Actor Gerald Anderson and veteran producer Ronald "Dondon" Monteverde are joining forces for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry Rekonek, an alternative Christmas film that explores the meaning of connection in a world suddenly cut off from the internet.
The project brings together Monteverde's Reality MM Studios and Anderson's 3rd Floor Studios, with the actor taking on a new role behind the camera as a producer.
Monteverde, who co-founded Reality MM Studios with director Erik Matti in 2003, shared that working with Anderson motivated him to keep learning despite his long experience in the industry.
"Even as a veteran, I still want to learn new things, and working with Gerald allowed me to do that," Monteverde told Manila Standard Entertainment in an interview.
Rekonek takes place during a global internet outage that forces people to rediscover what connection truly means beyond screens and social media. The film follows Filipinos from different walks of life as they navigate a world suddenly stripped of Wi-Fi and constant connectivity.
According to Anderson, the story shows how dependent people have become on technology.
"Sometimes relationships are affected by social media, by phones, by the internet -- and then suddenly, when all of that disappears, what happens?" he explained. "When the internet goes down, there are a lot of lessons to learn. It makes you realize we can still live without it."
The partnership between Anderson and Monteverde began more than a decade ago during the production of On the Job. Monteverde recalled that their professional chemistry eventually led to discussions about new projects, one of which became Rekonek.
"We've always wanted to work together again," Monteverde recounted. "Everything just fell into place. We submitted a concept to a film festival, and it got accepted. From there, everything took off."
Monteverde commended Anderson for his dedication behind the camera, describing him as "very involved" in every aspect of production, from planning to casting.
Anderson noted that the team has been meticulous in shaping every element of the film.
"We've been hands-on all the way. The film is almost done. We have two to three more days of shooting left," he mentioned. "We've carefully planned everything, from the cast to the story to the promotions."
Reality MM Studios is known for producing acclaimed films and series that push creative boundaries, while 3rd Floor Studios began as Anderson's passion project in fitness and lifestyle before evolving into a film and content production company.