Inquirer.net got around to talking to Garret and James Parks before they wrapped production in the Philippines. For the complete article, go here.

Dillahunt and fellow Hollywood actors James Parks and Chris Cooper were just as amazed when they visited the set of independent filmmaker John Sayles’ “Baryo”—a turn-of-the-century village nestled between rice fields and a rainforest—somewhere in Maribojoc, 30 minutes away from the city.

Unlike Cooper, who’s a veteran of Sayles films, Parks and Dillahunt are first-timers. But like Cooper, they were both bowled over by the set built by Filipino production designer Rodell Cruz and his team.

The shoot of “Baryo” in Bohol was facilitated by the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

“The set does so much for us as actors,” Dillahunt said. “I compare it to my experience on (the HBO Western series) ‘Deadwood’ where there was not a single reminder of the 20th century on the set. It’s the same on the set of ‘Baryo.’ Seeing the beauty of the jungle and the rice fields helps us get into character. It’s a real treat.” (…)

Before flying to Bohol, Dillahunt worked on the pilot of a TV show that hasn’t aired yet. “It’s called ‘Keep Hope Alive,’ aptly named because I did it so I could afford to do ‘Baryo,’” he said. (…)

Like Cooper, Dillahunt and Parks received voluminous research material on the Philippine-American War from Sayles. “John’s very thorough. The bio for my character is not necessarily evident in the script, but it makes him more human, more detailed. It encourages you, as an actor, to go further,” said Dillahunt. (…)

Dillahunt regards “Baryo” as “important… on a personal level” because it allows him to work with his heroes, Sayles and Cooper.

“John has assembled a good group … He attracts people who want to do things that they can be proud of. In the end, that also makes me better in my craft. I guess, my motivation’s kinda selfish, really.” [Inquirer.net]