Published in The Times of Malta on 18 April 2000
In appreciation of Paul Avellino
by Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante
The passing away of Paul Avellino yesterday was a shock to the local film industry. For his family and closest friends it must of course have been a very painful experience, despite the preparation for this inevitable moment.
Paul Avellino can best be described as a real gentleman who literally gave his life for the local film industry.
I met him quite by chance some 12 years ago. He was a guest speaker at a seminar on the future of the cinema in Malta. He was 25 years deep into his career while I was a young man desperate to break into the film industry. That casual encounter was to blossom into one of the greatest and most inspiring friendships I have ever experienced.
The film industry is a cut-throat industry with 'sharks' disguised even as the closest of friends. But Paul could be distinguished from the rest through his sincerity and honesty, coupled with a great sense of professionalism. Despite the many backstabbing "friends" he encountered, he still knew how to forgive, even when he could not forget.
Paul became involved in the film industry 35 years ago when Malta Film Facilities was in its infancy and the first water tank was still under construction. He was eventually to manage the studios at different times, depending largely on the whims of politicians, some of whom had little concern for the best interests of the film industry.
Over the past few years Paul used to talk often about his high and low years at the studios, regretting the lack of appreciation from many local authorities. He often wondered whether it had been worth declining the many opportunities he had to work abroad.
But he never lacked appreciation from respected foreign film-makers who vowed to return to Malta with him at the helm of MFS. The studios had fast become his baby, to the extent that he would literally sleep there for days on end.
Last week Paul handed me a note expressing one of his last wishes. He asked for a commemorative plaque to be fixed on the studio property in remembrance of "founder and promoter: James Benjamin Hole (Jimmy)".
Back in 1964 special effects wizard Jim Hole had a dream of building the first ever water filming facility in the world, a facility which was to create a bustle of filming activity on this island and which is today taken so much for granted.
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Additional note by Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante on 10 Dec 2013:
As mentioned in the above article published in Paul's memory, on his death bed at the Gozo hospital Paul's last words to me were "There should be a plaque at the film studio remembering Jim Hole." Paul was to pass away the following day.
For some background: Benjamin 'Jim' Hole was the founder of the studio back in 1963 and it was his idea to build the world's first water SFX tank. This tank would put Malta on the map for it managed to attract several huge and renowned films. Back in 1962 Jim had contacted Paul, then working for a construction company, inquiring about building the tank. Jim and Paul quickly discovered they worked well together and Paul ended up managing the water facility from its first years onto several other periods in the following decades while the facility was owned by government.
Upon hearing Paul's last words, I looked at his wife who was also beside him and, without the need to say much, we both agreed that really Paul's name also needs to go on that plaque. I was then a manager at the studio and so I made sure this plaque was created and affixed to the entrance of the studio offices.
In appreciation of Paul Avellino
by Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante
The passing away of Paul Avellino yesterday was a shock to the local film industry. For his family and closest friends it must of course have been a very painful experience, despite the preparation for this inevitable moment.
Paul Avellino can best be described as a real gentleman who literally gave his life for the local film industry.
I met him quite by chance some 12 years ago. He was a guest speaker at a seminar on the future of the cinema in Malta. He was 25 years deep into his career while I was a young man desperate to break into the film industry. That casual encounter was to blossom into one of the greatest and most inspiring friendships I have ever experienced.
The film industry is a cut-throat industry with 'sharks' disguised even as the closest of friends. But Paul could be distinguished from the rest through his sincerity and honesty, coupled with a great sense of professionalism. Despite the many backstabbing "friends" he encountered, he still knew how to forgive, even when he could not forget.
Paul became involved in the film industry 35 years ago when Malta Film Facilities was in its infancy and the first water tank was still under construction. He was eventually to manage the studios at different times, depending largely on the whims of politicians, some of whom had little concern for the best interests of the film industry.
Over the past few years Paul used to talk often about his high and low years at the studios, regretting the lack of appreciation from many local authorities. He often wondered whether it had been worth declining the many opportunities he had to work abroad.
But he never lacked appreciation from respected foreign film-makers who vowed to return to Malta with him at the helm of MFS. The studios had fast become his baby, to the extent that he would literally sleep there for days on end.
Last week Paul handed me a note expressing one of his last wishes. He asked for a commemorative plaque to be fixed on the studio property in remembrance of "founder and promoter: James Benjamin Hole (Jimmy)".
