Weapons testing at Rinella Publication date: October 29, 2002 Fiona Galea Debono A 15th-century flame-throwing catapult being recretated at the Rinella water tanks for the Discovery documentary Inventing the Past. The Rinella water tanks have seen it all - only last week, they provided the setting for the 1453 Siege of Constantinople, as well as the testing ground for a mysterious weapon, an "incendiary firing catapult", which was used at the time. Bright flames were sent shooting across the surface of the tank as a team of experts tried to solve the mystery of the weapon and reproduce it, using only ancient materials and techniques. A highly explosive oil, which was used to recreate the weapon, had to be shipped from Azerbaijan, said young producer Ana Lloyd of Windfall Films, a UK production company. The pyrotechnic display, watched over by a fire crew from Malta International Airport, was created for an episode of a documentary, Inventing the Past, which is to be aired on Discovery Channel in April and focuses on "unresolved, technological mysteries of the past". It should also be aired on the Canadian History Channel, France V and Channel 4, said Ms Lloyd. The Byzantine Fireship, the working title of the one-hour episode of the four-part series, gathered a team of related experts - from a Birmingham University Byzantine historian to metalworking and ancient weapons specialists, an engineer and an explosives expert - who together at the tanks cracked the mystery behind what was known as Greek, or prepared fire, an ancient form of napalm, reference to which is made in ancient texts. In Malta, around four days were spent testing the weapon, which proved to be successful, said Producer's Creative Partnership production coordinator Joseph Formosa Randon. Together with director Mark Lewis, Ms Lloyd and the production team researched, experimented, discovered, learnt and filmed. The Byzantine Fireship centres around the four-month siege, which marked the end of the Byzantine Empire by a Turkish assault. The historical background and small-scale drama reconstructions were filmed in Istanbul, where the entire documentary was intended to be shot. "We had originally thought of doing the whole thing in Turkey before we learnt about the tanks. We came to Malta on the way to a recce in Istanbul and we knew immediately that it was the place: the people were fantastic, as well as divers and other experts, and the studios had the right boats." Malta was considered to be a "controlled and fabulous location" - certainly better than the Bosphorus as was planned originally, said Ms Lloyd. The Bosphorus' busy shipping lanes were not the most ideal environment for the testing of a flame-throwing catapult and the "controlled space" of the tanks was a major bonus.

EXPLOSIVE EFFECTS FOR 'SHELL' COMMERCIAL

Publication date: October 16, 2002

Fiona Galea Debono

Shooting for a TV commercial of ‘Shell' was successfully completed in Malta earlier this week.

The production for the world-renowned oil company was filmed in Spain last week followed by three hectic days in the MFS tanks of Kalkara.  The local filming consisted of various water effects shot in the studio's shallow tank  This tank was built in 1964 and is highly reputed for creating storms for such recent movies as ‘White Squall' and 'U-571'. 

In a statement issued by Mediterranean Film Studios, general coordinator Cornelia Schellmann said that this commercial "is expected to be a good showcase of the diversity of the studio's water effects".  These effects included 'tip-tanks' which consist of large water shutes throwing several tons of water in order to create the crash-effects of a tidal wave. Other effects included underwater mortar-like 'explosions' designed by tank coordinator Mark Caruana. 

A water 'explosion' caused by large quantities of compressed air simulate a water eruption (Photos by Simon Sansone)

The commercial was produced in Malta by the The Producer's Creative Partnership (PCP) which was commissioned by one of  Europe's leading production companies for commercials based in London, RHB Productions. The commercial, directed by top commercial director Graham Rose, will be screened worldwide. 

PCP Producer Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante was unable to elaborate on the storyline but said that the footage shot at MFS looks great and will look even better with computer effects which are currently already underway. He praised MFS for being "very reliable". 

Tip Tanks in action (photos by Simon Sansone)

The filming in Malta required a large blue screen, which is a special backdrop commonly used in the film and tv industry in order to enable computer effects to be inserted in the final editing stage.   The PCP brought over a screen from Los Angeles measuring approximately 30 x 40 feet.  Mr Scerri-Ferrante commented that it was unfortunate that even digital colour paint, which is commonly used in the media industry, had to be also imported specifically for the job.  The PCP also spent thousands of liri on camera and grip equipment shipped in from Munich and London.  “Unfortunately this is the norm for Malta. Clearly the local film infrastructure needs to grow much stronger" added Mr. Scerri-Ferrante.

