Elijah Canlas talks being typecast in gay roles and if Filipinos are ready for LGBTQ+ movies

Elijah Canlas and Romnick Sarmienta made waves with their film “About Us but Not About Us,” which swept awards at the Summer MMFF.

It's not the only gay role that Elijah has played. In an interview on “Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel,” the actor opened up about being typecast in LGBTQ+ roles.

"I think it’s inevitable po for actors especially if you are known for the role that you portrayed na people think that you did really well so i-a-assume nila na magaling siya sa ganiyan, so let's just give him roles like this," he said.

"I've done, like, three gay roles for movie or four, but — and it’s been a privilege po, honestly, like I'm really thankful for the opportunity and everything to get to represent this characters, and I try them the best way I can," he added.
However, he said "About Us But Not About Us" might be his last gay film in a while "to give more opportunities to real actors kasi there's a lot there that are good."

"About Us But Not About Us" is about a literature professor who meets his student at a restaurant and, over the course of a meal, secrets, lies, and a sinister connection to a suicide will be revealed.

Elijah also discussed readiness of audiences for LGBTQ+-themed films.

"I mean, we all co-exist in this world po, and there like an infinite number of stories to tell about different kind of people," he said. "I think we should be open to that, and I definitely think na ready na 'yung mga Pinoy for a movie like this."

He said that there is a demand for Pinoy films to be "Hollywood level" in terms of quality and storytelling, but that "there have been really great Filipino movies that a lot of people haven't watched, haven't seen."

"And so far, I think people are embracing it parang people are surprised and didn't expect it and I think that's what beautiful about — kasi Filipinos most of the time are used to certain types of formulas, and this will be construct of all of that, kaya I am very proud," he added. —Kimberly Tsao/JCB, GMA Integrated News