On the Job

On the Job
Theatrical poster for the Philippine release
Directed by	Erik Matti
Screenplay by	Michiko Yamamoto Erik Matti
Story by	Erik Matti
Starring	Piolo Pascual Gerald Anderson Joel Torre Joey Marquez
Cinematography	Francis Ricardo Buhay III
Edited by	Jay Halili
Music by	Erwin Romulo
Production companies	Star Cinema Reality Entertainment
Distributed by	Star Cinema
Release dates	May 16–26, 2013 (Cannes) August 28, 2013 (Philippines)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	Philippines
Language	Filipino
Budget	₱47 million
Box office	₱13.4 million

On the Job (abbreviated as OTJ) is a 2013 Philippine crime thriller film co-written and directed by Erik Matti. Inspired by a true story, the film revolves around two contract killing prisoners (played by Joel Torre and Gerald Anderson) who are temporarily freed from incarceration to carry out political executions. Piolo Pascual and Joey Marquez play as law enforcement officials who are tasked to investigate the drug-related murder case connected to the prison hired gun business. Other members of the ensemble cast include Michael de Mesa, Leo Martinez, Vivian Velez, Shaina Magdayao, and Rayver Cruz.

Matti acquired the concept for the film from a film crew member, whose occupation was a hired gun in prison. Filming took place in various parts of Manila for 33 days, on a production budget of ₱47 million. On the Job was shown in the Directors' Fortnight at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival in May, where it was praised and received a standing ovation. Star Cinema released the film in Philippine theaters on August 28, and Well Go USA Entertainment in North American theaters on September 27, both to critical acclaim. The film is set to have an American remake to be directed by Icelandic filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur, as well as a miniseries sequel also directed by Matti.

Plot

In the Philippines, corrupt politicians and police cause abundant crime and poverty. Hitmen Mario and Daniel murder a man named Tiu. The two are prisoners who are regularly released from prison to perform hits for their boss Thelma in exchange for money. Mario uses his money to support his daughter's law school tuition and estranged wife Lulette. Daniel, the younger and more reckless partner, sends some of his money home and spends the rest on goods and privileges in prison. Daniel has come to see Mario as a mentor and father figure. After the hit of Tiu, they are sent back to prison. Tiu's murder case is assigned to NBI Agent Coronel through Congressman Manrique, who is Coronel's father-in-law. Coronel's father, also a policeman, died amid rumors of corruption. When Coronel and his partner, Bernabe, arrive at the local precinct, Sergeant Joaquin Acosta, a 20-year veteran who feels the case was taken from him for political reasons, resists them.

Mario and Daniel are released and kill a woman named Linda. Upon hearing of his wife's murder, Linda's husband, Pol, immediately calls Acosta. Pol reveals that Tiu's murder is just one of the several assassinations ordered by General Pacheco, a high-ranking military officer who is running for the Senate, and a close friend of Manrique's. Pacheco runs a gun-for-hire operation using prisoners, killing anyone else involved to protect his campaign. Acosta agrees to protect Pol and heads to the station. While Coronel and Bernabe confront Acosta in an alley, Daniel shoots Pol, but his gun jams before he can deliver the fatal shot. The three officers converge on them, forcing Daniel and Mario to flee. At a hospital, Daniel shoots a janitor to create a disturbance, allowing Mario to kill the bedridden Pol. The two split up and flee. Coronel and Bernabe chase Daniel, and Acosta goes after Mario. As the two escape, Bernabe is shot and Mario sprains his ankle; Acosta relays Mario's composite sketch to the police, which unknowingly stuns Mario's family.

When Coronel discovers Mario's identity, he visits Lulette, who is with her lover, Boy. Lulette does not talk, but Coronel relays the information about her affair to Acosta, who unsuccessfully attempts to use it as leverage against Mario during an interrogation in jail. Mario feels disillusioned and betrayed by his family's abandonment, and relays this to Daniel.

Coronel confronts Manrique at a Reform Party presentation and explains that he intends to arrest Pacheco, but Manrique warns Coronel that Pacheco's indictment will cause their downfall as Manrique is one of Pacheco's clients. Coronel leaves in frustration and decides to continue working with Acosta. Acosta tells Coronel that his father was not corrupt and was killed while trying to expose corruption; Acosta himself was demoted for his part.