More water explosions.

The blue screen set up in the studio's stage.

A recent feature published by the Screen International, a leading media industry journal, investigated Malta's pros and cons for film shooting.  It is no coincidence that amongst Malta's negative factors were the 'limited technical supplies"  that "can easily be exhausted" and also the fact that there was no sound stage.   The same article highlighted the water tanks at MFS as one of the island's positive attributes.

Film-maker Mario Azzopardi plans to revive film fund idea

Publication date: June 17, 2002

by Ariadne Massa , The Times of Malta

Two years after giving up on his dream to have an established film fund in Malta, film-maker Mario Azzopardi is hoping to revive the concept in a meeting planned with Finance Minister John Dalli tomorrow.

"After resigning from the Maltese Falcon Productions film fund I had vowed never to be involved again, but even though I was away from Malta, din l-art helwa keeps pulling me back," he said with a resigned smile.

A film fund would open a gateway of opportunities and bring about the realisation of three to four films a year.

The idea was that the government and banks would inject money into the fund so as to back the production of local films. The fund could also pave the way for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between two countries where producers, writers and directors could pool their resources to jointly produce material.

Mr Azzopardi was yesterday speaking in between shoots of the American television series Dinotopia - his first in Malta since he emigrated to Canada 25 years ago.

His presence on the island also makes it the first time that a Maltese film director is shooting an American production on the island.

Mr Azzopardi has an affinity with the island and while he was in Canada he had struggled for several years to set up the first film fund in Malta, only to see all the good work crumble into nothing.

Mr Azzopardi had been the driving force behind the creation of the MFP, a state-backed film fund which was supposed to co-finance three or four low-budget features a year.

After one of its principal backers, Mid Med Bank, backed out following its HSBC takeover, Mr Azzopardi was so frustrated with the lack of progress of the fund that he quit as its development and production chief.

However, he has not given up on the idea of Malta becoming a co-producer of international films, creating a film producing industry in the process.

"In the meeting with Mr Dalli I hope to delve into the future of the film industry and maybe even re-ignite the idea of the film fund," Mr Azzopardi said.

"A film commission does not make an industry. Its role is to try and convince a producer to come and film in Malta. A film fund is the only way to go about it if Malta wants to create its own projects," he said.

Mr Azzopardi insisted that contrary to what had been planned for the Maltese Falcon Productions, a new film fund would have to be led by people who were experts in the financing of film business and experts in the industry itself.

Mr Azzopardi said that the shooting of Dinotopia will leave about $250,000 in Malta in just a week. With a film fund there would be many more opportunities and possibilities.

What made Mr Azzopardi divert his conversation from the shooting of Dinotopia to the film fund, was the fact that there were so many young people who had untapped talent.

Mr Azzopardi also heaped praise on PCP production manager Malcolm Scerri - Ferrante , whom he described as being as good as any to be found abroad.

"His experience is phenomenal. His talent should be taken care of. Malcolm is brilliant," he said.

Mr Azzopardi was also full of praise for the Maltese actors he had cast for silent parts as well as for the two who had been favoured over British professionals for the speaking parts.

"I had already booked two British actors for the parts of captain and radio man, but I have now opted for the talent of Edward Mercieca and Paul Portelli," he enthused.

"I have been missing for 25 years and it's nice to see a new generation of actors who are full of potential and who are as keen and as excited as we were back then," he said.

Established Maltese actors Jes Camilleri, Margaret Agius, Nanette Brimmer and Alan Paris were in fact an integral part of yesterday's shooting in the water tanks of the MFS.

Mr Scerri-Ferrante said that filming of Dinotopia, a co-production between Hallmark TV and Disney, started on Saturday and was expected to draw to an end on Friday.

Shooting of the series, which will be aired on ABC television, will also take place in Popeye Village, at Dingli Cliffs and on a beach in the north.

