On the Job is a six-part Philippine miniseries created by Erik Matti and Michiko Yamamoto for HBO Asia Originals. It was adapted from the two On the Job films: the 2013 film and its sequel The Missing 8, both of which are directed by Matti. Additionally, the first two episodes are a re-edited and remastered version of the first film.[1]
| On the Job | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Neo-noir Political thriller Conspiracy Action |
| Created by | |
| Based on | On the Job (2013 film) and On the Job: The Missing 8 by Erik Matti |
| Developed by | Erik Matti |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Erik Matti |
| Starring | |
| Composers |
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| Country of origin | Philippines |
| Original language | Filipino |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Erik Matti |
| Cinematography | Francis Ricardo Buhay III (2 episodes) Neil Derrick Bion (4 episodes) |
| Editor | Jay Halili |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 45–63 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | HBO Go |
| Release | September 12 – October 3, 2021 |
It premiered on HBO Go on September 12, 2021.
Premise
editAn official premise from HBO Go:
On The Job centers around crime syndicates that temporarily release contracted prison inmates to carry out political assassinations for those in power, except that the crime syndicates are run by politicians.[2]
Cast
editMain
edit- Joel Torre as Mario "Tatang" Maghari
- John Arcilla as Sisoy Salas
- Joey Marquez as Sgt. Joaquin Acosta
- Dennis Trillo as Roman Rubio
- Piolo Pascual as Francis Coronel Jr.
- Gerald Anderson as Daniel
- Leo Martinez as General Pacheco
- Dante Rivero as Mayor Pedring Eusebio
- Rayver Cruz as Bernabe
Recurring
edit- Introduced in On the Job (2013)
- Angel Aquino as Lulette
- Shaina Magdayao as Nicky
- Empress Schuck as Tina
- Michael de Mesa as Congressman Manrique
- Vivian Velez as Thelma
- Lito Pimentel as Pol
- Introduced in The Missing 8 (2021)
- Christopher de Leon as Arnel Pangan
- Lotlot de Leon as Weng
- Agot Isidro as Senator Alice Samson
- Andrea Brillantes as Diane Salas
- Wendell Ramos as Senator Bernie Eusebio
- Megan Young as Lauren Eusebio
- Isabelle de Leon as Joni Salas
- Sol Cruz as Obet
Ricky Davao, William Martinez, Vandolph Quizon, Eric Fructuoso, and Ina Feleo are all cast in unspecified roles.
Production
editWhile The Missing 8 was initially planned to have an official theatrical release both domestically and internationally, continuous closures of movie theaters across the Philippines at that time amidst the COVID-19 pandemic has placed the film's distribution process in limbo. Director Erik Matti once said that he and his crew did consider splitting the film in two parts during post-production to reduce pacing issues and to ease local audiences' viewing experience once movie theaters in the Philippines re-open during the pandemic.[3] He also stated that they have the option of turning the film into a four-episode series and selling it to television distributors or streaming services should the film fail to secure a theatrical release.[3]
In August 2021, WarnerMedia Asia acquired the distribution rights to the sequel and the first film. Matti was then commissioned to re-edit the films into a six-part HBO Asia original miniseries; with this, he was able to recycle all unused and deleted scenes from the first film, creating a director's cut, which will be released as the first two episodes on its Asian subsidiary streaming service HBO Go.[4][5]
Release
editOn the Job was released as HBO Asia original miniseries on its streaming service HBO Go. The first three episodes were released on September 12, 2021, with subsequent episodes released in Sundays till October 3, 2021.[6]
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Tatang" | Erik Matti | Story by : Erik Matti Teleplay by : Michiko Yamamoto & Erik Matti | September 12, 2021 | |
|
Prisoners Tatang and his protege Daniel are temporarily released from jail to carry out a series of assassinations for a powerful politician. Veteran cop Joaquin gets on the case, but his efforts are thwarted when young hotshot detective Francis steps in. The bickering law enforcers pick up the assassins’ trail and attempt to intercept them at their next target.[7] | |||||
| 2 | "Acosta" | Erik Matti | Story by : Erik Matti Teleplay by : Michiko Yamamoto & Erik Matti | September 12, 2021 | |
|
As the hunt for the assassins continues, Joaquin stands firm on his duties as a cop while Francis faces immense pressure from his politician father-in-law and his powerful ally General Pacheco. Tatang reflects on the possibility of rebuilding his family and having a future outside the prison while Daniel, having gained the trust of their employers, starts getting his own missions. | |||||
| 3 | "Arnel" | Erik Matti | Michiko Yamamoto | September 12, 2021 | |
|
Evidence about the conspiracy makes it all the way to the town of La Paz, where publisher Arnel Pangan’s newspaper is beleaguered because of his political beliefs, to the dismay of his editor, seasoned journalist, and staunch government supporter Sisoy Salas. The harassment soon escalates into a bloody incident. | |||||
| 4 | "Pedring" | Erik Matti | Michiko Yamamoto | September 19, 2021 | |
|
Sisoy searches for his other missing colleagues, but his hopes of seeing them again diminish as the days go by. An eyewitness comes forward as the criminal syndicate quickly eliminates loose ends. In prison, Roman struggles with the messy internal politics of jail while hiding a key piece of evidence that Sisoy needs. | |||||
| 5 | "Roman" | Erik Matti | Michiko Yamamoto | September 26, 2021 | |
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Sisoy and Weng get a breakthrough in their investigation when they finally connect their colleague’s disappearance to powerful political figures. Roman receives a life sentence, pulling him even deeper into the gun-for-hire business. He is given another hit mission with his new cellmate, Popoy. | |||||
| 6 | "Sisoy" | Erik Matti | Michiko Yamamoto | October 3, 2021 | |
|
Sisoy and Roman help each other out in trying to get to the root of the killings. Amidst suspicions from his employers that he is ratting them out, Roman decides to fight for his own freedom. Sisoy executes a daring plan to expose political crimes, endangering his own family in the process. | |||||
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Asian Academy Creative Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | John Arcilla | Nominated | [8] |
| Best Direction (Fiction) | Erik Matti | Nominated | |||
| Best Drama Series | On the Job | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay | Michiko Yamamoto | Nominated | |||
| International Emmy Awards | Best TV Movie or Miniseries | On the Job | Nominated | [9] |
References
edit- ^ "The 'director's cut' of 'On The Job' to premiere as a series on HBO GO". Rappler. August 1, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ "HBO GO. It's HBO. Anywhere". HBO Go Asia. Philippines. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ a b Palumar, Khyne (February 24, 2021). "Director Erik Matti on the sequel to 'On The Job': "Yes, it's an angry movie"". NME. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ Brzeski, Patrick (September 1, 2021). "Venice: Philippine Director Erik Matti on the Humanism of Gangsters in 'On the Job 2: The Missing 8'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (July 28, 2021). "Venice Competition Philippines Title 'On The Job' Sets HBO GO Premiere in Asia, Reveals Trailer". Variety. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Requintina, Robert (September 8, 2021). "HBO Asia Original crime thriller series 'On the Job' streams on HBO GO via SKY". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ "Erik Matti's On The Job: Missing 8 Is Hitting HBO Go This September 12". NYLON MANILA. August 11, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ On the Job (TV Mini Series 2021) - IMDb, retrieved May 16, 2023
- ^ Purnell, Kristofer. "'On The Job' miniseries receives International Emmy nomination". Philstar.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022.