Coronel and Acosta discover that Tiu's father can provide them with the evidence they need to arrest Pacheco. On the way, Coronel abandons Acosta to visit Pacheco, who admits that he killed Coronel's father. Coronel secretly records with his cell phone the conversation between Pacheco and his men regarding the murder of Tiu's father. After recording this conversation, Coronel informs his wife Nicky the next morning on his intention to take down Pacheco, incriminating Manrique in the process. She slaps him repeatedly.

The next day, Daniel murders Coronel in front of the police headquarters, although it is unclear why he was targeted. Enraged, Acosta assaults Manrique and Pacheco's security detail, which results in a brief shootout until Pacheco orders them to cease fire. On the day Mario is to be released, he realizes that he has nothing on the outside, as his family no longer wants anything to do with him. In order to stay in jail, he stabs Daniel to death. Coronel's death is mourned by many, including Nicky, and Acosta is discharged and investigated for Coronel's murder. Mario visits home, kills Boy in front of his family, and returns to prison. A recovered Bernabe looks through Coronel's possessions and finds the cell phone that Coronel used to secretly record an incriminating conversation between Manrique and Pacheco. Bernabe requisitions the phone as evidence.

Cast

• Piolo Pascual as Attorney Francis Coronel, Jr.
• Gerald Anderson as Daniel
• Joel Torre as Mario "Tatang" Maghari
• Joey Marquez as Sergeant Joaquin Acosta
• Michael de Mesa as Congressman Manrique
• Leo Martinez as General Pacheco
• Angel Aquino as Lulette
• Vivian Velez as Thelma
• Shaina Magdayao as Nicky
• William Martinez as Rex
• Rayver Cruz as Bernabe
• Empress Schuck as Tina
• Dawn Jimenez as Diana
• Lito Pimentel as Pol
• Joseph Marco as Ruel

Production

Development and writing

A still photograph of two men standing behind a film camera.

Erik Matti (left) directs behind the camera on the set of On the Job.

Director Erik Matti acquired the idea for On the Job from a film crew member, an ex-convict whose occupation was a hired gun in prison. Matti shelved this idea until he decided to make it as his debut film after years of hiatus from directing. In 2009, Matti submitted to film festivals a short film he directed entitled The Arrival, along with an eight-minute trailer of On the Job. The trailer, which showed Joel Torre, was received to critical acclaim, as was The Arrival.

The trailer piqued the interest of Twitch Film editor Todd Brown, who approached Matti to ask if the project by chance had entered production. When he was told by Matti that the film doesn't have a screenplay yet, Brown encouraged him to write it while he look for potential investors to finance the project. This, however, was not pushed through after the first draft of the script was not yet completed. Star Cinema, the largest production company in the Philippines, declined to co-produce the film (as did the other studios) on account of being too profound as well as violent. On the script's ninth revision, Matti was joined by Michiko Yamamoto (screenwriter of Magnifico and Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros) to help finalize the remainder of the draft. Four uncredited consultants were also asked to help and thoroughly shape up the some details in the story.

After the final draft was sent to Brown, he was unable to attract the financiers: some of them felt that the story seemed atypical for a Philippine film, while some were reluctant of its potential overseas. While the project remained stationary, Matti was in the post-production stage of his horror fantasy film Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012). It was at this period when Matti was contacted by an agent of Star Cinema requesting the revised script. Three days later, the studio ultimately agreed to fund the project.

Casting

Joel Torre had already been cast in the film prior to Matti's script revision. He plays the role of Mario "Tatang" Maghari, a middle-aged prisoner who is freed from incarceration to carry out political executions for higher officials. Angel Aquino plays as his wife Lulette, and Empress Schuck as his daughter Tina. Torre said of the role, "[Mario] stuck with me, fought for me. And that gave me a lot of confidence, a Bushido Blade samurai." Matti asked Piolo Pascual for the role of Attorney Francis Coronel, Jr., a lawyer and a NBI agent who is tasked to investigate the prison contract killing business which involves hitman Mario. Shaina Magdayao plays as his wife Nicky, and Michael de Mesa as his father-in-law Manrique, a Congressman. Gerald Anderson plays Daniel, Mario's fellow young inmate and assistant in performing the executions. The role was originally written for John Lloyd Cruz, who himself was interested in it. Due to scheduling conflicts, however, Cruz had to relinquish the role. After a discussion between Pascual and Anderson about the film, Anderson signed in to the role.