For the series, Mr Azzopardi will also be directing his 21-year-old daughter Lara who is this week graduating with a first degree in drama from the University of Toronto.

Mr Scerri - Ferrante said a foreign crew of 70 people was brought over to shoot two of the 13 episodes in Malta. The rest are being shot in Hungary and filming there is expected to be wrapped in August.

American director Tom Wright, who is filming a number of episodes, is also in Malta to shoot a few of the water scenes.

"The pilot of this series received rave reviews when it was shown in the US last month. This has led us to shift the launch forward to September instead of December," Mr Azzopardi said.

Delving into the plot of Dinotopia, Mr Azzopardi said the series revolved round the popular children's books which tell the tale of how humans and dinosaurs learn to live together in harmony in a fantasy land.

Everyone used to say that these books were impossible to shoot, but Mr Azzopardi and the rest of the team have proved them wrong.

At the moment Mr Azzopardi is riding on a high after his latest film Savage Messiah raked in a phenomenal C$2 million in just over three weeks.

This film, which was released in over 50 cinemas across Quebec, Canada, is a powerful, psychological true story based on the life of cult leader Roch Thèriault.

"Savage Messiah got the best showing in Quebec in 10 years. It is also expected to be sold for worldwide distribution," he said.

Despite his success with Savage Messiah, Mr Azzopardi is happy to be in Malta shooting Dinotopia.

"This is a dream come true. I hope it won't be the first and last."

TV mini-series Helen of Troy to be shot in Malta

Publication date: May 2, 2002

By Fiona Galea Debono , The Times of Malta

The Malta Film Commission is experiencing yet another busy period, with a number of foreign productions showing an interest and making serious enquires about filming in Malta.

Among the many projects heading Malta's way is a two-part, four-hour, TV mini-series, Helen of Troy, which starts shooting in various locations at the beginning of summer over a period of about two months.

About 95 per cent of the $14 million-budget production is being shot in Malta, which is doubling as Athens, Sparta and Troy, the MFC said.

Helen of Troy is produced and distributed by USA Cable Entertainment - part of Vivendi Group, the largest media group worldwide - and is to be aired in the US early next year.

It is being directed by the renowned TV director, Hungarian-born, Peter Medak, and scripted by Ronni Kern, while a number of top-class actors have been mentioned for the series, although their names cannot yet be confirmed.

The producers approached the Malta Film Commission representative in Los Angeles and meetings were held earlier last month. Following a recce in Malta, they decided to shoot the bulk of the production locally.

Malta was selected for the TV film primarily due to the sets in Fort Ricasoli and the fort itself, as well as other locations, the short distances and competitive costs, the MFC said.

Helen of Troy marks the third TV project to be almost completely shot in Malta in 2002. Shooting of the TV series Julius Caesar and the filmed version of the opera, The Death of Klinghoffer, was completed earlier last month.

Julius Caesar pumped around $14 million into the economy over seven months.

Commenting on the latest project, the parliamentary secretary in the Economic Services Ministry, George Hyzler, remarked that USA Cable Entertainment's decision to shoot the series in Malta confirmed yet again that the island was turning into a reliable and popular film destination.

"The various, unspoiled locations, Fort Ricasoli and the sets in particular, as well as the hard work and professionalism of the MFC have contributed to attract the project to Malta, which was competing with Croatia's Dalmatian Coast.

Dr Hyzler commented that if Malta lost its reliable reputation on one project, irrespective of its budget, it could lose business for the coming years. The government and the MFC would continue to do their utmost to satisfy the needs of every production, he said, confident that the public had understood that the film business was not a "rip-off industry".

The MFC has received encouraging feedback both from the producers of Julius Caesar and Klinghoffer, who said they were looking forward to shooting in Malta in the future.

The past three months have been busy for Malta, following a quieter 2001, Dr Hyzler said, speaking about the need for more human resources in the business and encouraging the private sector to consider the potential of the industry and start investing in it.

He said Malta needed a sound stage and other ancillary services and that while the Business Promotion Act catered for incentives for the industry, feedback from the local private sector was still low.

A training programme for the industry would soon be launched to help Malta increase its workforce in the field, Dr Hyzler said.

