Eugene Domingo wants Pinoy moviegoers to appreciate black comedy

Rhea Manila Santos

<div><img src='' alt='071713-eugene_main.jpg' width='305' height='290' align='left' border='0'>After starring in blockbuster hits like <i>Kimmy Dora</i> and <i>Ang Babae sa Septic Tank</i>, Eugene Domingo has proven how versatile she really is as an actress. This year, she tries a different kind of movie genre in <i>Tuhog</i> which she admits is outside her comfort zone. “<i>Mahirap ang</i> black comedy. The comedy here is you see the situation, you think it's painful, you think it's funny but then why is it funny? Why am I laughing? <i>Bakit nakakatawa yung sitwasyon?</i> The situation is painfully funny. <i>Sa totoo lang</i>, the promo of Skylight and Star Cinema are trying their best on how to really encourage people to understand black comedy. What the hell is black comedy? <i>Ang hirap di ba?</i> But maybe with <i>Direk </i>Ronnie Velasco's vision and how she attacked the film, <i>sana sana talaga ma</i>-apreciate. <i>Sa konting pag-asa, konting pagtitiwala, bagong putahe </i>because we are trying our best <i>na pumantay sa</i> Asian cinema<i> kung saan na papunta</i> most of the countries <i>na talagang nag-de</i>-develop <i>na ng kanilang</i> craft<i> sa</i> filmmaking,” she explained.</div><div><br/></div><div>Eugene or “Uge,” as she is fondly called in the industry, said she is not worried that the local audience will have a hard time understanding this less popular form of comedy. “<i>Hindi naman sa hindi maka</i>-gets, once you’re inside the movie house and <i>naka</i>-commit<i> ka na sa panunuod</i>, you will understand. <i>Ang sa akin lang, hinihikayat ko unang-una pumask po kayo sa sine, manuod kayo</i>. Give it a chance<i> tapos</i> once you’re inside the cinema and you’re watching and you’re involved already, you will appreciate <i>na yan pala ang isang tipo ng</i> comedy. <i>Isang klaseng sitwasyon na sa totoo lang ay hindi naman nakakatawa pero bakit ako natatawa?</i>” she said.</div><div><br/></div><div>The talented comedienne plays the role of 40-year-old virgin Fiesta who has grown to be loveless and bitter about life. Her character's routine involves working hard as a bus conductor by day and a loving daughter to her aged father at night. But all that changes when she meets and falls for new bus driver Nato, played by Jake Cuenca. “<i>Ibenta na lang natin yung pelikula tungkol sa simpleng storya yung </i>character <i>ko na isang babae, simpleng </i>story,<i> simpleng itsura, simple lang ang pangarap, tumutulong sa pamilya, tumutulong sa ama, binuksan ang puso para magmahal. Nagkaroon ng pag-asang mabuhay. Ganun na lang po</i>,” she added.</div><div><br/></div><div>During the making of the <i>Tuhog</i>, Uge said that the most challenging scenes were the ones they shot for three whole days inside a public non-aircon bus. “<i>Ang napakahirap gawin bilang artista yung isang araw, isang tanghali, payapa tapos sasabihin sayo ngayon na na magmamaneho ka ng</i> bus. <i>Ngayon ko lang napatunayan ang kasabihan na ang babaeng hindi natutumba, dating konduktora </i>(laughs).<i> Nakailang gasgas, bukol, tumba, hampas ang nangyari sa akin sa pagmamaneho ni </i>Jake Cuenca <i>ng</i> bus <i>sa kahabaan ng </i>Commonwealth.<i> Wala kaming </i>choice <i>kasi naniniwala kami sa bagong maihahatid ng pelikula.</i> To tell you honestly, we are really having a hard time of how to sell this movie, realizing that most of the viewers now would want to watch a movie <i>na hindi masyado mag-iisip di ba?</i> This is really painful.<i> Kasi ako man, kung buong araw akong nag-iisip ng ipapakain ko sa mga anak ko, kung saan ako kukuha ng pera, bakit ako manunuod ng pelikulang mag-isip na naman ako?</i> But then again we would like to encourage more and more people to trust <i>na kung ano man yung hinahangaan nating pelikula sa </i>Hollywood<i> ay kaya na din natin ibigay,</i>” she admitted.</div><div><br/></div><div>Another particularly difficult scene they shot was the hospital scene after the big accident where Uge gets skewered (hence the title Tuhog) along with co-stars Enchong Dee and Leo Martinez. “<i>Ang isa ko pang pinagdasal noon ay sana magawa namin ng mabilis kasi kapos na sa oras. Yung mismong nakatuhog kami sa ospital hindi rin madali yun. Hindi lang pala yun </i>tracking <i>yung eksena sa </i>Commonwealth<i> ang mahirap, kasi mahirap din yung tinuhog kami kasi isang tubo yan na pinasok sa amin. Wala na talagang</i> special effects,<i> binutas talaga kami </i>(laughs). <i>Yung</i> commitment<i> nung artista,</i>” she joked.</div><div><br/></div><div>Catch Tuhog as it opens in theaters nationwide starting July 17. For more Kapamilya updates, log on daily to <a href=''>Push.com.ph</a> and follow <a href='https://twitter.com/Push_Mina'>Push_Mina</a> on Twitter.</div>

Eugene Domingo talks about the many challenging scenes she did in Skylight Films' newest project, 'Tuhog.'

Eugene Domingo wants Pinoy moviegoers to appreciate black comedy | PUSH.COM.PH