Eugene Domingo now knows what it feels like to be a leading lady.

The lead character of Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme talked about her experiences as a lead star during her press conference yesterday, August 13, at Dolce Latte, Quezon Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City.

"Mahirap pala talaga maging bida!" the talented actress quipped. "Pag ikaw ang bida sa set, siyempre set mo 'yan. Lahat ng dumating na artista, na crew [aasikasuhin mo]. Ako kasi, personally, gusto ko kumportable sila. Para silang bisita na tinanggap mo as bahay mo at hiningan mo ng suporta para sa iyong pelikula.

"Hindi lang sarili ang iniisip mo kasi gusto mong pagbutihan dahil binigyan ka ng malaking opportunity. Iniisip mo rin ang pakiramdam ng tao sa paligid mo. Doble-doble talaga ang ine-exert mong effort. Every day, I thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity to show what I can do best."

Joining Eugene in Kimmy Dora are Dingdong Dantes, Zanjoe Marudo, Baron Geisler, Miriam Quiambao, Ariel Ureta, Gabby Eigenmann, among others.

Aside from that, viewers can also look forward to cameo appearances by Regine Velasquez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Marvin Agustin, Vhong Navarro,  Aiza Seguerra, and the Pop Icons Piolo Pascual, Christian Bautista, Erik Santos, Mark Bautista, and Sam Milby.

DINGDONG DANTES AS CLARK KENT. Did she enjoy working with Dingdong?

"Oo, masarap!" Eugene replied. "Nakita ko nga siya sa dubbing, napaka-charming. Para siyang si Superman! Pero yung hindi pa siya superhero, si Clark Kent.

"Dito, kita mo na open siya na maging versatile actor. Gusto niyang mag-characterize. Hindi lang laging boy-next-door type. Very interesting and ngayon ko lang siya nakita bilang isang trooper. Talagang lalaban sa komedya. Di ba, maganda namang makita ang mga leading man na nakikipaglaro at relaxed?"

Eugene—fondly called Uge in the industry—then went on to give a vivid description of her kissing scene with matinee idol Dingdong.

"Tatlong beses naganap ang kissing scene na ito kasi tatlong anggulo. Sumakit ang labi ko at ang ngipin ko kasi kailangan passionate ang halik, e. Parang dumugo ang ngipin ko, at sabi pa niya, parang nabasa raw ang mukha niya mula sa ilong hanggang sa bibig!" she recounted.

POOL SCENE. But if there's one thing that she is most grateful for, it will be the time her leading man boosted her confidence while they were filming one of the highlights of the movie: the scene where Uge wears a swimsuit while Dingdong is topless in a swimming pool.

"Naku, hiyang-hiya ako, kasi siyempre si Dingdong yung makakasama mo. Nakakahiya talaga, pero tiniis ko na lang sa takot ko sa kanya [pointing to Direk Joyce]! Saka nagtitipid kami sa film, e. Alangan namang magsabi pa ko ng 'Nahihiya ako, Direk!' Sus, trenta'y otso na ako, 'no!" 

Eugene excitedly narrated how her leading man made her feel sexy during this crucial scene. She gave a "kilig" scream, then stood up to demonstrate how the scene went. In this scene, her character Kimmy is seen covered with a towel. Then she opens up the towel to reveal her swimsuit underneath.

"Pinagpapawisan ako nun, pero buti na lang hindi halata. Ang dialogue ko, 'You find me sexy, don't you?' Nung rehearsal, sabi ni Dingdong, 'Yes, very.'"

In the actual movie, Dingdong's character is supposed to say no.

What did she feel when the matinee idol said that he found her sexy?

"Nilagyan ko ng meaning, patong-patong na meaning!" the comedienne shot back. "Diyos ko! Gentleman talaga itong si Dingdong. Nakatulong yun sa eksena na maramdaman ko na sexy ako. Kailangan kasi, si Kimmy, maniwala na sexy siya. It's one of my favorite scenes actually—that pool scene."

OVERANALYSIS. Direk Joyce revealed that Uge has a tendency to over-analyze her character. Uge would often send long text messages to Direk Joyce, detailing how she plans to attack the role.

Direk Joyce would just answer her text by saying, "Opo panginoon," eliciting laughter from the members of the press. 

The director also pointed out, "Si Uge ma-discuss, matanong, pero pag hindi ko na kayang sagutin, tumatalikod na lang ako. Kasi ang haba ng usapan, e. Pero yung mahirap katrabaho, mas gusto ko na yun, kesa yung madaling katrabaho, dumadating nang maaga, pero wala namang magandang ibubuga."

After the press conference, Uge was asked what happened to Direk Wenn Deramas's movie, Demetria, which was supposed to be her launching film.

"Tuloy-tuloy ang diskusyon namin ni Direk Wenn," Uge said. "Yun ang maganda sa friendship namin. Wala kaming mga tampuhan dahil sa trabaho. In fact, mahilig akong humingi ng advice sa kanya. Tinatanong ko siya, 'Kelan natin gagawin yung sa atin?' Sabi naman niya, 'Teka, ginagawa ko pa ito.' Pero gagawa kami ng pelikula together."

SM CINEMA CONTROVERSY. Since Star Cinema is distributing her launching film. Is she worried that her film will be affected by the ongoing rift between the film outfit and SM Cinema?

"I will not deny, medyo may konti akong pag-aalala, pero kami naman ay hiwalay sa isyung yun. Maaayos 'yan, inaasahan kong mapapalabas kami sa mas maraming sinehan dahil ito ay para sa lahat," she answered diplomatically.

She even managed to joke, "Magwawala si Kimmy pag hindi ito naipalabas. Magdadabog yun!"

Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme, produced by Spring Films, will open in cinemas on September 2, 2009.




Courtesy of Spring Films