Jodi Sta. Maria and Elijah Canlas. Scene from “Edjop” —CONTRIBUTED photograph
Actor Elijah Canlas has admitted that he was initially provided to do solely two scenes within the biopic “Edjop,” however since he beloved the mission a lot, he pleaded to its director Katski Flores to present him the lead function as an alternative.
“Initially, I obtained provided to play the younger Edjop (the late labor rights activist Edgar Jopson), whom I discovered about in highschool. After I learn the script, I texted Direk to say, ‘Can I play the outdated Edjop, too? I do know I look younger, however I’ll work on it. I’ll attempt to age.’ On the time, they turned me down. I assume they have been having a tough time casting somebody as a result of it’s a really controversial mission, and, I assume, harmful for some, that they finally instructed me to do a display screen take a look at,” he recalled.
“I confirmed up—this was round November 2023—did my make-up and did a scene. The producer, Ms Joyette (Jopson, Edjop’s daughter) got here in, too. They stated she cried after watching me do the scene, and they also stated, ‘Sport! You’re doing it!’ The work began there,” he instructed Inquirer Leisure in an interview.
Daughter’s story
Elijah stated that whereas it is a story about Edjop, it’s about his daughter, as properly. Joyette will probably be performed by Jodi Sta. Maria. “So technically, Ms Jodi is my daughter within the film. That is loopy, however I’m simply so honored,” Elijah stated, laughing. “That is based mostly on a real story, and Edjop was assassinated. The query right here is whether or not or not I’ll have a scene together with her. That’s actually all I can say about it.”
Elijah then recalled the time he first spoke with Jodi concerning the mission. “Her present ‘100 Days to Heaven’ is the one teleserye I watched after I was younger. One time, we each attended Gawad Tanglaw and sat subsequent to one another. I instructed her, ‘I’m enjoying your father, by the best way,’” Elijah recalled.
“She stated, ‘Sure, I heard. I’m so excited. When will we begin working collectively?’ We then began to speak about the entire mission. I’m so honored to be working together with her as a result of I understand how proficient of an actress and the way good of an individual she is. I can’t wait to see the ultimate product, truthfully. It’s a giant movie and we wish to get it proper,” he added.
‘Important tasks’
Elijah stated he desires to be recognized for engaged on tasks like this one. “Important tasks like this excite me. They problem me and align with my rules as an individual. That’s why I dedicated to this as quickly as I learn the script,” he identified.
“I don’t know what it might present to folks about me as an artist. I’m simply making an attempt to justify Edjop’s life and story in one of the simplest ways I can. The character is completely different from all the things I’ve portrayed to this point. He’s the second character I’ve performed based mostly on an actual particular person. The primary one was Paciano Rizal for ‘GomBurZa.’”
As a part of his analysis, Elijah stated he learn Benjamin Tolentino’s “U.G. An Underground Story: The Journey of Edgar Jopson and the First Quarter Storm Technology.”
“I’m having fun with the method,” stated Elijah in relation to how he’s creating his character. “However on the similar time, I really feel a lot strain as a result of I understand how a lot Edjop as an individual means to our producer, Ms Joyette, and to the Filipino folks, in addition to to the opposition. I hope folks get loads of classes from this with regard to household, love for one’s nation, and love for one’s religion. The movie is like that in essence. It’s a superbly written story.” INQ