Aicelle Santos is ready to take on the role of Elsa in the much-anticipated ‘Isang Himala’, the musical adaptation of the 1982 classic Himala, set to premiere on December 25 as part of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
While the original portrayal of Elsa by National Artist Nora Aunor is iconic, Santos has made it clear that she is not trying to replicate Aunor’s performance but instead offers her own interpretation of the character.
In ‘Isang Himala’, Santos plays Elsa, a faith healer whose miraculous claims ignite both deep devotion and intense controversy in a small rural town. Although she has seen Aunor’s portrayal, Santos chose to approach the role from the perspective of the script, the story, and her fellow actors. Drawing from her past experience in the 2018 stage version of ‘Himala’ at the PETA theater, Santos reimagines Elsa for the film adaptation while staying true to the essence of the character.
“Sa tingin ko po hindi maganda, as an actor, na yun ang pagbasehan ko, kung ano ang ginawa nang nauna sa iyo,” Santos explained. “Kaya lagi kong sinasabi na balikan ang script, balikan ang karakter, balikan ang mga kaeksena mo dahil yun ang bubuo ng kuwento.”
Santos, a seasoned theater actress, faced new challenges as she transitioned from stage to screen. In theater, actors are taught to project their voices and project larger-than-life expressions to be heard and seen by audiences. However, in film, there’s a need for more subtlety and careful attention to camera angles and intimacy.
@lionheartv AicelleSantos, nakaranas mismo ng himala sa kanyang buhay! #IsangHimala #IsangHimalaMMFF2024 #EntertainmentNewsPH #TiktokTainmentPH #NewsPH #BestOfTiktokPH #LionhearTV #RAWRNation
“Sa musical, sinabihan kami na kumanta na hanggang marinig ng tao na nasa pinakadulo,” she shared. “Sa film naman, tinanong namin si Direk Pepe, coming from theatre, na alam mong medyo malaki ang mga mata namin, naka-project ang singing…pero dito sa pelikula, naku-conscious kami sa camera.”
“So, sabi ni Direk Pepe, ‘Sino ba ang kausap mo? Sisigawan mo ba ang kausap mo kapag magkaeksena kayo?’ So you stick to your truth. You stick to the story, the message, of the film.”
Despite the challenges, Santos found the experience rewarding and noted that the transition between theater and film was both a learning process and a creative journey.
Asked whether she felt pressure competing against big stars, Santos admitted she didn’t let the box-office competition affect her.
The screenplay for ‘Isang Himala’ was written by National Artist Ricky Lee, who also penned the original ‘Himala’ screenplay. Directed by Pepe Diokno, ‘Isang Himala’ aims to bring a new, emotionally powerful version of this beloved story to the big screen, with Aicelle Santos taking on the role of Elsa, adding her own interpretation to this iconic character.
