On the Job to screen in North America
Just when we thought local producers have almost forgotten there's a movie genre besides romance and comedy, a film touted to revive the sick action scene is now set for release in North America.
Read related story: ‘On the Job’ joins Cannes
Erik Matti's On the Job impressed US-based distributor Well Go USA when it earned good reviews ahead of its Director's Fortnight debut on Friday, May 24 (Paris time) at the Cannes Film Festival.
Thanks to Batangas Governor Vilma Santos’ timely financial aid, Matti was able to make it in Cannes.
“All the hard work and patience has paid off. After almost four years, we have finally seen this movie cross over internationally. And we are happy that our company, Reality Entertainment, is at the forefront of bringing Filipino movies to a wider, more competitive market thanks to XYZ and Well Go,” he said on Deadline.com.
"'On The Job' reiterates that it is an exciting time for Filipino cinema," said Doris Pfardrescher, President, Well Go USA Entertainment. "We are thrilled we were able to acquire the movie before its premiere in Cannes and can’t wait to bring it to audiences in North America."
Co-produced by Matti’s Reality Entertainment and Star Cinema, the movie that took four years to be released stars Piolo Pascual, Gerald Anderson, Rayver Cruz, Shaina Magdayao and Empress Schuck, along with veterans like Joel Torre, Angel Aquino, Vivian Velez, Joey Marquez, Leo Martinez, Michael de Mesa, Al Tantay and Niño Muhlach.
Critical success first
The film has earned critical success, even before it could be tested for commercial appeal.
“Erik Matti successfully blends a slick thriller, carried by a beautiful staging, and the portrait of a corrupt-to-the-core company,” Nicolas Bardot of the FilmDeCulte.com said in French.
Movies.com earlier listed “On The Job” as one of its “10 Most Anticipated Cannes Movies.”
Written by Matti and Michiko Yamamoto, "On the Job" tells the story of a corruption scandal involving the temporary release of inmates so they could work as contract killers for crooked politicians.
The deal for a North American release was brokered between Pfardrescher and Nate Bolotin and Aram Tertzakian of XYZ Films.
Adolf Alix's Death March set for release, too
Meanwhile, French distributor Equation acquired the rights of Adolf Alix’s “Death March.
The film, which depicts WWII’s Bataan Death March, also made a world premiere in Cannes. It stars Sam Milby, Jason Abalos, Felix Roco, Luis Alandy, Zanjoe Marudo, Ejay Falcon and Carlo Aquino.
Also read: Cannes Film Review: ‘Death March’
“The film is very unique and different – he shoots it in such a way that you are totally immersed in what is happening on the screen,” Equation founder Didier Costet told Screendaily.com.
According to Screendaily.com, Costet was also behind the international release of Brillante Mendoza films Kinatay and Serbis.
