Production Office:  Commission Floor, Mediterranean Film Studios
Kalkara CSP 11 - Malta.  E-mail: info(at)pcpmalta.com 
 Enquiries/Budgets: (+356) 9949-0678 / (+356) 3550 0678
Malta video | Financial Incentives

 

Budget

In 2005 the government introduced financial incentives by offering a cash rebate based on expenditure. Currently this rebate has a maximum ceiling of 22% and both Maltese and EU expenditure are eligible. Commercials and music videos are excluded from this scheme.

The following is intended as a very rough guideline for budgeting your film in Malta.

The PCP specializes in detailed and professional budgets for both features and commercials.

As of September 2009, one Euro is equivalent to approx 1.45 US Dollars. Click here for the latest exchange rates.


ACCOMMODATION

Most hotels with experience of film crews offer special film rates. A single room on B&B in a 4-star tourist class hotel will cost between EUR 40 and EUR 85 in the low and high season respectively. A 4-star superior hotel may cost an additional EUR 10 per night. For a top 5-star hotel allow EUR 100-EUR 150 per night depending on the size of the crew and whether the hotel is busy. 

Comfortable luxury apartments for short-term lets can cost anywhere between EUR 1160 to EUR 2330 per month.  Houses of character and villas can also be rented with prices ranging from EUR 1600 to EUR 2800 per month depending on the luxury and the season of hire.  A small but decent apartment apartment could usually be found between EUR 600 and EUR 1000 a month.

A 4-star standard room
A 4-star executive suite
A typical house for rent

 

ACTORS

There is a small but healthy pool of day players in Malta who have proven experience in films.  You can find a handful of potential actors for speaking parts and these are generally paid between EUR 120 and EUR 300 including buy-outs, the rates depending on how experienced they are and the number of lines. In extreme cases involving perhaps ex-pats living in Malta the fee might go as high as EUR 350/day. (The TV mini-series Helen of Troy tapped into a lot of local talent) 

CATERING

Catering is not cheap in Malta and ranges from EUR 23 to EUR 30 per head for one meal and including crafts service. 

EXTRAS

Allow at least EUR 60 for an 11-hour day, excluding meal breaks or special allowances. Any applicable overtime would be at x 1.5. There is no union in Malta and extras' fees can therefore be varied from one production to another. Crowd marshals cost around EUR 80 and EUR 90 per day.  Extras fees exclude any payroll charges which is usually a flat fee depending on the quantity of extras, although productions can avoid payroll fees by using their local accountant.  Fees for models typical range from EUR 150 for those selected "from the street" to as high as EUR 250 per day for experienced models. These are usually negotiable as there are no fixed rates.

PER DIEMS

The lowest per diem paid in recent years was that for a French production in 2007. The per diem was set at EUR 45 per day on a non-filming day (allowing for two meals) and EUR 28 on filming days when for one meal is provided on set. However these low rates are not very common.  In a 5-star/first class restaurant the bill for one person can easily reach EUR 45 excluding wines.  Most productions do not differentiate between prep and shooting days. A normal rate is around 50 Euros per day.

TRANSPORT

The figures below are indicative rates and derived only from large companies with a proven reputation in servicing the film industry. They include full comprehensive insurance. You may find small garages on the island which offer cheaper prices but  needless to say you should check out the quality of service (i.e. condition of vehicle, type of insurance cover, speed of response for all requirements and even check whether an effective staff member can be reached during the day at all times).  If your production is very small and you perhaps require only four or five vehicles, then checking out the smaller garages may be worthwhile.  But you should be cautious of claims from the smaller businesses of  "our best car"  as the condition of that car may not be what you imagine. 

For a self-drive standard car with AC allow between EUR 20 and EUR 25 per day depending on how busy the garage is at the time of rental. A self-drive minivan will cost you between EUR 40 and EUR 58 depending mainly on the model and season. These prices include full comprehensive insurance and exclude an excess of typically between EUR 350 and EUR 580 in case of a single damage claim.  For chauffeur-driven limos and vans allow EUR 13 and EUR 23 per hour respectively, depending on the luxury of the vehicle and usually with a minimum hire of four hours. For garage-controlled taxis allow EUR 18 to EUR 24 per transfer (eg: hotel to airport or vice versa). Luggage vans cost between EUR 24 to EUR 35 per transfer.

