Eugene Domingo ‘still learning’ after 3 decades in showbiz
The Eugene Domingo starrer Ten Little Mistresses is currently No. 1 on Amazon Prime Video.
The First Filipino Amazon Original movie is the latest offering of the Idea First Company’s Jun Robles Lana (director) and Perci Intalan (producer), the duo behind commercially successful and critically-acclaimed movies such as Big Night, Panti Sisters, Born Beautiful, Die Beautiful, Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes, Bwakaw, Barber’s Tales and Kalel 15. Prime Video earlier announced that it will stream worldwide in more than 240 countries and territories starting Feb. 15.
The murder-mystery comedy tells the story of Filipino widowed billionaire Valentin Esposo (John Arcilla) and his 10 mistresses who will exhaust all means and ways to assume as the next legal wife. Eugene is the trusted mayordoma Lilith who runs the household like clockwork, including serving and managing the multiple mistresses when they all come together under one roof. However, when Valentin mysteriously ends up dead, they all become prime suspects. Ten Little Mistresses also stars Carmi Martin, Pokwang, Agot Isidro, Iana Bernardez, Donna Cariaga, Sharlene San Pedro, Kris Bernal, Christian Bables, Adrianna So and Kate Alejandrino.
As envisioned by direk Jun as “the mistress movie to end all mistress movies,” Ten Little Mistresses is irreverent, outrageous, uproarious, campy, right off the bat. It’s Eugene who sets the tone in the opening scene, where her blue-eyed Lilith character peeks out from the mansion’s window, before leading a musical number to the tune of Sampung Mga Daliri, and conducting the rest of the house staff like a choir.
It’s easily one of the standout scenes in the film and it let the comedienne live out her “frustrated musical star” dreams.
“Very Bollywood, ‘di ba?” quipped Eugene in a one-on-one interview with The STAR on the day of the streaming release, Feb. 15, wherein it quickly took the top spot among most-watched content by Filipino subscribers of the platform.
“We filmed that repeatedly as we tried to cover everything and it was so detailed. Naka-heels kami lahat tapos hagdanan. Hirap din ako sa tuhod, tapos may lyrics, may pa-choreograph. You really have to be conscious, you really have to be skillful here and I cannot be tired. If you show that you’re tired or ayoko na, lahat nakaka-affect, and I want to — mahirap sabihin ‘to hahaha — show the younger ones na dyusko, kung ako nga G na G (game na game), kayo din,” she said.
“It was the base (theme) music for the whole film. And then, I felt like Cate Blanchett in TAR, parang conductor. Yes, nakakabitin! But if I heard it right, maybe in the future, if direk Jun would direct a full-length musical, I won’t be surprised.”
Interestingly, it was the dialogue-less, closeup scene before that musical number that proved to be more challenging to film. It took the 30-year comedic veteran 12 takes to nail it.
“This is the first sequence of Lilith. You would think that you just open the curtains and look out, no. Parang naka-take 12 ako hahaha! Direk Jun was not satisfied with my first, second and third take, oh my god!” she shared.
“He was like, ‘Euge, I want you to feel excited at the same time worried. And think deeply of what you are supposed to feel in that moment.’ Oh my god, paano ba yun? Pinaka-mahirap kasi ang walang dialogue, tapos blue eyes pa ako, nag-da-dry. So, I had a lot of concerns. This is very technical but what I’m trying to say is that direk Jun is very clear with his directions… and he will not stop until you give it because it is needed.”
As for Lilith’s blue eyes, it wasn’t just any minor detail incorporated into her character. Eugene had to test seven different shades of blue before they settled on the contact lenses she would use in the film, the color of which was as blue as superhero Thor’s eyes.
But whenever she would put it on, “automatically, I felt like Lilith was inside me. Because of the blue eyes, nasa lines yun ni (co-star) Donna Cariaga, ‘Wala talagang nakakaligtas sa blue eyes mo.’ It has a super power hahaha! It’s very perceptive. It’s a cute element that direk Jun added and I really enjoyed it. Yun palang, ang camp na!”
Interestingly, when it came to details and requirements of her roles, her approach nowadays is to fully trust the director and the script. This is because Eugene, whose first-ever film appearance was in the 1991 drama Emma Salazar Case, has since “changed” as an actress and comedian.
