EXCLUSIVE: Becoming ‘Ria:’ Nour Hooshmand’s underground punk awakening 

Inside her transformative journey into “Ria,” captured on Hooshmand’s own phone for radar.

Nour Hooshmand was on the verge of giving up on acting when an unexpected audition led her to the title role in Arvin Belarmino’s “Ria.”

At the time, Hooshmand was struggling to book acting jobs as an independent artist. She had deliberately chosen not to sign with a talent management agency because she wanted to have a say in the projects she took on.

“Ang hirap magbook ng jobs, lalo na sa mainstream kasi occupied ‘yan ng mga commercial actors, ‘yong may management,” she admitted in this exclusive radar Entertainment interview. “Ayaw ko rin mag-sign kasi gusto ko paring mapili ang mga gagawin ko. So hirap na hirap ako noong time na ‘yon.”

It was during that difficult period that she came across an audition for Belarmino’s project. She was not even supposed to go, because she was sick on the day of the casting. “Pero na-feel ko lang na, sige, try natin,” she recalled.

During the process, Belarmino asked her to improvise a scene. She had also received personal news that day, giving her an unexpected emotional weight to draw from. “I think binigyan ako ng Universe ng baggage para mas lalo akong maintindihan ang character,” she recalled.

Hooshmand eventually broke down during the improvisation. “Dine-describe pa lang ni Direk ang scenario, naiiyak na ako.”

The performance left a lasting impression, and Belarmino soon offered her the lead role. The casting became a major turning point for the indie actor. Giving radar.PH readers an intimate, front-row seat to this transformation, the photos featured throughout this story come straight from Hooshmand’s personal phone gallery, offering a raw look into her world.

Finding Ria through immersion

Taking on “Ria” required more than acting out a script. Belarmino brought Hooshmand directly into the punk community that inspired the film, allowing her to experience the world she would portray.

“Hindi kasi siya pwedeng basahin lang o manood lang ako ng movies. Kailangan ko maintindihan kung paano talaga gumagalaw ang mga tao sa mundong ‘yon,” she said.

The preparation included forming a band called Karnal, performing at gigs, and participating in Food Not Bombs activities. What began as preparation became a genuine experience for Hooshmand. “‘Pag naiintindihan mo na kung paano sila, ako personally, nakita ko na mabubuti talaga silang tao,” she said.

She also gained a deeper understanding beyond stereotypes: “Hindi sila nambububog. Meron kasing music. Malaking factor din talaga ang community, mayroon silang space to express lahat ng galit nila sa sistema.”

Seeking to portray Ria with authentic sensitivity, Hooshmand even prayed to deceased members of the punk community: “So I asked na tulungan nila ako, na maintindihan ko, mabigyan ko ng justice, na maitulay ko ‘yong kwento nila.”

A decade in the making

“Ria” was ten years in the making for Belarmino, drawing from his ties to the scene. Dealing with harsh realities like demolition and displacement made the film hard to fund, adding weight to his feature debut.

“Nandoon ang kaba dahil high expectations ng maraming tao,” Hooshmand said. “Grabe si Direk, puso kung puso. Kahit sobrang daming struggles. Kumapit lang ako sa energy and dedication niya.”

Beyond the grueling schedule, the journey carried immense personal grief for the actress. “My father died while we were shooting Ria. It was a very challenging time for me. But I dedicate my performance to him. I feel like what’s happening to me now is because he’s watching over me and wants me to succeed.”

Shot over a year amid delays, the film is set to premiere at the 31st Busan International Film Festival in South Korea. Having seen only the trailer, Hooshmand was brought to tears: “Naiyak ako kasi naalala ko lahat ng pinaghirapan namin.”

For an actor who once wondered whether her career was going anywhere, the journey feels almost as meaningful as the destination.

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