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Erik Matti blacklists Lovi Poe from future projects

Lovi Poe has earned the ire of Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles director Erik Matti for supposed unprofessionaiism (Voltaire Domingo/NPPA IMAGES)

Director Erik Matti didn’t mince words on Friday, September 5, when he expressed anger over Lovi Poe’s supposed unprofessionalism.

According to the “On the Job” director, the 25-year-old actress gave the producers a difficult time casting her in the sequel of "Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles,” a 2012 movie she starred in alongside Dingdong Dantes.

‘Starlet’

Matti, who went as far as calling the award-winning actress “starlet,” claimed Lovi demanded a huge talent fee to finish a two-day shoot to reprise her role.

The filmmaker also vowed never to cast the Kapuso star in future projects.

Matti is a movie director, producer, writer and actor. His directorial works include “On the Job” (2013), “Gagamboy” (2004), “Mano Po 2: My Home” (2003) and "Pedro Penduko Episode II: Return of the Comeback” (2000).

Lovi has numerous Best Actress awards from several award-giving bodies, including Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival (“Mayohan,” 2010) and FAMAS Awards (“Sagrada Familia,” 2010), among others. Brilliante Mendoza’s critically-acclaimed film “Thy Womb” earned Lovi two Best Supporting Actress trophies (FAP Luna Awards and Gawad Pasado Awards).

Yahoo Philippines has been trying to get Lovi’s side on the incident, but her manager has yet to respond.

Matti’s Facebook statement in full:

“I’ve always thought highly of actors, stars and celebrities being intelligent enough to make the right choices for the roles they want to play on films. I have been disappointed several times in the past but I am always hopeful that maybe next time actors will make the right one.

“I am currently doing the sequel to Tiktik The Aswang Chronicles that starred Dingdong Dantes, Joey Marquez, Janice de Belen, Ramon Bautista and Lovi Poe. Yes, Lovi Poe. She played the girlfriend of Dingdong as the requisite pregnant damsel in distress in a siege film. It may not be as important a film as a Cinemalaya entry but I think it's a fun worthy project to do.

Root of the problem 

“The sequel Kubot The Aswang Chronicles takes off where the first one ended with Dingdong and Lovi along with their newly born baby Macky rushing to leave the town of Pulupandan.

“We have a new leading lady for the 2nd film. This time it will be played by Isabelle Daza. So you might ask what happened to Lovi? Well, Lovi will supposedly be in the film for 2 shooting days. That will be how long the opening part will be shot. I leave you guys to figure out what happens there but after that opening sequence, the story continues after two years of that incident.

So technically, the lead actress in the first film Lovi Poe will only be shot for 2 days here in the 2nd film.

“Now that's where we encountered problems.

Final straw 

“In franchise movies like these, we in Reality Entertainment, AgostoDos and GMA films, as producers think beyond than just one film and we stipulate in our contracts for the actors that they should be ready to do 3 films. That holds true for Dingdong (even if he is a co-producer), Joey Marquez, Janice De Belen (even if she died on the first one. Who knows, she might re-appear as the ghost conscience of Joey Marquez) , Ramon Bautista (that even if his Bart character died, he's now back in the 2nd film in a surprise role) and of course, Lovi.

“For months now, we, the producers and the production have been struggling to negotiate with Lovi and her managers to shoot the opening sequence. Over a month ago, we got word that she does not want to do it because it was just for two days. We dangled every possible option just to get her to agree with us EVEN WHEN WE HAVE A SOLID CONTRACT TO HOLD HER UP TO THIS 2nd film, but she and her manager Leo Dominguez still said no. (Even if, by the way, our new lead actress, Isabelle Daza is also coming from the same manager).

“The final straw that made us decide it would be impossible to get Lovi Poe to do the role was when they said yes but demanded a ridiculous amount of money for it. There I realized, "T*****a, wala talagang plano 'tong Lovi na 'to na gawin 'tong sequel. “Huhuthutan lang kami nito na parang nangongotong na pulis!"

Long overdue

This post is long overdue. As part producer of the film, I don't want any negative publicity to put the film in a bad light. I only decided today to post this because it has been 3 weeks now and we have been looking for a replacement for Lovi and we couldn't find anyone. I just realized, Lovi screwed us up! And even with a contract binding us to her, showbusiness doesn't really operate that way. As much as possible, whatever the conflict, avoid any corporate and legal confrontation.

“I am pissed that a starlet like Lovi Poe would have the gall to go against the contract she signed just because she does not want to do a two-day role.

The last time

“We will, of course, still find a replacement for her after all the burden she put on us and the production.

“Just want to vent out my frustration at how these managers and starlets think so highly of themselves. Gumawa lang ng Muslim Musliman na indie kala mo serious actor na.

“This will be the last time I will get a talent from Leo Dominguez. And Lovi Poe, kahit maliit lang kaming production company, you will never get any offer from us again. Good luck on your world-changing teleseryes. F***k you very much for f***king us up!”