Filipino filmmaker Joselito Altarejos, also known in the local entertainment scene as Jay Altarejos (“Unfriend,” “Ang Lalake sa Parola,” “Ang Lihim ni Antonio,” “Kasal,” Gino to Mari,” “Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan” etc.) is calling all his fellow film artists to promote the interest of the movie workers.
It isn’t only in the screen interpretation of the film workers that Jay is fighting for but the off-cam responsibilities of filmmakers to the toilers behind the scenes.
“Magkano ang kinikita ngayon ng mga manggagawa? Kahit saang sektor ng paggawa. Sa pelikula, magkano ang kinikita ng isang film worker, halimbawa, P350.00 kada araw
(How much does a worker earn? In any sector of the labor industry. In the movies, how much a film worker earn, for example, P350.00 a day?),” exclaimed Altarejos without specifying the type of film worker in a fiery tone during his speeches at the celebration of his 15 years in local filmmaking held Saturday afternoon at the Mowelfund Plaza in Quezon City.
“Magkano ang kinikita ng iba pa sa pelikula
(How much are others earning from the movies?), P150,000.00, P350,000.00,” he added without particularizing once more the type of film workers although one could surmise he was referring to the other creatives, big film workers.
“Lahat tayo manggagawa sa pelikula
(We are all workers in the movie industry),” Jay generally opined.
Without exacting them, movie workers for Altarejos meant movie stars, directors, production manager, line producer, executive producers, writers, production designers and other creatives.
“Pero kailangang suportahan natin ang mga marginalized workers sa pelikula, Kailangan taasan natin ang kanilang kita
(We should support the marginalized workers in the movies. We should increase their talent fees),” the militant director asserted and challenged the status quo.
Marginalized movie workers for Jay meant boom man, gaffer, utility and other small toilers on the movie set.