Erik Matti, Neil Daza clash over film labor spills online

Matti hits back at Daza’ cryptic post, says advocacy goes beyond meetings amid heated industry debate.

Acclaimed filmmaker Erik Matti has spoken out after cinematographer Neil Daza posted a cryptic message on social media that many in the film industry believed was directed at him, turning what had been an industry discussion into a very public exchange.

The online tension began when Daza shared a Facebook post that read, “So much passion for making films, yet no passion to show up when it comes to labor issues.”

Although no names were mentioned, Matti later addressed the remark in a lengthy Facebook post, making it clear that he believed he was among those being referred to following a mediation meeting at the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP).

Opening his response with biting sarcasm, Matti challenged Daza’s apparent assumption that attendance at meetings is the ultimate measure of one’s commitment to the local film industry.

“Ikaw na ang tagapaglaban ng industriya, Neil Daza. Ikaw na ang sukatan kung sino ang may malasakit sa pelikula at sa labor.”

Matti acknowledged that Daza had every right to raise labor concerns and recognized the importance of the discussions held at the Film Academy. However, he pointed out that his absence from the meetings should not be interpreted as a lack of concern for the industry.

“Nagreklamo ka. Nagkaroon ng meeting sa Film Academy. Mabuti. Karapatan mo ’yan. At ginagalang ko ’yan. Pero hindi naman mandatory ang attendance ko sa meetings na ’yan. Andiyan producer namin. Hindi ako pumunta. Marami akong ginagawa. Hindi ibig sabihin noon wala na akong pakialam sa industriya.”

The award-winning director argued that every filmmaker contributes to the industry in different ways and that reducing one’s dedication to mere attendance at meetings oversimplifies a much bigger issue.

“Ang nakakatawa, parang gusto mong sukatin ang pagmamahal ng tao sa pelikula base sa attendance sa meeting. Ganun na ba ngayon?”

Matti then directly addressed Daza, saying he knew the post was about him after the recent FAP mediation involving him and producer Dondon Monteverde.

“Alam kong ako ’yan dahil galing ka lang sa FAP mediation at hinahanap mo kami ni Dondon. ’Wag mo na daanin sa general statement. Alam naman ng lahat sa industriya na gigil ka sa akin. Di naman ito yung una mong hanash.”

In one of the most talked-about portions of his statement, Matti answered Daza’s criticism with an equally candid opinion about the cinematographer’s work.

“Diretsuhin mo ako. Diretso akong tao. Eto diretsuhin kita. Di ko gusto ilaw mo. Medyo TV. Dati maganda. Ngayon di na. Yan. Diretso. Sinasabi ko opinyon ko sa ilaw mo. I’m sure ‘di mo rin gusto mga pelikula ko. Ayos lang.”

Despite the blunt exchange, Matti emphasized that the real issue goes beyond personalities. He maintained that no individual has the authority to determine who genuinely cares about Philippine cinema.

“Hindi attendance ang sukatan ng malasakit sa industriya. At lalong hindi ikaw ang magbibigay ng grades kung sino ang may passion at sino ang wala. Bawat isa sa atin may kanya-kanyang paraan ng pagtulong sa industriyang ito. Hindi lang ’yung paraang gusto mo.

At kung ang batayan mo ng pagmamahal sa pelikula ay kung sino ang present sa meeting, napakababaw naman ng standard na ’yan.”

Ending his statement on a more conciliatory note, Matti urged Daza to resolve the matter within the proper forum instead of continuing the exchange online.

“May respeto ako sa’yo dahil sa trabaho mo. Kaya binaitan ko ang post na ito. Sana may respeto ka din sa akin. Tapusin na natin ito sa FAP. ’Wag mo dalhin sa social media. May reklamo ka na nga sa FAP, may patutsada ka pa sa FB.

Dun na natin sa FAP tapusin. Kung manalo ka sa isyu mo, e ‘di gud. Kung manalo kami, e ‘di sorry.”

The exchange has since drawn attention from members of the local film community, with many closely following the ongoing discussion surrounding labor issues and the future of the Philippine film industry.

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