit naman kaya heto, may sarili na kaming movie.”
Chad became emotional at the presscon of their movie at Botejyu since he felt so touched by his closeness to Lassy and MC.
“Gusto ko talagang magpasalamat sa kanila kasi ang Beks Battalion is an unexpected family for me.
"Hindi ko inaasahang magiging ganito katatag ang samahan namin at isa na kaming pamilya kasi nasanay akong being alone for many years.
"Pero dahil sa kanila, I have a new family at mas nagkaroon ng direksyon ang buhay at career ko kasama sila.
"Hindi ko na makakalimutan ang kabaitan nila at lahat ng pagtulong nila sa akin. Hinila nila akong pataas and for that, I will forever be grateful.”
He’s also thankful to Viva Films for giving him his directorial break.
“I really studied filmmaking kasi dream ko nga maging director. I gave all my best dito sa ‘Beks Days of Our Lives’ which will help viewers forget all their problems pati ang sobrang init ng summer natin ngayon.
"Tatawa kayo, pero hindi lang po ito comedy kasi may puso rin. So mata-touch kayo nang malaman naming isa sa amin, may terminal illness, and we bowed to make more good memories for the rest of our lives.
"So, manood po kayo when it opens sa mga sinehan on May 17.”
