Film Development Council of the Philippines chairperson Liza Diño-Seguerra said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that she wants Baron Geisler sanctioned for urinating on co-actor Ping Medina while filming a scene for a movie.
Geisler committed the offense — an improvisational act that was not in the script of Arlyn dela Cruz’s drug war drama “Bubog” – while Medina was tied up with packaging tape as part of a scene where the latter was being tortured by several goons. Geisler was playing the role of the goon’s boss.
As a result, Dela Cruz promptly fired Geisler from the film. In the fallout from the incident, both Medina and Dela Cruz have called on industry colleagues to refrain from working with Geisler, who even blamed the “misunderstanding” on Dela Cruz.
Diño seemed determined on punishing the actor, who has a long history of alcoholism and erratic behavior, including acts of lasciviousness against female colleagues.
“Baron, You have been getting away with this behavior [for] far too long. That is precisely why I am saying something about this. You were given a free pass, look where it brought you?…You are endangering the safety and well-being of your colleagues. This is where the line is drawn. I will not allow this. Not under my watch,” Diño wrote in her post.
“As head of this film council, I have a responsibility to this industry. And it is to make sure that we can all work safely together ng may respeto sa bawat isa…You should be sanctioned.”
As to what sanction should be imposed on Geisler, Diño had a few things in mind and said she has in fact proposed something to the Film Academy of the Philippines.
“Blacklist? Temporary ban from work? I don’t know. But it’s about time you become answerable [for] this unacceptable behavior. Just finished my board meeting and I proposed to the Film Academy of the Philippines who is in charge of guilds to allow FDCP to put together a grievance committee who will handle cases like this…It’s about time something is DONE.”
“I did not give any permission to Baron para iihian si Ping. Hindi iyon ang eksena. Wala sa script, walang instruction. His character, the temper and demeanor was explained to him. He told Ping, seconds before take, may gagawin ako, wag ka magagalit. Direk may gagawin ako, may nadinig kami sampal. Akala namin iyon na yun,” Dela Cruz wrote in response.
Both Dela Cruz and Medina also alleged that Geisler drank beer on the set. Dela Cruz also wondered if the troubled actor had taken too much of the anti-depressant medication he is taking for the bipolar disorder he has admitted to be suffering from. (E. Sallan, Interaksyon)