Back in 1964 special effects wizard Jim Hole had a dream of building the first ever water filming facility in the world, a facility which was to create a bustle of filming activity on this island and which is today taken so much for granted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional note by Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante on 10 Dec 2013:
As mentioned in the above article published in Paul's memory, on his death bed at the Gozo hospital Paul's last words to me were "There should be a plaque at the film studio remembering Jim Hole." Paul was to pass away the following day.
For some background: Benjamin 'Jim' Hole was the founder of the studio back in 1963 and it was his idea to build the world's first water SFX tank. This tank would put Malta on the map for it managed to attract several huge and renowned films. Back in 1962 Jim had contacted Paul, then working for a construction company, inquiring about building the tank. Jim and Paul quickly discovered they worked well together and Paul ended up managing the water facility from its first years onto several other periods in the following decades while the facility was owned by government.
Upon hearing Paul's last words, I looked at his wife who was also beside him and, without the need to say much, we both agreed that really Paul's name also needs to go on that plaque. I was then a manager at the studio and so I made sure this plaque was created and affixed to the entrance of the studio offices.
As it had to happen, politics had to toss up this plaque as much as it tossed Paul's three decades in the industry. A few years after this plaque was in place, the police showed up at the studio's administration and production offices, accompanied by an official from the government's parastatal and investment body, Mimcol. They held in their hands an eviction order. Apparently the building's rent - the equivalent of some 23,000 Euros a year - was not paid since over a decade. The studio was struggling financially, having previously been close to bankruptcy before its new owner took it over in 2000. At the time of the eviction it was successfully managing to pay its workers, social security and related taxes. It was on a long road to recovery.
Although I was no longer working for the studio at the time, I happened to be at a meeting during the time of the eviction and the first thing I did was remove the plaque and put it in the boot of my car, unseen by the eviction officials who clearly had little or no care to the film industry. (More info on this here) Today the plaque is still waiting for a new wall, a permanent place where the studio's history and founding can be appreciated, or rather, not buried.
Only months after this eviction of the studio office building, the building was demolished and given to Middle Eastern investors of the "Smart City" project and to this date never rebuilt. Through the ignorant actions of civil servants and one politician, fanned by capitalism, investor's greed and dare I say corruption, Malta's film servicing industry lost its one and only dedicated construction and storage warehouse and production office space which was all set up in one large and very valuable building. Today productions struggle for production offices and workshops, often being forced to take over a factory somewhere on the island far away from the tanks depending on what becomes available at the time.
The story of this plaque and its short-lived existence at the studio epitomizes one of Paul's wisest words of wisdom "For nearly four decades I have watched Malta make two steps forward and two steps backward in respect to the film industry. The biggest mistake I regret is not moving abroad when I was invited to do so by more than one international producer. But I was too attached to the studio. For me it was home".
A exclusive interview shot in the late 90's with Paul Avellino can be watched here:
Part 1 of 2
Part 2 of 2
Although I was no longer working for the studio at the time, I happened to be at a meeting during the time of the eviction and the first thing I did was remove the plaque and put it in the boot of my car, unseen by the eviction officials who clearly had little or no care to the film industry. (More info on this here) Today the plaque is still waiting for a new wall, a permanent place where the studio's history and founding can be appreciated, or rather, not buried.
Only months after this eviction of the studio office building, the building was demolished and given to Middle Eastern investors of the "Smart City" project and to this date never rebuilt. Through the ignorant actions of civil servants and one politician, fanned by capitalism, investor's greed and dare I say corruption, Malta's film servicing industry lost its one and only dedicated construction and storage warehouse and production office space which was all set up in one large and very valuable building. Today productions struggle for production offices and workshops, often being forced to take over a factory somewhere on the island far away from the tanks depending on what becomes available at the time.
The story of this plaque and its short-lived existence at the studio epitomizes one of Paul's wisest words of wisdom "For nearly four decades I have watched Malta make two steps forward and two steps backward in respect to the film industry. The biggest mistake I regret is not moving abroad when I was invited to do so by more than one international producer. But I was too attached to the studio. For me it was home".
A exclusive interview shot in the late 90's with Paul Avellino can be watched here:
Part 1 of 2
Part 2 of 2