According to Variety, an influential daily trade newspaper, the mini-series on the legendary life of Helen of Troy - the face that launched a thousand ships - traces the story of how a savage war was waged over the beauty of one woman, Helen, who risked everything to be with her lover, the young warrior Paris of Troy.

The production team was looking at either trying to lure a big name, known for both her beauty and her acting prowess, or at launching a worldwide search for the perfect Helen.

The mini-series has been described as "a big story, which also involves an interesting personal story that carries you through".

Read more on Helen of Troy's impact on Malta here

Two episodes of American drama being shot in Malta

Film-maker Mario Azzopardi directing

Publication date: April 30, 2002

By Ariadne Massa , The Times of Malta

Maltese-born film-maker Mario Azzopardi, who has over 200 hours of American television drama and several films to his credit, will be directing parts of a television series in Malta in June.

Shooting of the series Dinotopia, a co-production between Hallmark TV and Disney which will be aired on ABC television later this year, brought a number of firsts for Mr Azzopardi.

It is the first time he has returned to Malta to work on a production since he emigrated to Canada 25 years ago, and also the first time that a Maltese film director is shooting an American production in Malta.

At the moment Mr Azzopardi is riding on a high after his latest film, Savage Messiah, was released by Muse Entertainment in over 50 cinemas across Quebec, just two days ago.

This powerful, psychological film about cult leader Roch Thèriault has received rave reviews and is expected to be released on other big screens worldwide shortly.

Savage Messiah is based on the true story of one of the most sensational cases of brainwashing and manipulation in rural Quebec and Ontario in the 1980s.

Sitting casually at the reception of the San Gorg Corinthia Hotel, Mr Azzopardi said he was looking forward to shooting two of the 13 episodes of Dinotopia in Malta.

Mr Azzopardi was in Malta over the weekend seeking good locations prior to filming on June 14. Yesterday, he returned to Hungary where the bulk of the filming is taking place.

The majority of the filming in Malta will take place in the water tanks of the Mediterranean Film Studios in Kalkara, on a beach, cliff tops and along the western shoreline.

Mr Azzopardi said these two episodes were originally scheduled to take place in Turkey, but he managed to convince the producers that Malta could offer similar artistic qualities.

"Hallmark TV had had a very bad experience in Malta with the film Ulysses. Even the stories which came out from the shooting of Gladiator did not amuse them," he said.

"However, things have changed and they were willing to give the island a second chance," he said.

Mr Azzopardi himself has been left with a bitter taste after he struggled for several years to set up the first film fund in Malta, only to see all the good work come to nothing.

He was the driving force behind the creation of Maltese Falcon Productions, a state-backed film fund which was supposed to co-finance three or four low-budget Maltese features a year.

After one of its principal backers, Mid Med bank, backed out following the takeover by HSBC, Mr Azzopardi was so frustrated with the lack of progress of the fund that he quit as its development and production chief.

However, he has not given up the idea of Malta becoming a co-producer of international films and creating a film producing industry in the process.

"At the moment Malta is still in the service industry and has not produced any films yet, while with the film fund it would have been able to create its own projects," he said.

"George Hyzler (parliamentary secretary in the Economic Services Ministry) is doing a good job, but at the end of the day we are still at the mercy of producers who have to be attracted to Malta," he continued.

After shooting Dinotopia he is determined to return on a larger project where, contrary to most current films being shot here, Malta will be depicted as itself. This will provide an invaluable opportunity for the island to promote itself abroad as an exotic location.