A camera truck costs between EUR 125 and EUR 186 per day respectively for an approx 18ft or  28ft truck. Wardrobe and make up trucks cost between EUR 163 and EUR 233 per day. Artiste trailers and honeywagons are available at around EUR 233 per day. Truck driver costs start from 7 Euros per hour.

LOCAL SUPPORT CREW

Salaries for Maltese crew are priced very competitively when compared to other European countries such as the UK, France, Spain or Italy.  There is usually an added and refundable 18% of Value Added Tax (VAT). Some crew members are exempt from charging VAT.  For those who are not self-employed (ie: employees) there are fringes to consider. This total figure is a variable usually around 15-20% according to their wage and the state regulations which change from time to time.

The working week is typically 6 days but this can be adapted as necessary. Sunday is usually a rest day but the 7th day of a shooting week does not have to be a Sunday. However, unless an exception is made and agreed in advance with the crew, a surcharge is usually expected for any work falling on Sundays and this is usually at double rate.  Public holidays worked also have a penalty of at least double rate unless an exception is agreed with the crew in advance. There are state regulations that call for triple rate but this can 'usually' be negotiated in advance with the crew.  There are no union rules and crews hours are often flexible.  A working day is typically 12 hours including a one-hour lunch or dinner break.  A running lunch with flexible terms is also possible.

The working day starts from the unit base or location. There is no compensation for travelling time since the islands are very small, except in cases when travelling between islands.  There is no surcharge/salary bump for crew working in Gozo. It is advisable that the production manager or producer clarifies these issues as early as possible.

When filming in Gozo or Comino where Maltese crew are expected to reside, a per diem will have to be agreed. It is recommended that this rate is similar to non-Maltese crew per diems.

Night shoots are charged at the regular crew rates without any extra charges. Where possible a turnaround of 11 hours between wrap call and set call should be respected. Overtime, where applicable, is calculated at one and a half (x 1.5). 

Almost all Maltese speak fluent English. Although the pool of human resources in Malta is very limited and just enough to service maybe one production at a time, the few that exist have a great deal of experience with international shoots.  It is important to note that many key roles are not available from Malta and these usually have to be brought from the European mainland.

 


Malta is well known for its highly skilled craftsmen.  Here full-time carpenters and welders from Mediterranean Film Studios are constructing one of three life-size ships for the feature 'Christopher Columbus - The Discovery' (1991)


Well over 100 skilled craftsmen located from Malta were hired to assist with the construction of Gladiator's coliseum and Roman sets

The following rates are rough guidelines for a selection of free-lancers available on the island. Unless indicated otherwise, they are generally based on 11 shooting hours per day excluding a one-hour lunch break and exclusive of VAT, if applicable. 

Carpenters: EUR 80-90/day (10 hrs); Labourers: EUR 60-70/day (10 hrs); Head of Department in Construction teams: EUR 90-100 (10 hrs); M/Up Artists / Hair Stylists: EUR 120-200  depending on experience; M/Up-Hair Assistants: EUR 85-105; Production Assistants: EUR 80-90; Runners: EUR 70-75; Casting/Extras Coordinator EUR 130-165; Location Assistant: EUR 85-100; Seamstress: EUR 95- EUR 110; Clapper/Loader: EUR 190-200; Electricians: EUR 120-180 (through a loan-out lighting company); Grip Assistant: EUR 100-120; Grip man: EUR 175-230 (Key)

Note that payroll charges in Malta, if applicable, usually range from 5 to 10%, depending on the volume of labour.

A more comprehensive and detailed crew-rates list is available upon request.

CAMERA EQUIPMENT

Camera equipment is brought in from the mainland by air or by truck, typically from Rome, Munich or London.  Since Malta is in the EU paperwork at the border is greatly simplified if equipment is arriving from another EU country.

 

The reality is that most professional grip equipment must be shipped into Malta since very little is stocked on the island.

GRIPS

A privately owned jimy-jib with a 2 or 3-axis remote head is available on the island. There is other minimal equipment available in Malta but it is best to confirm its (physical) availability on the island as some of it is not permanently based or it may easily be booked on another job.

FREIGHT

Freight costs in Malta are not cheap.  For 500kg of equipment from and back to London allow around EUR 3500.  For a 40ft-45ft container driven from Milan to Malta allow approximately EUR 3300 each way.  The same container from London will cost around EUR 4550 each way. These rates, although comprehensive in their estimates, are meant as guidelines only and it is highly suggested you get specific quotes as per your shipping lists.  There are two leading shipping companies in Malta with film experience.

