Coca-Cola shoots commercial in Malta       

December 2000       

The next Coca-Cola commercial to hit television screens and cinemas around the world will have a taste of Malta. The setting, a stormy day around a lighthouse, was in fact filmed in the Mediterranean Film Studios in Rinella.

The filming consisted of a two-day shoot which was held in the MFS shallow water tank and on studio grounds. The decision to film in Malta was taken just one week before shooting began.

The real-size section of the lighthouse 

And studio craftsmen had the challenging task of building a lighthouse model and a life-size section within four days. Construction and tank work was supervised by MFS operations manager Mark Caruana.

The production team on this commercial comprised Greeks, French and Maltese who had already worked together in the past. In fact, this was the second time they had filmed in Malta, the first being a considerably high-budget commercial last year for Dimple Whisky.  The team was headed by executive producer Stamatis Athanassoulas, production manager Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante and the reputed French director Eric Barbier.

They praised the studio craftsmen for working literally around the clock in order to make this commercial possible.

“At times we felt seriously threatened with the many teething problems presented by the such a tight deadline,” one of the team members said.

A stormy day was created in the shallow tank of MFS over a lighthouse model, which was barely four metres high, attached to a rocky mainland. The top of the lighthouse, which was built separately, measured eight metres in height.

The decision to film in Malta was based on the water facilities at MFS which could not be matched anywhere else in Europe, a spokesman said.

The four-metre lighthouse model before 'the storm'

The wave machines in action

The Count of Monte Cristo

November 2000

by Josette Cassar

Following Gerald Depardieu's TV series filmed in 1997, Malta was yet again the backdrop for another film based on the classic story of ‘The Count of Monte Cristo'.

Late this summer MFS craftsmen quickly geared up for major construction feats for The Count of Monte Cristo. The feature is directed by Kevin Reynolds and stars Jim Caveizel, Guy Pierce and Richard Harris. Filming took place in various locations around the Maltese islands, including the sister islands of Gozo and Comino. Rome was recreated in the ‘silent city' of Mdina where 500 extras danced to a party created in the village square. Other locations included Valletta, Birgu, Palazzo Parisio and the President's Palace.

Challenging construction works were carried out on St. Angelo's Wharf in Dockyard Creek, a spectacular location in the Grand Harbour which simulated Marseille harbour. The wharf enjoys a 360 degrees view of unspoilt architecture dated back to several centuries ago. "The decision to shoot in Malta was mainly based on this unique location which is hard to find elsewhere." says Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante, the film's local production manager. "But what was initially a two week shoot soon grew into a full five weeks after we scouted the three islands."

Indeed many other locations were found, with the crew staying for one week on Comino, an island which barely covers one square mile. A tower on the cliff edge which is currently used by the Maltese Army as a watch tower was portrayed as the French ‘Chateau D'If' prison.

The production designer, Mark Geraghty, immediately fell in love with Malta after his first scouting visit back in April. However, Terry Pritchard, the supervising art director, had became attached to Malta long before now. Ten years ago he had undertaken a major feat to construct three life-size ships in the studio tank for ‘Christopher Colombus – The Discovery'.

On several locations used by ‘The Count of Monte Cristo', electricity poles, television antennas and telephone cables were pulled down temporarily. Tons of soil and sand was downed on tarmac to re-create eighteenth century scenes. Two large tall ships were sailed in from England and fourteen stunt horses were imported from Spain.

‘The Count of Monte Cristo' is produced by Spyglass Entertainment with Chris Brigham at the helm as executive producer.

Fuga D'Amore

June 2000

by Ariadne Massa of The Times of Malta

Just finished shooting in Malta is the film Fuga d'Amore , a co-production between France and Italy.

Contrary to other films previously shot in Malta, this television film portrays the island as itself, providing an advertising platform among millions of viewers. The film was originally scripted to be shot in Italy, but after intensive budget meetings between MFS resident production manager Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante and the unit production manager Michelle Greco, Malta was chosen as the location.

The producers of Fuga d'Amore are the same ones who shot the Rai / CBS television series Jesus last summer at the MFS tanks and in Senglea.

Fuga d'Amore is being directed by film-maker Jacques Deray, whose impressive resume consists of over 30 films.

Nearly 50 per cent of the shooting crew were local and seven local actors were hired for speaking parts. Filming of Fuga d'Amore is taking place in Valletta, Ta' Xbiex, Marsaxlokk, Dwejra, in the MFS tanks and at a local five-star hotel.