River Joseph is on a roll, adding character after character to his acting résumé and each one showing us a new layer of his craft. His latest turn as Rainier Cruz in "Sins of the Father" gave him a chance to push his limits even further as he sweated through action-packed scenes paired with drama-laden moments.
River credits much of his preparation to director FM Reyes, who, he said, “really talked to me and guided me throughout the whole shooting." He added, "Ang dami niyang advice," which he especially leaned on in finding the right balance between physical scenes and dramatic beats.
While his past series "Pamilya Sagrado" gave him a taste of action-drama, "Sins of the Father" served him the full course. The chase and fight sequences were on another level, “Grabe ’yung pawis namin sa taping! Kailangan namin magpalit pa ng whole wardrobe kasi sobrang basa at putik na ’yung mga damit ko."
Yet he showed admirable commitment by skipping the stunt double and choosing to take all the action himself. "Sabi ko, no need [ng stunt double]. Kasi kakayanin ko. Lahat gagawin ko para lang ma-fulfill ’yung character."
It also helped that he was surrounded by co-stars he already felt comfortable with, like Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin, also known as FranSeth. He even teamed up with Seth at the recent Star Magic All-Star Games. Add to that his friendships with Jeremiah Lisbo and other cast members, along with familiar faces in the production team from past projects made it easier for him to adjust on set.
Beyond the camaraderie, one of the biggest reasons River immediately said yes to the role was because of Gerald Anderson, whose work he had followed in teleseryes over the years. "Now to finally be part of his show, nag-yes kaagad ako," he shared. Looking ahead, he hopes to follow in Gerald’s footsteps by trying his hand at directing someday. “Kasi nakikita ko kay Kuya [Gerald], kay Coco Martin how passionate they are. Hopefully I can be like one of them.”
River admires the level of effort Gerald pours into the series, especially after witnessing the final cut of the much-talked-about “1 vs 100” scene that Gerald himself directed. “Grabe! For sure nakakapagod ’yun!” he reacted. Having experienced how exhausting even short fight scenes could be, River could only imagine the challenge of leading something that intense and meticulous, while also being both actor and director.
Another factor that convinced him to take on the role was the depth of the character itself, as Rainier had purpose and social relevance. His story highlighted the lengths a person would go to for the love of family. “Si Rainier, he’s risking his life para lang mahanap ’yung ate niya who is missing because of the scam. He is willing to go through all these extents just to be able to see her."
That journey eventually led to Rainier’s heartbreaking death in the latest episode, where he sacrificed himself by luring hitmen to save Arissa (Francine Diaz).
For River, his on-screen character's choices somehow mirrors his own beliefs about family and sacrifice. “I resonate with Rainier in terms of ’yung para sa mahal mo sa buhay, gagawin mo lahat kahit mapahamak ka pa, kahit masaktan ka pa,” he reflected.
When asked where this deep sense of love for the important people in his life comes from, River reflected on his own losses. Having gone through the passing of his dad and his brother, he said those painful experiences only made his heart grow bigger instead of shutting down. “Those shaped me into who I am now, na everyone I meet, everyone I come across, I want to make the most out of the time that we have, say what I need to say because we never know when our last moment here is, or our last moment with them will be,” he mused. “Dapat seize the moment talaga.”
With those experiences shaping the way he views life, River has also become more intentional with the kinds of roles he takes on. He enjoys the challenge of portraying characters far different from his own personality to constantly test his range and growth as an actor.
In real life, people often call him a “walking green flag” because of his gentlemanly ways. On screen, however, he doesn’t shy away from playing the so-called “red flags" and exploring flawed or complex characters. At the same time, he’s open to taking on a good guy role in one of his next projects just to keep things interesting.
Looking ahead, River dreams of becoming a leading man while working alongside more of the veteran actors he grew up watching. “I love working with veterans. Ang dami kong natututunan sa kanila, just listening to them, just being in the same table with them. Ang dami kong nakukuha sa kanila, which I really appreciate from them,” he shared.
True to his drive, he never rests on his laurels and continues to find ways to improve his craft. And of course, one of the items on his bucket list is to finally star in a series with his "PBB Celebrity Collab Edition " friends, something that is already in the works.
"Sins of the Father" airs weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), A2Z, TV5 and iWant.