'Storm' whipped up for Dutch commercial Publication date: April 8,2002 by Fiona Galea Debono, The Times of Malta A Dutch commercial for a natural health product, a vitamin called VSM, was filmed last week at the Mediterranean Film Studios, where a night storm was simulated, as well as at sea. MFS played a major role in set construction and water special effects, building the interior of a 37-foot yacht within nine days, said co-producer Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante. The interior was built on a rocking machine in a warehouse at the studios and was used to simulate the movements of a yacht in a storm. The commercial also included a one-day shoot at sea, at Gebel tal-Halfa in Gozo. A 37-foot yacht was chartered and then hauled into the tanks at Rinella 12 hours later. Around 60 per cent of the crew was Maltese, as well as one of the three-strong cast - a four-year-old girl, Kaileigh Casha. Directed by Wim van Slooten and produced by Anton Scholten and Bas Pinkse, the commercial is to be aired internationally. It features a family trying to handle a heavy storm on a yacht, but ends on a positive note, with the picturesque and tranquil backdrop of the Gozitan coastline, when the storm subsides. A Dutch production, the commercial was co-produced by the local Producer's Creative Partnership (PCP), marking the first in a series of international co-productions planned by the PCP. PCP currently has two film projects in the pipeline: a television series, part of which is expected to be filmed in Malta in seven weeks' time; and a feature film, based on Roman times. The television series is in the final stages of discussions and is about a fictional world where dinosaurs and humans live together in harmony, said PCP founder Mr Scerri-Ferrante, who was previously resident production manager at MFS. Shooting of the feature film is scheduled for the end of summer and a number of Maltese locations are being considered to depict ancient Rome. Negotiations are still in an early stage for another project, a long-running TV series called Coliseum, earmarked for the end of the year or the beginning of the next. Mr Scerri-Ferrante remarked that, following the September 11 attacks, many Western production companies were giving preference to filming in Malta over Arab countries like Morocco. Malta was looked upon as a neutral country that posed no political instability or serious risks for Americans, he said. PCP has representatives in London and Moscow and is about to set up another agent in Toronto later on in the year. PRESS-RELEASE March 21, 2002 SEARCH STILL ON FOR YOUNG GIRL The search for a young girl aged 4-5 years is still on for a film commercial shooting in Malta early next month. Although an audition held at MFS last week “showed potential little actresses” as director Wim van Slooten explained, “the greatest problem for the film is that most Maltese naturally look very Southern-European”. The young girl should be Northern European looking and aged strictly between four to five. She must not be camera shy and neither afraid of water. Her hair should be straight brown or dirty blond. What she must NOT be is Southern-European looking or have blue eyes or curly hair which is very blonde or black. Filming of the commercial in Malta will involve shooting on a yacht in Gozo as well as shooting in the water tank and mini-stage at Mediterranean Film Studios. The interior of a yacht is currently being built under the Art Direction of Roland Mylanus and Coordination of Mark A. Caruana. The set is on a rocking machine which will simulate a storm. In the tank, wind and wave special effects will also be simulating a fake storm around a real yacht.. The young girl being sought from Malta has no speaking part but should still be enthusiastic to play in front of the camera. Two actors have already been cast in the UK and will play the part of her parents. The features of the young girl naturally have to be related to her screen-parents. An audition is being held at the Production Centre of Mediterranean Film Studios next Saturday between 11am and 1pm.

Busy times for Malta's film industry

Publication date: January 12, 2002

by Fiona Galea Debono, The Times of Malta

Director Jan de Bont on set of the Pirelli commercial in Malta.

Malta's film servicing industry is going through another active patch, with the filming of a "spectacular" commercial for Pirelli tyres over the last week, as well as the up-coming shooting of a Channel 4 opera, The Death of Klinghoffer, and the TV series Julius Caesar next month.

Filming of the commercial by Italian production company BRW & Partners srl, involving a one-day shoot out at sea and four days at the Mediterranean Film Studios water tanks, started on Monday and ended yesterday.

Renowned for his work on Speed (1994) and Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997), Twister (1996) and The Haunting (1999), director Jan de Bont put into practice his experience in action movies to create the action commercial, created for worldwide distribution.

Maurizio Sala and Michele Mariani, the creative directors of the top Italian advertising agency Armando Testa, who came up with the concept of the commercial, described it as a "metaphor of power". It highlights the strong, central value of Pirelli - grip and the idea that "power is nothing without control".

A second-hand cabin cruiser was bought and modified for the shoot. Its stern was removed and extended, while a life-size copy of the 15-metre boat was created, without interiors, to be lighter.

In the commercial, two men are fishing from the luxury cabin cruiser, when they feel a powerful tug on their line. The unknown force causes the boat to halt abruptly and its bough is lifted out of the water to fall back in with a massive splash.