Note all equipment coming from outside the EU need an ATA Carnet.  Otherwise a Temporary Import document would need to be issued and this can cause delays in clearance if you have not already prepared a bond. Where a TI is involved from a non-EU country you will have to give the Malta  Customs Department a bond or bank guarantee of around 25% of the declared value of the shipment. This deposit is returned once the shipment is exported from the island.

INCENTIVES

The government grants a rebate up to 22% on selected expenditure spent in Malta, applicable to film and TV productions but not to TV commercials or music videos. Productions benefiting from the rebate will need to pass a Cultural Test. (More on incentives)

LAB & STOCK 

The  labs nearest to Malta with frequent flights daily are found in Rome.  One lab can streamline dailies over the internet.  Stock has to be brought from the mainland.

LIGHTS

A small private company provides a small package of HMIs and gennies. A few AC gennies on Malta are super-silent. There is only one company geared up for small productions and due to this fact prices are not cheap. For local gennies on a short-term hire allow EUR 233/day for 100KVA and EUR 652/day for a 350KVA. Price excludes fuel.

LOCATION FEES

There are generally no government location fees for shooting in streets or exterior public locations. However it is common to pay 'donations' to local councils and these usually range from EUR 116.55 to EUR 233 per day. In extreme cases it may be higher if it is a very large location and/or involves major construction and only if the filming is causing inconvenience to the local residents.   For houses or palaces which are privately owned, location fees usually range anywhere from EUR 466 to EUR 2331 per day.

Fees for government-owned buildings usually range from EUR 233 per day to EUR 466 per day. There are exceptions when such fees can go as high as EUR 700/day.  In greater recognition of the importance of the film servicing industry, the government is trying to minimize such fees for producers.  

In summer 2009 the Malta Film Commission has been requested to look into the matter where a local council demanded exorbitant fees. Donations are always at the discretion of the producer and they are typically commensurate to the level of inconvenience caused to the council and/or its residents. Any demand by a council for a shooting fee is against the rules and regulations set up by the Government.

SECURITY

A police constable costs around 10 Euros/hour depending on his rank. Private security can be cheaper and contracted at between EUR 5.82 and EUR 6.41 per hour.

SFX TANK

Malta is renowned for the popular water tanks based at Mediterranean Film Studios. For the use of the Shallow Water Tank using a wide range of SFX and labour, allow EUR 5000 to EUR 9000 per day depending on the amount of machinery you require (ie the size of the storm or other effects). Discounts are possible for long periods of hire. There are also one-time filling costs ranging from approx EUR 1500 to EUR 3000.  Both the Shallow Water Tank and the Deep Water Tank without any SFX cost EUR 3300/day for prep and EUR 3500/day for filming. There is also an Insert Tank for closer shots underwater.

 
The 'Shallow Water Tank' The 'Deep Water Tank'

 
 

STAGES / STUDIOS

There are no proper "sound" stages on the island but there are two interesting spaces which have been used in the past for filming. One is 5000 square feet usually hired at EUR 950 per day for short-term. Attractive weekly and long term deals are possible.  Another is approx 13,000 square feet and could be rented at a negligible cost from a state-run company but only if it is not already being used for any non-film work. There is also a large fort which the government readily offers to film productions at a minimal cost and where such films as Gladiator and Troy have been filmed.

PRODUCTION OFFICES

Allow EUR 100 and EUR 140 per week per office, excluding cost of water and electricity.

TELEPHONE CALLS

Local calls cost approx EUR 0.12 every five minutes. Overseas calls to Europe and the US cost around EUR 0.16 a minute. Good quality internet-based services have been established on the island which provide overseas calls at a low cost of approximately EUR 0.035 per minute to main European cities and the US/Canada.

TAX

All above prices exclude Value Added Tax (VAT) which stands at 5% for accommodation and 18% for all services and labour. This tax is refundable to foreign producers who film in Malta. In practice, the VAT refund can be effected anywhere from five to six months after the submission date of the accounts which generally occurs on a quarterly basis.  The government pays an interest rate of 1% for refunds made later than six months. The majority of refunds are made within six months. (See government news)  

 

 

Designed by Bernard Schembri
© 2004 PCP Ltd.