“I’m very dependent on everybody on the set — (it’s all about) dependence and respect. Because you can’t dictate this or that. I’ve done that. I’ve done all kinds of how to do this job. But all throughout, I’m very committed. But I have changed,” she shared.
“Before I was too serious, even in comedy, and with too much preparation and planning, (which could result in) frustration. And with frustration, you become lonely, you try to play yourself for everything… and it ruins things. So as an actor, after all these years, I learned to trust. Trust everybody because they are thinking for you and they got you because they believe you can deliver as an actress.”
Direk Jun has previously tapped the actress in movies like Big Night and Barber’s Tales, which was Eugene’s last lead role in a drama film.
“I always say to direk Jun, you always create new things for me and I like that. I don’t even have to think for myself. They’re all thinking of the details. Imagine all of us, including the 10 queridas, plus John Arcilla, Donna Cariaga and with the special participation of Cherry Pie Picache, lahat sila inisip yung look, the costumes, the details. So, if you get to be invited by Jun Lana, ‘wag ka na masyadong mag-isip. Just memorize your lines and follow the directions.”
Meanwhile, Ten Little Mistresses wasn’t all fun, camp and irreverence though.
There’s a scene in the latter part where everyone is present in one frame. After scene after scene of the mistresses trying to outdo and upstage each other, with outrageous costumes and all, this particular scene shows them stripping down the excesses, and seemingly looking one and the same. It drives home the message of self-love, being true to who you are, and the power of women coming together.
Talking more about this scene, Eugene said, “I’m so touched by the scene, where all of us admit our faults and we forgive each other. Forgiveness as much as loving — it’s strong, both feelings, and it really enriches the relationship. And if you forgive it means, there’s love.”
“It’s a scene where the women admitted to themselves this is not right, so we should not be silent. And these things that we put in our bodies… this is not us. We’re just trying to impress someone, but it’s not who we are… There’s real beauty in you by simply being you,” she added.
Worth-noting as well is that Ten Little Mistresses had Eugene acting alongside a newer generation of actresses and comediennes. She poked fun at being addressed as a veteran along with Pokwang, Agot Isidro, Carmi Martin during the presscon. But the younger cast members made it no secret how much they idolized their “seniors” in the industry, like Donna who gushed with admiration and appreciation for Eugene.
“Nagulat ako na ganun na. Kumbaga, oh my god, it’s our turn. We are the veterans now hahaha. Because in my mind and in my heart, I’m still trying to do something. I’m not like, OK, veteran. No, I’m not. I’m still learning to do other things. I’m still on the path of that — learning. It’s just that nauna lang ako ng medyo madami-daming taon. Pero, ay ganito pala, ako na pala hahaha!”
Eugene is careful to dish out advice as she readily acknowledges that she belongs to another generation and time. “Their generation is also different. What advice can we give them if we’re really not the same – in terms of working conditions and environments?” she admitted.
Nevertheless, whenever asked about how to achieve career longevity, her honest tip for them is to become a good teammate.
“Make sure you are a likable person at work and you’re very professional so that people will always be excited to work with you. That’s longevity for me — yung magaling ka talaga makisama and you deliver the goods very well so that producers will be happy, ‘Ah, you get her, she’s very reliable.’ So hindi mauubos, laging may happening in your life as an artista.
“And please to the younger ones, once you have the money, the connections, the influence, please don’t do drugs. Please don’t destroy yourself. Because sometimes, it’s not always happy, sometimes you’re frustrated and sad, or you feel something is lacking. Just don’t do drugs. Just take a break and pray.”
Lending full support to Eugene from shoot to the blue-carpet gala premiere and presscon was her significant other, Italian movie critic Danilo Bottoni. Incidentally, Eugene first met him when direk Jun’s Barber’s Tales was screened at the Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy, where it won Third Place-Audience Award, back in 2014.
Eugene got the audience cheering when she acknowledged Danilo in the audience. She shared that while he was used to festivals and premieres abroad as a film buff and critic, he got shy during his loved one’s Manila film premiere.
“Sabi ko, ‘Babe, why didn’t you ask a question?’ He said he was shy. Then afterwards, when we were home, he said, ‘I had a question.’ I said, ‘That’s a good question, why didn’t you ask that?’ His question was — I will share it with you — in the last scene where the girls remove their hats or their headdresses, what’s the significance of that?” Eugene recalled.
“Ano sagot ko? Wala. Hinalikan ko lang siya! Hahaha!”
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