Japanese/Hollywood actor Yuki Matsuzaki nakipaglandian kay Eugene Domingo

MANILA, Philippines - Nagustuhan ng Japanese/Hollywood actor na si Yuki Matsuzaki ang script at role niya sa Cinemalaya indie movie ni Eugene Domingo kaya naman hindi na niya pinahirapan pa ang producer na si Attorney Joji Alonso at director na si Leo Abaya para tanggapin ang role. Sinabihan din niya ang kanyang manager na huwag nang makipag-negotiate sa producer tungkol sa conditions niya lalo na pagdating sa talent fee niya sa sampung araw na shooting.

Kaya naman nang hilingan si Yuki ni Atty. Joji na bumalik ng bansa upang tumulong sa promotions ng movie, kahit kasagsagan ng habagat na dala ni Maring, dumating siya sa bansa nung Huwebes nang madaling-araw upang dumalo sa presscon ng movie.

Naging instant hit si Yuki sa press dahil walang bawal na tanong. Hindi bawal magpakuha ng pictures and, most of all, wala siyang masyadong bodyguards na bantay! To think na nakasama na siya sa foreign films na The Last Samurai, Letters From Iwo Jima, The Pink Panther 2, at sa Pirates of the Caribbean, huh! May guest role rin siya sa HBO series na The Newsroom.

Bukod sa landian nila ni Eugene sa presscon, ibi­nahagi ni Yuki ang karanasan niya sa pagtatrabaho ng Pinoy movie.

 â€œI was expecting a totally different experience. But there was so much difficulty in communicating with everyone else. But it was almost an easy American indie film. Everyone was talking to me in English and they taught me some Tagalog. Only Eugene was teaching me some bad words which I can’t say over here.

 â€œBut everyone was so friendly and working environment is extremely comfortable,” pahayag ni Yuki.

Bumilib din siya sa director na si Leo Abaya sa unang directorial job nito.

“I couldn’t believe I, actually! I couldn’t believe he was so confident. Leo knows what he wants. (At) The same time, he is open for new ideas. In one scene where I was seated with Uge, I started to say some naughty words. That was when me and Leo came up on the set.

“I told him I wanna say all the naughty words Uge’s character taught me before that scene. He told me this one extreme naughty word and, okay, I’ll say that.

“Right before I say it, he came to me and said, ‘You cannot say it! It would change the rating.’ So, I toned it down.

 â€œThis set reminded me of Letters from Iwo Jima. Because Leo was shooting very few takes. Clint Eastwood is known for taking one or zero take. But Leo was almost like that! I think most of my scenes with Uge were shot in one or two takes,” tsika ng Japanese actor.

Nag-alala nga si Uge nang magsimula sa shooting ni Yuki. Magulo kasi kumbaga ang buong location. Pero hindi naging problema kay Yuki ang lugar.

 â€œIt was extremely hot, yes. But with a crew working hard and you know, as an actor, didn’t wanna bother them working. I just stay calm and it didn’t bother me much because the set is always hot actually,” nakangiting katuwiran niya.

Inaabot nang madaling araw sa shooting ang Hapon pero wala itong reklamo sa paghihintay, ayon kay Uge. Pero hindi ito ang unang pagbisita ng aktor sa bansa.

“I came to the Philippines when I was fourteen years old. I had a friend here. I stayed with my friends for few days. But that was long time ago. Everything felt different.

 â€œI don’t remember vividly but I felt different. I felt I found the Philippines extremely a modern city. When I went to the mall here I feel like I was in Los Angeles!

 â€œMay I talk about Japanese? I was surprised on Uge’s… I couldn’t believe she learned those Japanese by listening. She had a coach? Her lines were totally convincing. I’ve never heard anyone…Hollywood actors prove that out. It so difficult for them but she did it!” paghanga pa ni Yuki.

Nang tanungin namin ang bad words na tinuro sa kanya ni Uge, walang malisyang sinabi ni Yuki ang salitang kan____, huh!

“Am I allowed to say those? Hahaha! First, me and Leo’s first idea was… Gusto ko, kan____! And Direk Leo came back and said to me, ‘You don’t say that! The rating of the film…” tugon ni Yuki.

“Hindi ako! I did not teach you that. Hindi ko nga alam kung ano ba ’yon?” depensa si Uge with matching maang-maangan.

“The ones she taught me was…Whenever I don’t have anything, if I don’t have it, just say waley and if I get something, I should say havey!

“And in fact… and If I see something beautiful, I should say bongga! And what else? And if I am kidding, I would say, echos! Echosa! That goes on with the words,” diin ni Yuki na ikinahagalpak ng lahat ng press.

Bago bumalik sa Hollywood si Yuki, isang blowout na bakasyon sa Misibis Bay ang handog ni Atty. Joji sa kanya.