At the tanks on Thursday, a huge crane was hauling up the boat, while waves and spray were generated to create the desired effect.

Mr Sala explained that the fishermen are baffled by the force of nature... until Pirelli tyres emerge from the water and dive into it again in graceful, dolphin-like movements, rolling in and out of its surface.

The effect of the tyres was also created in the tanks by means of submerged structures along which they were made to skim. The mechanisms were designed by the company, in collaboration with MFS technicians, he said.

Although the commercial would include high-tech special effects, most of them were being created on set and not in post-production, which heightened the complexity, but also the credibility. They were real, not virtual effects, which would be more "spectacular", he explained.

A helicopter specifically used for filming, with a camera mounted on its front, was brought in from France and used during shooting out at sea.

The crew at MFS has been working on the motors and mechanics for the commercial since the end of November, said production coordinator Joseph Formosa Randon.

Meanwhile, a technical recce is under way in preparation for the Channel 4 filmed version of the opera The Death of Klinghoffer, based on the 1985 hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro by Palestinian terrorists, which culminated in the killing of the Jewish American passenger Leon Klinghoffer.

Filming of the opera in Malta starts on February 18 and continues for three weeks until it moves on to Cyprus, where a ship is being hired and on which filming is being carried out in port and as it sails back to Malta for another week of shooting.

Malta is doubling as Palestine, Israel, Alexandria and Genoa, and the opera is being shot at Mtahleb, Mdina, Fort St Elmo and several streets in Valletta, said Film Commissioner Winston Azzopardi.

Mr Azzopardi said the choice was between Malta and Cyprus, and the determining factor was Fort St Elmo. Malta was also chosen for the strong resemblance it bears with the Middle Eastern countries it is meant to depict.

The Death of Klinghoffer is being produced by Blast Films, which contacted the Film Commission towards the end of last year. It is expected to be aired on TV next year.

The 1991 opera is already in the limelight and has raised considerable controversy. Its American contemporary composer John Adams has been accused of "romanticising terrorism" in The Guardian. Following September 11, he has been labelled anti-American and anti-Semitic.

According to a New York Times critic, the opera should no longer be performed.

Meanwhile, filming of the TV mini-series Julius Caesar, which was meant to have been nearing completion by now, is scheduled to kick off on February 4.

The cast has now been finalised and, apart from US actor Jeremy Sisto (Jesus), who is playing the title role, the series is also starring Richard Harris (Harry Potter and Gladiator) as Sulla and Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter and A View to a Kill) as Cato.

Line producer Gianfranco Pierantoni said filming was postponed from the end of October because the script was being worked on and improved. Otherwise, it would have started earlier.

Julius Caesar, a two-part series of 90 minutes each, is being produced by the DeAngelis Group in partnership with Lorenzo Minoli's Five Mile River Film, and has a budget of around $18 million.

More auditions for extras are scheduled for next week, during which costumes are being tried and fitted. Auditions were already carried out around two months ago, but the procedure had to be repeated to finalise decisions and choose more extras, Mr Pierantoni said.

The elaborate set, which was being constructed at Fort Ricasoli, was almost completed and required only the finishing touches. Constructed out of wood and fibre glass, it includes the Roman Forum, the Senate, and the emperor's homes as a boy and a man.

Work on the creation of Rome, complete with streets, squares and fountain, started in June, Mr Pierantoni said.

Filming of Julius Caesar in Malta is to last eight weeks, followed by another four in Sofia.

Negotiations for the filming of another TV series set in ancient Rome, SPQR, by the same production company, were also underway, Mr Pierantoni said.

Originally, preparations were intended to start back to back with Julius Caesar as early as January, but the delays on the latter have postponed work on SPQR to the end of March.

A two-year project, the series about the world of the gladiators is being produced for American TV. It would also be filmed at Fort Ricasoli, using the set of Julius Caesar, with the addition of the 'Coliseum'.

Mr Pierantoni commented that Malta, due to the political situation, was considered to be safe, unlike countries like Tunisia and Morocco, whose film industry was suffering over the past few months. Malta had earned itself a good reputation, he maintained.