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Elijah Canlas admits he was hesitant about accepting his role in ‘High Street’

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Elijah Canlas, known for his versatile roles in various film and television series, recently sat down with Ogie Diaz for an interview.Elijah opened up about his unique approach to acting, the challenges he faces, his mental health, and his dedication to portraying different characters authentically.Elijah discussed his experience working on the popular show <a href="http://ent.abs-cbn.com/batangquiapo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FPJ’s Batang Quiapo</a>.He shared, &quot;Ibang klase yung pagpeprepare sa Batang Quiapo. Minsan walang script, minsan on the day itself mo na malalaman kung anong takbo ng kwento ng character mo or anong gagawin mo for the day, so nakakakaba.&quot;Emphasizing the importance of preparation, Elijah said, “Sinasabi lang po sa’min na ‘kailangan may pagkakapitan ‘yung audience sa character na gagawin mo.’ Tapos ako na yung gumawa ng character, so binubuo ko po siya para buo siyang tao. Tapos madali nalang siya balikan kasi na-prepare eh. It’s all about the preparation talaga.”For Elijah, preparation is key to creating relatable and believable characters.When the project High Street was pitched to him, Elijah was initially hesitant. “Never pa po ako nagsabay pala ng project, ha,” he admitted, noting that he had always focused on one role at a time to maintain his sanity.However, director Erick Salud reassured him that knowing his characters well would make it easier. Elijah found comfort in this advice and eventually adapted to juggling multiple roles.Currently, Elijah is working on Edjop the Movie, which is based on the life of martial law martyr and activist Edjop.“Nagbasa ako ng biography niya, dahil nga totoong tao siya, marami akong natatanong about him, ano siyang klaseng tao, paano siya magsalita, may mga voice recording, may mga picture, kikilalanin mo lang talaga siya,” he explained.Reflecting on his career, Elijah shared, “It’s all about the preparation. Hindi pwedeng humarap ka sa camera tapos papaganda ka lang, papapogi ka lang. Papa-cute ka lang. Mamemorize mo ‘yung lines mo, hindi po sapat ‘yun eh. Kailangan nagpeprepare ka tapos binubuo mo yung pagkatao nila.”Despite the challenges, Elijah finds joy in acting. “Nagsimula ako sa teatro. Hanggang ngayon, gumagawa ako ng mga indie, art films na alam naman ng karamihan na hindi talaga siya beneficial financially pero naeenjoy ko po talaga siya. Ako, I’m having the most fun when I act,” he revealed.Elijah also opened up about his mental health. “Hindi ko masyado pa din talaga nauupuan, napag-iisipan. Bago ako magsimula sa Batang Quiapo, I was regularly seeing a psychiatrist, dahil nga when my brother passed away last year. Kinailangan namin ng pamilya.”He continued, “It’s something na we’ve never really experienced, this amount of grief. Hindi namin alam kung paano siya i-process.” Despite his busy schedule, Elijah is grateful for the work that keeps him occupied.Now balancing multiple projects, Elijah expressed gratitude for the opportunities. “Ngayon na nagsasabay ako ng mga projects, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be naman. Masaya na nabi-busy lalo na ngayon na marami ding mga kaganapan sa buhay. Grateful lang po talaga ako sa opportunity na ibinibigay sakin lagi.”Throughout the interview, Elijah also touched on personal aspects of his life, including being mistaken for being part of the LGBTQ+ community, and the recent passing of his brother.Watch the full interview here:<div><iframe width="1349" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UgujJEi-lr8" title="Elijah Canlas, bakit nga ba sinisisi ang sarili sa nangyari sa kapatid?| Ogie Diaz" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div> </div>— By Samantha Prats

Elijah Canlas opens up about his career, mental health, and challenges in an interview with Ogie Diaz.

Elijah Canlas opens up about his career, mental health, and challenges in an interview with Ogie Diaz.