Erik Matti draws mixed reactions after slamming workers who ‘exploit’ Eddie Garcia Law

Matti noted that some film workers choose not to be on the set despite the producers’ and directors’ adherence to the EGL. He said they would be "better off in a nine-to-five job."

"They don't need to make movies," the director continued.

“Remember, making films is about gathering a group of creative and technical people passionate enough to tell a singular story that they collectively feel worth telling. Not just by people who are solely there to make a living,” Matti added. 

“There are other jobs that pay better, not as hardworking, and can even send you home early in time to fetch your children from school." 

For Matti, workers should also be responsible for their own tasks, and not compromise them with "their own preferred conveniences or laziness" stemming from "their own literal or even twisted translation" of the EGL.

On Jan. 29, the director took a swipe at those who "go home early" instead of going the extra mile in completing the project in his appreciation post for his assistant director.

“I want to work with people who will charge the battlefield with me. The ones who will go to war no matter the lives lost because they believe in the cause. But, of course, still getting paid for it,” he wrote. 

“I don’t want the ones who will count the hours and will stay behind the front lines when they feel that it will cost them their eight-hour sleep,” he added. 

‘Filmmaking needs to be sustainable’ 

His statements earned mixed reactions on social media. There were some users who sympathized with Matti and believe that workers should be team players.

"Minsan yung sobra laki ang mga ulo, gusto mas boss pa kesa EP at Direk at walang gana sila kumilos. Sila pa mismo ang pahirap sa shoot at humahaba ang oras sa mga ganun (hindi lahat) na klase," one user said on Facebook.

"Makita ko lang na umani ng grant, awards at nag [box] office hit ang film, bawi na ang lahat ng sacrifices ko 'no," another commented. "Susunod na rin naman 'yang mga datung datung na 'yan. Basta love mo ginagawa mo, may foodies, free transpo at tf, go go go! Kaya nga collaborative works ang film making e."

On the other hand, others pointed out the need to make filmmaking a job that is sustainable and not exploitative.

“[I]t's a film INDUSTRY, [E]rik. [T]here are people there just there to make a living, and they need better wages and hours for it,” a social media user wrote.

Another social media user also slammed Matti’s old belief in going beyond the extra mile for the sake of the output of the project.  

“Sa isang predominantly creative sphere, madaling sabihin na, ‘Kung hindi ka passionate enough at hindi mo kaya ang grind sa mundo ng media, maghanap ka na lang ng ibang trabaho.’ This mindset perpetrates abuse, lacks accountability, and takes advantage of the workforce,” she said.

“Bukod pa dyan, gumagawa rin ito ng unsustainable na labor model, at ninanakaw ang oras, buhay, at kabuhayan ng maliliit na manggagawa,” she added. 

“Hindi imposibleng pagsabayin ang passion habang kumikita ng tama at nagtatrabaho nang sapat sa oras. Walang kinalaman ang passion sa makataong pagpapasahod at ethical work hours. Karapatan natin itong hingin, hindi lang bilang film workers kundi, most importantly, bilang tao,” she continued.

Facebook page Cine Kritiko also echoed the sentiments, stressing the importance of better working conditions.

“Using a ‘war’ analogy suggests filmmakers should just endure whatever comes their way, no matter how bad it gets. But filmmaking should not come at the cost of a worker's health, safety, or dignity. These issues are real, and we can’t just push them aside because filmmaking is tough,” it wrote.

“It’s also important to remember that the concerns of workers aren’t about lacking passion. Filmmakers care deeply about their work, but passion won’t protect them if they’re overworked, underpaid, or unsafe,” it added, stressing EGL’s objective to protect workers’ rights and safety.

“Workers deserve to be paid fairly, given hazard pay for risky tasks, and be in safe working conditions. They shouldn’t be forced to accept poor treatment just because they love what they do,” it continued.

“Passion alone doesn’t pay the bills or keep people healthy.”

Eddie Garcia Law 

Signed in May 2024, the Eddie Garcia Law aims to support fair labor practices in film and TV, requiring employers to provide workers with a healthy work environment.  

In the law, the required hours of work for all TV and film workers are eight hours a day to a maximum of 14 hours, or a total of 60 hours in a week, not including break periods.

The law also covers non-discrimination against workers who have contracts or projects with other production outfits "unless exclusivity is specified in the contract." 

Additionally, industry workers are granted the Right to Self-organization and Collective Bargaining, protection from violence, harassment, or any act that degrades employees, and the installment of an occupational safety and health officer.

This was pushed into law after veteran actor, Eddie Garcia, died at the age of 90 after suffering a neck cervical injury after tripping on a cable on the set for his supposed GMA teleserye comeback in 2019. He was comatose for 12 days before passing away on June 20.