Claudine Barretto happily told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other media in a press conference this afternoon, August 17, that last Sunday's premiere night of her new movie had been successful. The presscon, held at Annabel's restaurant in Quezon City, was meant to announce the grand opening of In Your Eyes tomorrow, August 18.
Claudine said she is satisfied with how the film turned out. In Your Eyes, co-produced by GMA Films and Viva Films, was directed by Mac Alejandre from a script penned by Keiko Aquino.
"Masaya po ako sa kinalabasan ng buong pelikula," she said. "Meron kaming sinasabi nina Direk, nina Keiko po, at nina Richard at saka ni Anne, na meron ho kaming movie in our minds... Lahat naman ho kami, ito ho yung pinag-agree-han namin. Actually, it even came out better than yung in-expect namin. So, sobrang haping-happy kami dun."
In In Your Eyes, Claudine and Anne Curtis play sisters who are caught in an unexpected love triangle with a guy played by Richard Gutierrez.
The movie features mature performances from the three actors, who had to shoot several kissing scenes and love scenes pertinent to the story.
Claudine, for instance, shot a love scene with Richard. Many of the press people in attendance said the love scene was "steaming" and "wild."
According to the 31-year-old actress, she first found shooting a love scene with Richard, 26, "very awkward."
"Nung una po kasi, talagang awkward," Claudine told the press. "Ang tagal po namin bago naman i-take yung eksenang yun. Hinahanda na namin, pinag-usapan na ni Direk... Pero we prepared, e, we prepared for it."
Several workshops prior to the shooting date helped a lot, Claudine said.
"Even po bago pa nagsimula yung pelikula, nag-workshop na po kami ni Chard para maging comfortable sa isa't isa. Siyempre naman po sa workshop, wala naman po kaming kissing scene na pinraktis, pero alam namin na sa kalagitnaan ng pelikula, talagang isu-shoot nang isu-shoot 'yon. Ang ikinaiba lang po talaga, from yung workshop namin sa beginning, was that, siyempre, medyo nung tumagal na, last day ng shooting po namin kinunan yung love scene na 'yon. So, mas maano na yung bonding namin ni Chard, mas malalim na, at saka ni Anne. Although, may awkwardness pa rin talaga. Nakaka-awkward sa kanya. So siguro, yung mga sumunod na kissing scenes, parang wala na. Parang okay na," she explained.
She added, "Naku, trabaho lang po talaga! And kasi nga ho, parang feeling ho namin lahat, yung sa amin ni Richard, parang sobrang passionate na medyo naging wild na, bilang ilang taon na siyang [Claudine's character] walang boyfriend. At saka to be staying in a place, in a house, with Richard, di ba, nang wala si Anne, e, ganyan ba naman ho ang hitsura, e, ewan ko lang ho kung walang nangyari."
NO RESTRICTIONS. Claudine said her husband Raymart Santiago also watched the movie during last Sunday's premiere night. He did not disapprove of the love scenes, Claudine claimed.
Claudine narrated, "Ako ang nagtatakip sa kanya tapos sigaw ako nang sigaw, e, paos ako. Tinatakpan ko yung mukha niya ng malaking pamaypay. Binababa niya nang binababa. Sabi niya, 'Nanonood ako! Nanonood ako!' Tapos yun nga, after nga nung ini-interview siya, sabi niya nakilig daw siya. Nakalimutan niya raw for a while na asawa niya yung nakikipag-love scene."
She said Raymart did not feel bad about the scenes since he is also an actor.
"Siguro ano, dahil lahat sila, sina Kuya Rowell, Kuya Randy, Kuya Jun, lahat silang magkakapatid, yung mga Santiagos, lahat sila kasi they all grew up sa industry, so I think, um... Meron pa rin yun, hindi mo masasabi na hindi siya nailang or ano, pero automatic na rin yun na given na when you do a movie, may mga hihingin na mga love scene, na mga kising scenes. Naiintindihan naman nila," she said.
Besides, Claudine said she and her husband have an agreement not to restrict each other on the paths that their individual careers will take.
"Actually nung nagpakasal kami, sinabi ko talaga na walang restrictions," she said. "Yun yung sinabi ko. Kasi parang lahat ng nagiging boyfriends ko, parang lahat may restrictions. So talagang, kumbaga, binigyan ko na ng, 'O, 'eto, walang pakialamanan sa ganito.' Kasi hindi naman ako nakikialam kapag siya naman ang meron."
She added, "I do not even tell him kapag nga merong, 'O, bukas magsu-shoot kami ng love scenes,' o ilang love scenes yun. Hindi namin napag-uusapan."
ANNE AND RICHARD. Changing the topic, Claudine talked about the sweetness between her co-stars, Anne and Richard. The two had been a couple, but they broke up.
"Oo, sobrang tinutukso ko sila," Claudine said. "Tapos, wala lang, kasi may kanya-kanya kaming rooms dun. Ang laging tambayan namin, it's either Chard's room o yung sa akin. Pagka sina Richard, pagkatapos ng scene nila, as in natutulog ako, nagtatalunan sila sa kama ko. Minsan naghahabulan. Sabi, 'Ate, Ate! Si Chard, iha-hug niya 'ko.' 'You never begged me to stay,' sabi ni Chard kay Anne. So, talagang... tinawag ko si Direk. Yun na. Cute naman yung sumbatan nila. Cute. Tapos nagpapakuwento ako lagi kung bakit sila nag-break, bakit ganyan. Kung may pag-asa pa maging sila."
Claudine said she even suggested that the two should shoot another love scene.
"Actually, yung sa amin, binrainstorm talaga namin yung sa amin," she said. "Siguro nakita ni Anne yung love scene namin. Sabi ko, 'Chard, Anne, parang kulang yung love scene n'yo.' Paalis na si Richard bukas, papuntang ano nga, Survivor, so hindi ko alam. Tapos si Anne, siyempre ngarag na ngarag na siya kasi meron pa siyang parang 3 a.m. na call time.
"Inupuan namin, tapos sabi namin, 'Kulang talaga, e. Sweetheart, kulang. Anong gagawin natin?' Siyempre naman kay Chard, gusto niya i-reshoot yun, 'no?" Claudine said.
The press asked Claudine if she now knows a lot about Anne and Richard's budding relationship.
"Oo," she replied promptly. "Ako ang may pinakamaraming alam."