On the Job (miniseries)

{{Short description|Philippine television series}}

{{Use Philippine English|date=January 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox television

| image = On the Job HBO Asia.jpg

| caption =

| alt =

| genre = Neo-noir
Political thriller
Conspiracy
Action

| creator = {{Plainlist|

}}

| based_on = {{Based on|On the Job (2013 film) and On the Job: The Missing 8|Erik Matti}}

| developer = Erik Matti

| writer = {{Plainlist|

  • Erik Matti
  • Michiko Yamamoto

}}

| director = Erik Matti

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| theme_music_composer =

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| composer = {{Plainlist|

  • Erwin Romulo
  • Malek Lopez
  • Arvin Nogueras

}}

| country = Philippines

| language = Filipino

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 6

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

  • Ronald "Dondon" Monteverde
  • Erik Matti
  • Clement Schwebig
  • Magdalene Ew
  • Joe Caliro
  • Quark Henares

}}

| producer = Erik Matti

| editor = Jay Halili

| location =

| cinematography = Francis Ricardo Buhay III (2 episodes)
Neil Derrick Bion (4 episodes)

| camera = Single-camera

| runtime = 45–63 minutes

| company = {{Plainlist|

}}

| channel = HBO Go

| first_aired = {{Start date|2021|9|12}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2021|10|3}}

}}

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.{{cite news |title=The 'director's cut' of 'On The Job' to premiere as a series on HBO GO |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/series/erik-matti-on-the-job-series-premiere-hbo-go-september-2021 |access-date=13 September 2021 |work=Rappler |date=1 August 2021}}

It premiered on HBO Go on September 12, 2021.

Premise

An official premise from HBO Go:

{{Blockquote

|text=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.{{cite web |title=HBO GO. It's HBO. Anywhere. |url=https://www.hbogoasia.ph/series/sr820 |website=HBO Go Asia |location=Philippines |access-date=15 September 2021}}

}}

Cast

=Main=

{{cast listing|

}}

=Recurring=

;Introduced in On the Job (2013)

{{cast listing|

}}

;Introduced in The Missing 8 (2021)

{{cast listing|

}}

Ricky Davao, William Martinez, Vandolph Quizon, Eric Fructuoso, and Ina Feleo are all cast in unspecified roles.

Production

{{Further|On the Job#Production|On the Job: The Missing 8#Production}}

While 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.{{cite web |last1=Palumar |first1=Khyne |title=Director Erik Matti on the sequel to 'On The Job': "Yes, it's an angry movie" |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/pinoy-director-erik-matti-on-the-job-sequel-political-angst-2887418 |website=NME |date=February 24, 2021 |access-date=June 16, 2021}} 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.

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.{{cite news |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=September 1, 2021 |title=Venice: Philippine Director Erik Matti on the Humanism of Gangsters in ‘On the Job 2: The Missing 8’ |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/venice-festival-director-erik-matti-on-the-job-2-movie-1235005690/ |work=The Hollywood Reporter |location= |access-date=September 2, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Naman |title=Venice Competition Philippines Title ‘On The Job’ Sets HBO GO Premiere in Asia, Reveals Trailer |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/on-the-job-erik-matti-hbo-philippines-venice-1235029127/ |website=Variety |access-date=15 September 2021 |date=28 July 2021}}

Release

On 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.{{cite news |last1=Requintina |first1=Robert |title=HBO Asia Original crime thriller series 'On the Job' streams on HBO GO via SKY |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/09/08/hbo-asia-original-crime-thriller-series-on-the-job-streams-n-hbo-go-via-sky/ |access-date=13 September 2021 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=8 September 2021}}

{{Clear}}

Episodes

{{for|the plot of the first two episodes|On the Job (2013 film)#Plot}}

{{Episode table |background=#CA8804 |overall=5 |title=25 |director=16 |writer=31 |airdate=18 |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Tatang

|DirectedBy = Erik Matti

|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s=Erik Matti|t=Michiko Yamamoto & Erik Matti}}

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|9|12}}

|ShortSummary = 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.{{cite web |title=Erik Matti’s On The Job: Missing 8 Is Hitting HBO Go This September 12 |url=https://nylonmanila.com/on-the-job-missing-8-hbo-go-september/ |website=NYLON MANILA |access-date=15 September 2021 |date=11 August 2021}}

|LineColor = CA8804

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Acosta

|DirectedBy = Erik Matti

|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s=Erik Matti|t=Michiko Yamamoto & Erik Matti}}

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|9|12}}

|ShortSummary = 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.

|LineColor = CA8804

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Arnel

|DirectedBy = Erik Matti

|WrittenBy = Michiko Yamamoto

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|9|12}}

|ShortSummary = 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.

|LineColor = CA8804

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Pedring

|DirectedBy = Erik Matti

|WrittenBy = Michiko Yamamoto

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|9|19}}

|ShortSummary = 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.

|LineColor = CA8804

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Roman

|DirectedBy = Erik Matti

|WrittenBy = Michiko Yamamoto

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|9|26}}

|ShortSummary = 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.

|LineColor = CA8804

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Sisoy

|DirectedBy = Erik Matti

|WrittenBy = Michiko Yamamoto

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|10|3}}

|ShortSummary = 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.

|LineColor = CA8804

}}

}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"

|+

!Year

!Award

!Category

!Nominee

!Result

!{{Abbreviation|Ref.|reference}}

rowspan="5" |2022

| rowspan="4" |Asian Academy Creative Awards

|Best Actor in a Leading Role

|John Arcilla

|{{nom}}

| rowspan="4" |{{Citation |title=On the Job (TV Mini Series 2021) - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20467864/awards/ |language=en |access-date=2023-05-16}}

Best Direction (Fiction)

|Erik Matti

|{{nom}}

Best Drama Series

|On the Job

|{{nom}}

Best Screenplay

|Michiko Yamamoto

|{{nom}}

International Emmy Awards

|Best TV Movie or Miniseries

|On the Job

|{{nom}}

|{{Cite web |last=Purnell |first=Kristofer |title='On The Job' miniseries receives International Emmy nomination |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2022/10/01/2213367/on-job-miniseries-receives-international-emmy-nomination |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=Philstar.com}}

References