ELIJAH Canlas gained acclaim for his performances in “Kalel” and “Game Boys 1 and 2.” He now plays the most challenging role in his entire career in “Livescream” as Exo (for Exodus), a vlogger who is abducted and tortured by a mysterious person. Directed by Perci Intalan, the film opens with a scene that Elijah has not done before: a nude love scene in a bathtub with alluring Vivamax vixen Kat Dovey.
‘On a scale of 1 to 10, it has to be an 11. Ganun siya kahirap gawin. — Elijah Canlas’
“Livescream” will remind you of torture porn thrillers as the “Saw” series, “Hostel” and “Escape Room,” where the captives are sadistically tormented by their merciless captors. Elijah as Exo wakes up inside a dark big room and, in the course of the movie, he gets cut up, beaten up and physically and psychologically punished in various other ways. In the Q&A that followed after the press screening at Gateway, we asked Elijah how difficult it was to shoot the scenes of maltreatment that he was made to go through in the movie.
“The role is very physical and many scenes are really very hard to do,” he said. “On a scale of 1 to 10, it has to be an 11. Ganun siya kahirap gawin. Nabugbog ako rito nang husto. In the scenes where they removed my briefs, I was so conscious because may birthmark ako on my butt, but I had to do it as it’s a crucial part of the film. After watching the full movie, though, I felt it’s all worth it. I’m a fan of horror films like ‘Saw’ and ‘Evil Dead’ and I don’t think pahuhuli ang ‘Livescream’ sa kanila in terms of fear and terror generated.”
“Livescream” will start streaming on Vivamax Plus on November 9, so catch it if you want a truly good scare.
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Paolo Gumabao was asked to join “Mamasapano, Now It Can Be Told”, when JC De Vera had COVID and cannot shoot, but he doesn’t mind being a mere replacement.
“Ang ganda nung role and they’re about to shoot in two days, so tatanggi pa ba ako?” he said at the press con.
Paolo plays Supt. Raymond Train, the commander of the PNP team, Seaborn 13, tasked to get terrorists Marwan and Usman in Maguindanao on January 25, 2015.
“It’s an action movie and even as a young boy, dream ko talagang mag-action,” he said. “So I’d like to thank our producer, Atty. Ferdie Topacio, for giving me the chance to try action. We shot sa bundok at mainit sa set, nakabilad kami sa araw maghapon, then inilubog kami sa ilog, mahirap. But I enjoyed it.”
He just wished he met the real Sgt. Raymond Train face to face. “It’s a big challenge to play a real person and I really wish I was able to meet the character I portrayed, but wala nang time, so I just played him as written on the script of Eric Ramos.”
How is it working with Edu Manzano as Gen. Magalong in the movie? “Medyo kabado ako noong una kasi I know nagkasama sila sa movies ng dad ko (Dennis Roldan) noong araw. But it turned hindi ako dapat kabahan kasi he’s very nice. Nakipagkuwentuhan pa siya sa akin.”
It’s common knowledge his career got a big boost when he did sexy films like “Lockdown” and “Sisid.” Does he now regret disrobing for these films?
“No, not at all. It gave me the chance to work with two great directors, Joel Lamangan and Brillante Mendoza. Sobrang dami ng natutuhan ko sa kanila. Hindi ako makakarating where I am now without those movies. Right now, I’m also part of the series ‘Darna’ and I’m starting a new movie, ‘Spring in Prague,’ to be shot on location in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, also produced by Atty. Topacio, with a new leading lady.”
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Enzo Pineda was discovered when he became the First Prince in Starstruck 2009. He did several shows with GMA then moved to ABS-CBN. He also did indie films and last year, he won the Famas best supporting actor award for the movie “He Who Is Without Sin.”
He now plays one of the lead roles in the “barkada” movie, “Call Me Papi,” which will be shown in theaters on December 7. It is written and directed by Alvin Yapan, best known for the award-winning film, “Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa” and the controversial film “Oro.”
In the story, Enzo plays Sonny, a gym instructor who was fired when he had an affair with a client who turned out to be a married woman. He then goes to stay with his friends who share an apartment and are all working guys: Royce Cabrera as Lito, Albie Casino as Ben, Lharby Policarpio as Mario, and Aaron Concepcion as Roy.
It’s common knowledge that he is currently playing beautiful music with actress Michelle Vito. Is it true Michelle has told him to stop making sexy films?
“I understand where she is coming from. She’s conservative and just looks after my well being. She says kapag masyado akong na-typecast sa sexy roles, baka hindi na ako kunin for other kinds of films and I think that she has a valid point.”
