Photo by Joseph R. Atilano
A movie can sometimes have a direct emotional effect on the actor and actress in it. There will be moments that the actor and actress can truly understand, feel, and relate with the onscreen characters they are playing in the movie. And this is what I feel happened with the two main cast members of ‘Cuddle Weather’ Sue Ramirez and RK Bagatsing. They developed a genuine empathy with the real life people they portrayed in this movie who happened to be prostitutes.
That empathy they carried with them, I feel, will lend much credibility to their roles in ‘Cuddle Weather’. I could glean in their eyes when I was interviewing them that this movie touched them on a more personal level. For Sue Ramirez and RK Bagatsing they are lending a “voice” to those who have none or who are silenced against their will. Indeed, prostitutes are people too and oftentimes they are victims of circumstances beyond their control.
Now, on a lighter note you have heard the buzz that surrounds ‘Cuddle Weather’. But do you know how hard and committed Sue Ramirez and RK Bagatsing prepared for their respective roles in this movie ? What do you think is the message they hope moviegoers will get after they watch ‘Cuddle Weather’ beginning on September 13, 2019 ?
Photo by Joseph R. Atilano
Here below are the answers of Sue Ramirez and RK Bagatsing to my questions:
1. How did you prepare yourselves emotionally and mentally for your roles in ‘Cuddle Weather’?
SUE RAMIREZ: We had to do immersion. Nakipag-usap talaga kami sa mga tao na ganun yung line of work nila. It was a big help para sa amin na nakakilala kami ng mga ganun klase na tao.
Kasi mas nakita naman ang puso. So nagkaroon ng puso din sila kasi nakilala namin. So malaking tulong talaga na may nakausap namin sila. We also did workshops. Tinanong kami kung ano ang comfortability level namin at hanggang saan mo kaya. So that is very important when you are working on a set. Kasi at least sa umpisa pa lang nasabi mo na lahat ng concerns mo, lahat ng kaya mo at hindi mo kaya gawin. So pagdating mo sa trabaho wala ka na iisipin.
RK BAGATSING: Siguro parehas din. Kasi magkasabay kami ng journey before we started the movie. Nag work shop kami together. May mga na interview din kami. Nagkaroon kami ng immersion din. And I think pinaka tulong sa akin may na interview kami na escort. At kinuwento niya ang buhay niya. And as an actor siyempre pag pinadalahan ka ng script, words pa lang yan, di ba ! Eh, kailangan mo ang kuwento nung buhay nila, so for that to happen you must be able to understand ang pinagdadaanan nila. So it was good for us nag kuwento mga kinausap namin. At nag open up sila sa mga pinagdadaan nila and in that way, as actors, we were able to relate where they are coming from.
2. What do you hope will the message moviegoers will get after watching ‘Cuddle Weather’?
SUE RAMIREZ: Number 1, it is not to judge people quickly. We don’t know what each and everyone one of us are going through, so huwag na tayo dumagdag kung ano man problema iniisip nung tao.
And secondly, yun nga the change na sinasabi ko. Change can only come from within. You cannot expect it from anybody else, you cannot point your fingers. Hindi ka puwede manisi ng ibang tao dahil kung gusto mo nang pagbabago, ikaw mismo gagawa nun para sa sarili mo. And you cannot blame anyone for that.
RK BAGATSING: Message ko lang sana, enjoy niyo yung movie as it is. On a lighter note, it is a rom-com. We are here to make you feel good, make you feel better, and pakiligin. Mas marami siya elements kaysa sa sex lang. So you have to look into those things when you watch it. Again, you have to be open-minded when you go watch the movie. Enjoy the movie!