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.
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 is not cheap in Malta and ranges from EUR
23 to EUR 30 per head for one meal and including
crafts service.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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)
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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 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.
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The reality is that most professional grip equipment must be
shipped into Malta since very little is stocked on the island. |
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Allow EUR 100 and EUR 140 per week per office, excluding cost of
water and electricity.
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.
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)
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