Jeffrey Hidalgo tries hand at directing erotic films

Former singer-actor-turned-filmmaker Jeffrey Hidalgo has embarked on another milestone in his career, which is, directing a sexy film under Viva Films. The upcoming erotic-drama Eva is just the beginning of the lined-up projects he has with Viva.

“I really love the genre,” admitted Jeffrey during the digital media conference, “Lou Gopez, my manager and producer of this film, we’ve been talking about this in the past years. Even before she became a manager, we were both fascinated with the genre.”

Showbiz newbie Angeli Khang (left) topbills the erotic drama Eva.

“We really want to, in a way, elevate that genre. Hopefully, it starts with Eva. Sana magustuhan din ng mga manonood and (the) press,” he added.

Jeffrey is best-known as one of the original members of the iconic band Smokey Mountain. He pursued a solo career after his stint in the band and tried acting. In 2009, he took filmmaking courses at the New York Film Academy in Abu Dhabi. He directed the suspense thriller movie, Silong (2015), and social satire comedy, General Admission (2019). He would also helm TV shows and soap operas from time to time. He had two nominations from FAMAS awards and Star Award for movies.

His latest venture into erotic films is somewhat unexpected as pointed out by the media during the virtual call. “Nag-start ako sa industry as a singer and then eventually, I got into acting. But my passion now is directing and making films and content. Thankfully, sa pag-sign ko sa Viva, hindi naman po nila ako pinapapili, hinayaan nila ako na gawin ang lahat ng ‘to. Please also watch out for music-related projects that they have for me.”

Directing Eva is what he would consider the highlight of his decade-long career in show business. “I guess making movies (is the best part of my profession). Feeling ko kasi as a director, you really feel fulfilled whenever you create a movie because in a way, it’s all your own,” he told The STAR.

He furthered, “Ang difference kasi sa TV, you really just have to please your producers, executive producers and program managers because they are the bosses. ‘Pag dating sa advertising, client is king. ‘Pag sa pelikula talaga, it becomes your playground. Kumbaga kung ano yung output mo, it’s really your name na nakasalalay dun sa final product.”

The “pinnacle” of his career as a director is making movies and he hopes to make more soon with Viva, his “new family.”

As he shifted to directing, he didn’t make any major adjustments because he was an actor before and “that’s why I think I’m very effective as an actor’s director.”

He was able to apply the learnings that he had as an actor to his filmmaking craft now. “As my cast (members) shared (during the press conference) with everyone else, alagang-alaga ko sila because I know the feeling. I’ve been in their shoes before. Natuwa ako na ganun yung feeling nila because that’s how I want them to feel when they work with me. Yun yung mga adjustments.”

“Ina-apply ko yung mga lahat ng natutunan ko as an actor sa pag-di-direct ko ngayon. Kasi siyempre kung ano yung dati na hinihintay ko from my director, yun yung pinapa-feel ko sa mga artista ko ngayon. I hope it’s effective. I want my actors to work with me again,” he told The STAR.

Jeffrey’s latest offering Eva is about a young housemaid, played by newbie Angeli Khang (lead star in Mahjong Nights), who is “sexually curious and is willing to try anything to explore and satisfy her libido.”

As per synopsis, Eva finds herself, one night, in a threesome with her boss, Victoria (Sab Aggabao), and Lauro (Marco Gomez), a neighbor’s houseboy who she often has sexual encounters with. This one careless night leads Eva to have confusions about her feelings and makes her choose between Victoria and Lauro.

Eva must be the “bravest of all the Vivamax erotic films because it’s really primarily about sex,” acknowledged Jeffrey.

Unlike other steamy movies of Vivamax, where “sex is just a side note,” Eva is “really about sex” and “based on real accounts.”

“I think it’s about time that we talk about it (sex),” said Jeffrey. “Feeling ko din naman ngayon, mas nagiging open na ang mga Filipinos about sexual content on streaming platforms, mas pwede na siyang pag-usapan. Hindi kagaya before na medyo parang taboo yung dating sa kanya.”

“Our group, gusto talaga namin mangahas at pag-usapan yung ganung topic and talagang mag-delve into the psychology of sex. As what I’ve said earlier, Eva is about the sexual politics of Eva,” he added.

So, expect a more daring and bold flicks from Jeffrey, “We are actually creating some kind of a universe. May characters na tatawid from this film to the next other films. Abangan na lang nila lahat. Ang tema namin lahat is erotic. It’s a whole erotic universe that we are creating.”

Interestingly, the playdate of Eva is on Dec. 24, a day before Christmas. “We’re giving everyone an alternative Christmas (laughs). Christmas Eva ang Christmas Eve. I think ang slant is papainitin namin ang inyong mga pasko,” teased Jeffrey.