Joey Marquez plays Sergeant Joaquin Acosta, an everyday police officer who, along with Francis, investigates a drug-related murder case connected with the prison contract killing business. The role of Acosta was to be played by Richard Gomez, but he had to surrender it as he was about to venture into politics in Ormoc. Matti later cast Marquez, a comedian, whose charming presence on screen as well as his potential to exact an obnoxious personality impressed him. The cast also features Leo Martinez as General Pacheco, Lito Pimentel as Pol, Vivian Velez as Thelma, and Rayver Cruz as Bernabe.

Pre-production and filming

To prepare the prison scenes, the production crew built a set in an abandoned building with 200 extras hired to play as convicts to simulate an actual prison. Principal photography took 33 days, shot on location in multiple Manila areas such as the Manila City Hall, at a LRT train station, Marikina, and Caloocan. Filming was a hectic process, as over 70 locations were used, and there were many times in which the crew had to move to multiple locations three times a day. The production cost for the film amounted to ₱47 million.

Music

The film's credited musical director was Erwin Romulo, the editor-in-chief for Esquire Philippines until 2013. At their first meeting, Matti hired Romulo as the music supervisor but eventually ended up being the musical director as Romulo felt that he had to produce most of the tracks he had planned for the film. Romulo employed lesser known OPM tracks from otherwise prominent Filipino musicians. Such include songs written by the Juan de la Cruz Band: "Maskara" and "Pinoy Blues". He approached Dong Abay and Radioactive Sago Project bassist Francis de Veyra (brother of Lourd de Veyra) to perform the two songs, and Armi Millare to arrange them. Additional tracks were performed by Ely Buendia, the late FrancisM, and the local band Bent Lynchpin, one member of whom was the film's musical editor.

According to Romulo, the tracks are not necessarily "very rock", but rather "local hip hop". He cited film scores composed by Lalo Schifrin (most notably his work for Dirty Harry), DJ Shadow's album entitled Endtroducing....., and director Ishmael Bernal's longtime composer Vanishing Tribe as influences for the soundtrack.

Track listing

Title	Composer(s)	Producer(s)	Singer(s)	Source
"Maskara"	Pepe Smith and Juan dela Cruz Band	Armi Millare and Erwin Romulo	Juan dela Cruz Band
"Perpekto"	Dong Abay	Robin Rivera	Dong Abay
"Mateo Singko"	Dong Abay	Robin Rivera	Dong Abay
"Pinoy Blues"	Mike Hanopol	Radioactive Sago Project and Erwin Romulo	Radioactive Sago Project
"Deep Seated Contempt"	Armando Nogueras, Fred Sandoval, Malek Lopez, Mark Young	Bent Lynchpin	Bent Lynchpin
"Terraform Archivist"	Armando Nogueras, Fred Sandoval, Malek Lopez, Mark Young	Bent Lynchpin	Bent Lynchpin
"Things Unknown"	Armando Nogueras, Fred Sandoval, Malek Lopez, Mark Young	Bent Lynchpin	Bent Lynchpin
"Between Two Points"	Armando Nogueras, Fred Sandoval, Malek Lopez, Mark Young	Bent Lynchpin	Bent Lynchpin
"Rested Note"	Armando Nogueras	Bent Lynchpin	Caliph8
"Struck a Responsive Chord"	Armando Nogueras	Bent Lynchpin	Caliph8
"Quadrille for Five"	Armando Nogueras	Armando Nogueras	Caliph8
"Grit (Dindi's Blues)"	Fred Sandoval		Fred Sandoval
"Gabi"	Kalila Aguilos	Pasta Groove	Pasta Groove
"Ayoko sa Dilim"	FrancisM	(published by PolyEast Records)	Francis M. and Hardware Syndrome
"This Will Be Broken"	Armi Millare		Ely Buendia and Armi Millare
"Clap"	Fred Sandoval		Fred Sandoval
"Natural Evils"	Fred Sandoval		Erwin Romulo
"Pasion"	Armi Millare and Ely Buendia		Armi Millare and Ely Buendia

Release

File:Onthejob.jpg

The poster used at the Cannes Film Festival.

