Erik Matti shared the journey of producing the Filipino adaptation of Keys to the Heart.

In an Instagram post, the acclaimed director and producer admitted that it initially took him "a while to warm up with this project."

"This has been with us for more than a year now. It came from another local studio prior to getting in our hands. KTTH was adapted from a classic Korean drama that starred big Korean actors Lee Byung-Hun and Youn Yuh-Jung," he said.

Erik relayed that he has been getting a lot of positive feedback regarding their Filipino adaptation, which is now streaming on Netflix.

"I’ve been getting a lot of private messages about our newly launched film in @netflixph Keys to the Heart. They loved the film!" he shared.

The director-producer enumerated the key ingredients of why he thinks his adaptation worked.

"We all knew from the beginning that the key to this adaptation is a good cast, an insightful local adaptation script-wise and a sensitive film direction that leans more towards realism and honesty rather than just an out and out melodrama like the original. The direction more towards a Filipino sensibility rather than trying to copy the Korean counterpart," he said.

He went on to say that the stellar cast and crew further amplified the beauty of the project.

"That formula of casting @dollyedeleon @onlyzanjoemarudo @elijahcanlas , script @pamstrr and direction @kerwin_go is what made it work for the local audience and hopefully the rest of the world," he said.

Erik confessed that he had hesitations at the beginning to produce the film, especially with its type of genre.

"I was originally scared of @realitymmstudios producing this genre as it is not really what we are known for. @dondonmonteverde and I thought that maybe we could tell this story in a way that it comes out more authentic and less manipulative in terms of emotions," he said.

READ: Zanjoe Marudo shares behind-the-scenes photos from ‘Keys to the Heart’

He added: "That we could pepper the script with a dash of Pinoy humor with a bit of charm and some organic endearing emotional Pinoy moments rather than an out-and-out tearjerker. And we’re happy that it worked."

"Glad that BJ Soong, our Korean co-producer of Creative Group 8, brought this project to us. He was the one who believed in it first. Please watch our film on Netflix released globally. You’ll enjoy it!" he continued.