Direk Rahyan Carlos raises acting standard in Phl one student at a time

For nearly three decades, director, filmmaker, scriptwriter and acting coach Rahyan Carlos has been quietly shaping some of the biggest names in Philippine entertainment.

Known for producing award-winning and working actors, Rahyan has spent the last 28 years mentoring performers and helping them unlock emotional truth in front of the camera. He is also the only accredited Filipino authorized to teach the internationally renowned Chubbuck Technique in the Philippines, having been personally trained by legendary Hollywood acting coach Ivana Chubbuck, whose roster of students includes Academy Award winners Halle Berry, Brad Pitt, Sylvester Stallone, Charlize Theron, and many other Hollywood stars.

Among the local actors Rahyan has coached and mentored are Coco Martin, Joshua Garcia, Julia Montes, Paulo Avelino, Julia Barretto, Jake Cuenca, and many others who have become some of the country’s most respected performers.

Rahyan is currently conducting the 2026 STARWORX Summer Acting Workshops, where participants are introduced to the internationally acclaimed Chubbuck Technique, a globally recognized acting method that transforms emotional truth into authentic, compelling performances.

The workshops are designed for aspiring and professional artists alike, including working actors, content creators, influencers, public speakers and performers who want to elevate their craft through world-class acting training.

Recently, I sat down with direk Rahyan to discuss acting, mentorship and why Filipino performers can compete with the best in the world.

Known for producing award-winning and working actors, acting coach Rahyan Carlos has spent the last 28 years mentoring performers and helping them unlock emotional truth in front of the camera. He is sharing his expertise in the 2026 STARWORX Summer Acting Workshops, where participants are introduced to the internationally acclaimed Chubbuck Technique. It’s an acting method that transforms emotional truth into authentic, compelling performances.

You wear two hats — as a writer-director and as an acting teacher. How do you divide your time? Which is more challenging and why?

“There is a big difference between being a writer-director and being an acting teacher. Magkaibang saya at magkaibang hirap siya. As a writer and director, I create stories and guide a vision. But as a teacher, I’m entrusted with something much more personal. I deal with people’s hopes, dreams, fears and potential.

“Teaching is definitely the more challenging role because I carry the responsibility of helping students believe in themselves, sometimes before they even believe in themselves. My job is not just to teach acting techniques; it’s to inspire them, to push them beyond their comfort zones and to help them discover the artist they are capable of becoming.

Direk Rahyan Carlos with his class.

“I believe in creating a tough-love relationship with my students. I challenge them, I hold them accountable, but I also make sure they know that every correction comes from a place of wanting them to succeed. Acting is a lifelong journey, and I want them to leave my class not only as better actors, but as stronger human beings.”

What traits do you look for in a good actor? Are actors born or made?

“The three qualities I value the most are attitude, values and professionalism. Those are the foundations of every great artist, and they’re the first things I teach in my workshops.

“People often ask me if actors are born or made. My answer is always the same: I believe in workshops. I believe in training. Walang pinapanganak na artist na. Some people may have natural talent or even come from a family of artists, but talent alone is never enough. Trained talent is real talent that will sustain them in the long run.

“I also tell my students, ‘Walang bobong artista, mayroon lang tamad.’ Acting is a craft that requires discipline, curiosity and continuous learning. The moment you think you’ve already mastered it is the moment you stop growing.

“One thing I constantly remind my actors is, ‘You are only as good as your last work.’ Every role is a new beginning. That’s why I encourage them to treat acting not as a career but as a lifestyle of learning.”

You coach veteran actors as well. How do you mentor them when they’re already set in their ways? What challenges do you encounter?

“I genuinely love working with veteran actors because they bring years — even decades — of experience into the room. My goal is never to erase what they already know. Hindi ko bi-na-bypass o di-ni-disregard ang mga natutunan nila. In fact, I always tell them, ‘Mahusay ka na, pero mas gagawin pa kitang mahusay.’

“At the beginning of every coaching relationship, I ask them two simple questions: ‘How do you want to work? How can I be of help?’ Those questions change everything. They immediately establish trust because they realize I’m there to collaborate with them. Hindi ako general o commander giving orders; I’m a creative partner helping them discover themselves and new possibilities.

“Listening is one of the most important parts of teaching. When actors feel heard, they become more open to exploring unfamiliar territory.

“The biggest challenge is helping them break old habits and allowing themselves to become vulnerable again. Sometimes experience can create comfort zones, and great acting requires us to continuously rediscover uncertainty, curiosity and emotional honesty.”

Who is more difficult to coach — newbies or veterans?

“If I had to choose, I’d say veterans. Like I always say, the older we become, the more skeptical, more cynical, and sometimes more jaded we become — not just as actors, but as people. Experience can become both our greatest strength and our greatest limitation.

“New actors usually arrive with fewer walls. Veteran actors, on the other hand, have habits, methods and beliefs that have been reinforced over many years. Helping them unlearn certain patterns can be challenging.

“But that’s also what makes working with them so rewarding. Veteran actors have lived rich lives. They’ve experienced success, failure, heartbreak, triumph and loss. Those experiences become invaluable material for inner work. My role is simply to help them reconnect with those truths and transform them into honest, compelling performances.

“Whether I’m coaching a first-time student or a National Artist, my mission never changes: to help every actor become more truthful, more courageous and more human in their craft.”

Can our local actors hold their own against Hollywood or Korean actors?

“Absolutely! I have always believed that Filipino actors are among the most emotionally gifted in the world. Likas sa atin ang puso. We come from a culture that values family, sacrifice, resilience and faith, and those experiences naturally translate into truthful, emotionally rich performances.

“What often separates Hollywood or Korean actors from us is not talent. It’s the system. They have decades of well-established training institutions, stronger industry support, more time for preparation and larger investments in developing artists.

“When actors are given the proper training, enough rehearsal time and the right creative environment, they thrive.

“I’ve seen firsthand that when Filipino actors are equipped with world-class techniques and challenged to raise their standards, they can absolutely stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world. Hindi tayo kulang sa talent. Ang kailangan lang natin ay tamang training, discipline, continuous learning and an industry that believes in developing artists for the long term.

“Most importantly, I believe every gift comes from God. Our responsibility is to steward that gift with excellence. When talent is surrendered to God, refined through discipline and fueled by purpose, there is no limit to what a Filipino actor can achieve.”

As he continues to mentor the next generation of performers, direk Rahyan remains committed to raising the standard of acting in the Philippines — one student at a time.

The 2026 STARWORX Summer Acting Workshops are open to aspiring actors, professional and working artists, content creators, influencers, public speakers and performers of all experience levels who want to strengthen their craft through the internationally acclaimed Chubbuck Technique. Whether participants are preparing for film, television, theater, digital platforms, or simply wish to become more confident and emotionally authentic performers, the workshops provide practical, intensive training under one of the country’s most respected acting mentors.

For inquiries and registration, visit Instagram: @starworxshops and Facebook: @starworxshops, or e-mail at [email protected].