Theatrical run and distribution

On the Job was screened and had a world premiere in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival from May 16 to 26. Though it did not win the Caméra d'Or prize, the film was well received by the viewers and was given a two-minute standing ovation. The film was distributed in the Philippines by Star Cinema on August 28, 2013. At the box office, the film grossed ₱13,459,037 nationwide, and played on 30 locations in three weeks.

The film was released in the United States on September 27 by Well Go USA Entertainment. The deal was brokered by Well Go USA President Doris Pfardrescher, and Nate Bolotin and Aram Tertzakian of XYZ Films. Well Go USA had pre-bought the North American rights for the film before it premiered at Cannes. The film played in 29 North American theaters in three weeks, grossing $164,620.

Aside from North America, it was also released in France by Wild Side Films, and in Australia by Madman Entertainment. The deals with French and North American distribution companies secured $350,000 (₱12 million). Also included in the deal with Well Go USA is that the company will be responsible for DVD/Blu-Ray and video on demand distributions.

Critical reception

The film was received to critical acclaim upon release. Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, reports that 100% of thirteen surveyed critics gave it a positive review; the average rating was 6.7/10. Metacritic, another review aggregator, rated it 70/100 based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Justin Chang of Variety called the film "a gritty, convoluted but steadily engrossing crime thriller..." and, "a fast-paced [...] well-acted B movie." Furthermore, Chang praised its "neon-smeared" cinematography by Francis Ricardo Buhay III, "whiplash" editing by Jay Halili, and "kicky" soundtrack by Erwin Romulo. Neil Young of The Hollywood Reporter described it as a "likably rough-edged hitmen-vs-cops thriller." Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times selected On the Job as her Critic's Pick, who also called it a "propulsive thriller" which "is never less than arresting." Gabe Toro of IndieWire gave the film a B- grade rating, and called it "a propulsive new actioner" in a similar vein to the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs and its American remake The Departed. Justin Monroe of Complex magazine gave it 7/10 and said, "On the Job could have been a simple-minded, serviceable action flick if all it had going for it was the grit and grime of Filipino streets, stylized violence, and its insane premise, but Matti's thriller has more substance, driven by more fully realized characters and the compelling relationships between these men as they struggle to survive."

In the Philippines, Mikhail Lecaros of GMA Network praised most action scenes as "technically polished while simultaneously visceral–even intimate–in their brutality." Carljoe Javier of Rappler said, "On the Job is a film that serves as a shot of adrenaline, not only to the hearts of viewers, but hopefully also to mainstream cinema." Mari-An Santos of Philippine Entertainment Portal said, "Watch On the Job because it is a well-crafted film, from script to direction and acting to post-production—in other words, watch it because it's a damn good film." Phillip Cu-Unjieng of Philippine Daily Inquirer praised it as, "[D]ark, brooding, muscular and visceral, yet complex and concise in its story-telling," and the ensemble cast (especially Joel Torre) "top-notch."

Home media

The film was released to DVD and Blu-ray on February 18, 2014 by Well Go USA.

Accolades

Aside from the Cannes Film Festival, the film was also screened at the 17th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival in Bucheon, South Korea. At the said film festival, Joel Torre received the Best Actor award, and the film receiving the Jury Prize.

Future

The film was confirmed to have a US adaptation and will be helmed by Icelandic filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur, who also directed Contraband and 2 Guns. The remake will be produced by Kormákur's Blueeyes Productions. XYZ Films, the production and sales company that represents the international rights to the film, will also co-produce and will release the remake worldwide.

As of late 2016, the film will have a six-part miniseries as a sequel, in co-production between streaming service HOOQ and Globe Telecom's Globe Studios. The series will be exclusively available on HOOQ. Directed by Matti himself, the ensemble cast will feature Arjo Atayde, Teroy Guzman, Bela Padilla, Neil Ryan Sese, Leo Martinez (who will reprise his role from the first film), Dominic Ochoa, Smokey Manaloto, Jake Macapagal, Ria Atayde, and Christopher de Leon.

Further reading

• "On the Job Production Notes" (DOC). Well Go USA Entertainment. Retrieved May 25, 2017.

External links

• Official website
• On the Job at IMDb
• Well Go USA: On the Job (US Distribution)