IT took a giant leap of faith for Richard Juan to finally pursue his first love when he established his own production company named 28 Squared Studios in 2021.
Little did many people know that business was actually the path the 31-year-old actor-host-turned-producer has been dreaming of.
“Ever since I was a kid, I have always wanted to do business, and my family has always groomed me to do business,” Juan shared.
In a world of business where risks are inevitable, Juan never hesitated to make a bet on himself, carrying the mantra that any journey can only be successful by believing in oneself.
Today, the company he built four years ago has recently achieved a huge feat after its highly anticipated film “Under Parallel Skies” had its world premiere at the prestigious 17th Asian Film Awards last March.
The film stars Filipino actress Janella Salvador and Thai actor Win Metawin under the direction of award-winning director Sigrid Bernardino.
One might, therefore, be eager to ask, how did an actor and host like Richard Juan manage to achieve many things in different career paths all by himself?
In an exclusive interview with republicasia, Juan shared his colorful yet challenging journey from being an influential actor and host in the entertainment industry to being a CEO and film producer.
Richard the host-actor
After living in the busy streets of Hong Kong for over 18 years, Juan returned to the country to continue his studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in Broadcast Communication.
His stay here in the Philippines gave Juan an opportunity to start his entertainment career after joining Eat Bulaga’s You’re My Foreignoy in 2014, winning the Dabarkad’s Choice Award.
He then broke into the mainstream when he became a Pinoy Big Brother housemate in 2015 and finished sixth in the competition.
Juan later on ventured into the world of acting and hosting, appearing in various shows and television series.
In 2016, he served as the host of UPFRONT at the UAAP, a media sports coverage under ABS-CBN Sports + Action. He also hosted a backstage show of Miss Universe 2016 held at the Mall of Asia in Pasay.
A year later, Juan seized the lead role in TV5’s Wattpad presents: AFGITMOLFM as Art Felix Go.
He finally returned to Pinoy Big Brother as a host in 2020, appearing in PBB: Connect and PBB Kumunity Season 10.
“Moving to the Philippines [and] getting out of my comfort zone, I was very lucky to somehow be involved in showbiz, and it’s an industry that I fell in love with,” Juan shared.
Last February, the actor-host celebrated his 10th anniversary in the entertainment industry.
The birth of a young CEO-producer
While being an actor and host has been a dream come true for many, for Juan, it was just the beginning of achieving more of his dreams.
After being in showbiz for a decade, Juan went further in his career when he established 28 Squared Studios, becoming a CEO and film producer.
The content production company offers various content, including digital advertisements, blogs, TV commercials, and lifestyle series.
It was also responsible for producing the upcoming film, Under Parallel Skies, with Juan as the executive producer.
“My hosting and acting background has been instrumental in this journey, providing me with a deep understanding of the creative and collaborative nature of filmmaking. It has taught me empathy for the artistic process, especially for the talents in front of the camera, hence, allowing me to bridge the gap between the vision and the practical execution as a producer. “
For Juan, the birth of 28 Squared Studios is a byproduct of his passion for entertainment and business.
“The way I always say it is I got my first love, which is business, and my second love, which is showbiz, and put them together, and now we have 28 Squared Studios,” he shared.
When asked about his experience as a young film producer, he admitted that film production is “a whole different world.”
“From the initial concept discussions to the final touches in post-production, every phase of this project has been full of challenges, triumphs, and invaluable lessons,” he said.
And if there is one thing that he learned as a film producer, it was to really have patience. Juan revealed that his recent project took him and his team over a year to materialize.
“We started this project or this concept [in] late 2022 and it took us over a year to get to this point and it’s not as easy as some of you might think,” he said.
“[So] I think one of my biggest lessons is to really have patience. If you wanna do something big, you really need to put in time,” he added, reiterating that you can never go wrong with this virtue.
He also expressed immense gratitude to his ‘dream team’ for helping him navigate the world of film production and turn his vision into reality for the company’s first project.
“I’m honestly so blessed to have assembled a dream team for this project. Director Sigrid is multi-awarded and until this day is the director who wrote and directed the highest-grossing independent Filipino film. From our DOP to Producer, to Editor to Music to Production Designer to Promo Head — this dream team assembled have years of experience in the film industry and are all multi-awarded. I am really blessed that we were able to have all of them on board for our first project,” he shared.
Asian representation and Filipino pride
As someone who grew up in Hong Kong, a city considered a melting pot of all cultures, Juan witnessed the interlacing of various cultures across the globe and felt enamored with the beauty of such interconnection.
“I am lucky that I’ve been raised in a very multicultural background. Growing up in Hong Kong, it’s a city where East meets West so somehow, I am connected in that way. I know what the East likes. I know what the West likes. We (28 squared Studios) try to find stuff that can transcend and also connect both cultures,” he shared.
His firm commitment to producing content that transcends and crosses cultural boundaries was one of the core reasons for the creation of the film “Under Parallel Skies.”
The film was shot in Hong Kong, centering on the life of a Thai bachelor (played by Win Metawin) looking for his missing mother and a Filipina hotel employee (played by Janella Salvador).
The intersection of Thai, Filipino, and Hong Kong cultures in the film is just one way for Juan to envision “a new era of cross-border, cross-cultural cinematic journeys.”
But more than just articulating Asian cultures to the world through film, Juan’s top priority was to bring Filipino talents to the global stage.
“It has always been a dream of mine to create content that really brings Filipino talents, not just the ones in front of the camera but also behind the camera, to a regional, if not the global scale. We want to be able to show that Filipinos are able to be on the world stage.”
And with 28 Squared Studios under his helm, the actor-producer wanted to produce content that caters to the interest of the audience in the country and abroad.
“This experience has been a profound journey of growth, collaboration, and a reaffirmation of my passion to connect cultures across borders and bring Filipino talents to the region, if not the world,” shared Juan.
As a film producer, Juan hopes for the country to finally have an Oscar win someday.
“[It] might not be my film, might not be my company film, but it is definitely something that I wish one day that at least the Philippines could achieve, and I want to be part of the movement to do that,” he shared.
Advice for the young
When asked what pieces of advice he would give to young people who also want to pursue various career paths simultaneously, Juan mentioned that believing in oneself is always the first step in moving forward.
“Your belief in yourself is what will guide you through challenges and illuminating your journey with purpose and drive. The courage to believe in your own potential is the first step towards convincing others to share in your vision,” he said.
He also urged aspiring actors and producers to always respect and understand different perspectives from other people as you may learn a lot of things from them.
And more importantly, people should also never be afraid to go out of their comfort zone and take calculated risks if they want to pursue bigger things in the future.
“Sometimes, you just have to bet on yourself in order to achieve big dreams,” he said.
Richard Juan is currently promoting “Under Parallel Skies,” where he served as an executive producer. The film will have its theatrical release in the Philippines on April 17, Singapore on May 1, and Thailand on May 9.
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Managing Editor: Henrick Chiu
Creative Director: Sven Gaffud
Producer: Glycel Galpo
Writer: Joshua Gerona
Video Editor: John Gabriel San Luis
Graphic Artist: Jadelyn Isiderio
Photographer: Bjorn Michael
Stylist: John Lozano
Grooming: Mycke Arcano
Special Thanks to Jeshna Abad from Bulgari Jewelries
