Zaijian Jaranilla has appeared in the ABS-CBN Entertainment-Electric Entertainment co-production, Almost Paradise, along with a veteran roster that included Art Acuña, Nonie Buencamino, Ces Quesada, and Raymund Bagatsing.

In this Kapamilya React video, Zaijian reveals inside stories behind his first-ever role in a made-for-Hollywood series. 

In the scene wherein he snatched the hat of Billy Ray Gallion’s character, August Crowe. Zaijian admitted it was tiring having to shoot that running scene multiple times. Zaijian amusingly recounted that when they shot a scene, a bystander, who was not part of the production, thought that he really was a thief and apprehended him.

Zaijian also shared that when he auditioned for the role, he thought that his lines were in Tagalog, and said he was shocked to learn that it was in English. At first, he doubted that would land the role but he studied the script very well since he really wanted to be part of the international series. Zaijian also admitted that he hopes to do action-packed scenes, such as the one with Detective Mendoza (Samantha Richelle) and Detective Alamares (Art Acuña) did running after a suspect in one of the episodes, he said.

Zaijian shared that he felt happy and was very thankful when he was chosen to be included in the cast of Almost Paradise. He said that he was amazed by the work ethic of the whole team and was grateful to the production crew for being helpful and accommodating. And if there’s one thing he realized the most from this experience, Zaijian said was that he could star in an international series speaking English lines.

Almost Paradise, which is the first American series to be entirely shot in the Philippines, tells the story of Alex Walker, played by Christian Kane, a Drug Enforcement Administration undercover operative who was forced into retirement due to a life-threatening bout with hypertension.  He decided to relocate to Cebu for his retirement, thinking he would avoid the stress and tension he had while in law enforcement, but criminal elements in his new paradise continue to draw him out of his peaceful retirement.

You can catch Almost Paradise every Sunday at 8:45 p.m. on the Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, and A2Z Channel 11.