‘On the Job: The Missing 8’ Zeroes In On Politics and Corruption
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Director Erik Matti (Source: Wikimedia Commons/Francisco Herrera)
While that isn’t the epigram of the On the Job movie or series, the thesis gets a workout in On the Job: The Missing 8 from Reality MM Studios and Director Erik Matti, 52.
In the script by Michiko Yamamoto, amoral journalist Sisoy Salas, played by John Arcilla, works frantically to uncover the disappearance of a van with close colleagues among the eight passengers. Dennis Trillo brings street heart to the evocative role of Roman Rubio, an inmate who roams free when he’s on assassination assignments for Mayor Pedring Eusebio (Dante Rivero), the corrupt mayor of the fictional town ironically named La Paz, and owner of the local newspaper.
Matti’s oeuvre includes On the Job (2013), BuyBust, Honor Thy Father, Folklore: Seven Days of Hell, Foodlore: Island of Dreams, Sekusyon, and The Entity.
On the Job: The Missing 8
His Philippine homeland gave Matti and wife, Michiko, inspiration for a bleak world darkened by corruption, murder and deceit. Law enforcement can’t be trusted to bite its owner’s hand. As seen with the example of Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist and Rappler cofounder Maria Ressa, Filipinos must rely on the Fourth Estate to expose government corruption.
The pen might be mightier than the sword, but it’s no match for bullets. “It takes journalists to be tough and speak out louder,” said Matti.
“On the Job is as hard-hitting as we could make it,” he said of the On the Job series that debuted on HBO Go (Asia) in 2021 before coming to HBO Max in 2022. The critically acclaimed series was reconfigured into On the Job: The Missing 8, which premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival in 2021. Matti cites the Slovakian documentary The Killing of a Journalist as a terse reminder of the inherent risks of serving as a government watchdog. “When we research true events for our stories, we create a really exciting, accessible movie.”
Matti is frank about the history behind the story. “The movie delivers a stark reminder of martial law and the people who disappeared during the first Ferdinand Marcos administration. The misinformation machinery of the Rodrigo Duterte presidency allowed the erasure of the history of the Marcos family and paved the way for current President Ferdinand Marcos Junior.”
On the Job: The Missing 8 clocks in well over three hours, but the thrills and multilayer subplots propel the story at peregrine falcon speed. The violence represents a hemispheric departure from the rom-com staples of Filipino cinema. Moviegoers who think death ought to occasionally be exhilarating and less seldom a weeper will find Matti a kindred auteur. After all, that past boss who terminated you could have been shivved in a prison riot.
It took more than boldness to qualify for the Venice Film Festival and for John Arcilla to win Best Actor there. The Film Academy of the Philippines submitted the movie as its entry for Best International Feature from the 2023 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It did not make the short list of nominees.
The Sunny Side of the Philippines
As the political setting for a movie, real-life Philippine politics can stretch the boundaries of plausibility. Matti also appreciates the natural beauty of the islands.
“I think Filipinos have managed to conquer the world by living in so many places. Our toughness doesn’t drive out the homesickness the Diaspora feels as new generations lose their Filipino culture. I think of my extended family overseas when I embellish my films with personal courage, a tireless work ethic and other traits that are common among Filipinos.”
Matti comes from a tightknit family of six and has 32 nephews and nieces. He has two adult daughters. While he calls Manila home, he is fond of his childhood city of Bacolod. It’s known as the sugar capital of the Philippines, but he warns visitors not to go there for the best sweets. “We export our sugar and everything else we produce. As a consequence of losing our domestic sugar, we have to import sugar and sweets for our own consumption.”
From Left to Right: Mona Gail Matti, Erik Charles Matti, Julieta Seminio Matti (mother), Kenneth Gene Matti, Valerie Charlotte Matti Canchela, Brenda Marcia Matti Orozco (Photo courtesy of REality MM Studios)
He doesn’t give specific recommendations to tourists. “Pick almost any beach in the Philippines and you’ll have a great time.” He cautions, “Don’t pick the famous beaches. The quieter the beach, the better.”
Erik’s Top 10
Erik Matti selected these ten titles (in no particular order) as inspirations for his work and as his recommendations for budding connoisseurs to internalize the subtle as well as obvious characteristics that define filmmaking at its best.
Apocalypse Now
Raging Bull
Raise the Red Lantern
Memories of Murder
Crimes and Misdemeanors
There will be Blood
Amadeus
High and Low (1963)
Inglorious
Last Emperor
Anthony Maddela was born in Seattle and lives in Los Angeles. During the pandemic, he started following European soccer. Real Madrid is his favorite Spanish team. Tottenham is his favorite Premier League team. He also likes Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
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