Germany's Novafilm shoots in Malta

The Times of Malta - August 8, 2003

The Royal Clipper entering Grand Harbour.

Novafilm, one of Germany's largest film production companies, shot part of a TV film, Wendemanover, on a one-day shoot on Tuesday.

Most of the filming was at Grand Harbour. Other scenic shots were taken in St Julian's, Sliema and Valletta.

The cast and crew arrived on board the Royal Clipper, the world's largest sailing yacht cruise, where they have been filming for a few weeks.

The PCP crew organized the local shoot, involving some 50 extras, horses and carriages, taxis and a classic car.  The TV film, featuring a love story aboard the Clipper, is scheduled to be aired on the German TV station, ARD, at prime time at 20:15.

Some established actors were amongst the cast, including Peter Weck, Marion Mitterhammer, Michael Roll, Helmut Zierl, Katharina Shubert, Christine Neubauer and Peter Cremer.

The PCP thanks the Malta Maritime Authority for their cooperation.

Director Oliver Stone films Grand Harbour for epic movie August 10, 2003 Filming of Grand Harbour - doubling as the ancient port of Alexandria, Egypt, in the movie Alexander One of the most acclaimed film-makers, maverick Oliver Stone, was in Malta last week to shoot plate shots of the anticipated epic movie Alexander, on the life of Alexander the Great and the intrigue that surrounded the Macedonian conqueror. The unique Grand harbour of Malta will be used as an important element for the visual effects of the film. Alexander, which is being produced, directed and scripted by the man behind popular and often controversial masterpieces - Wall Street, Nixon, JFK and Natural Born Killers - has been in development for many years. A Yale graduate, as well as a historian, political and social analyst, Stone has been described as "one of a handful of true artists left in modern cinema, who almost always places importance on the craft, rather than economic considerations".   Oliver Stone Ten-time Oscar nominee and winner of three (Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, Midnight Express), Stone had scouted Malta last year to look for locations, of which a variety are required, given the extent of Alexander the Great's conquests.  Filming will take place in the UK and Morocco.

Film producer has high praise for location Malta The Times of Malta - June 14, 2003 Sharon Stone being pampered and powdered, with her bodyguard at her heels, during filming of A Different Loyalty on Tuesday by the sea below the Mediterranean Conference Centre.  Filming of part of the Canadian-UK co-production A Different Loyalty, starring Sharon Stone and Rupert Everett, ended with producer Richard Lalonde saying it went "very very well". "Malta is a very attractive place to shoot, the crew is just amazing and the locations were very good for us because we were trying to replicate Lebanon. Its history and cultural mix makes it such an incredible place... It's a great country," said Mr Lalonde. After six days of shooting, spread over almost two weeks, the last couple of scenes were shot in Valletta on Wednesday night, shedding a Middle Eastern light on the baroque city. The film now moves to Moscow for a two-day shoot of "the big end scene" in Red Square. East Street was blocked off to traffic, water jets and wind machines set up and a telephone booth temporarily uprooted to accommodate the production. A drenched Sharon Stone, wrapped in a beige coat, struggled along the wind- and rainswept side of the street, which doubled as a dimly lit alley in Lebanon. To an audience of locals, who gathered at the bridge across, the actress repeatedly withstood the simulated thunderstorm and lost her umbrella in the raging wind as the camera tightened in on her to get a close shot of the expression on her face. The taste of the water that sprayed onto Ms Stone may not have appealed to her; the wind generated through strategically located machines may have been too harsh, calling for the strength of a stunt woman; and the cameras may have been too close for comfort. But after some cajoling, a make-up and wig touch-up, the scene was completed to everyone's satisfaction. Ms Stone washed her mouth out in water, spat it out over the bridge, donned a white toweling robe, wrapped her hair in a towel and left the scene. Up the road, down the stairs of St Ursula Street, actor Rupert Everett in the role of double agent Leo Cauffield, on whom A Different Loyalty is based, was rehearsing his scene, enveloped in an air of mystery. The lanky British actor looked the part as he walked down the stairs, lit a cigarette and exchanged a few words with a man in a suit. Shop signs in Arabic were attached to some of the closer buildings in Ursula Street - just the touch required to seal the Lebanese scenario. Mr Lalonde considered the locations to be a major asset. "We went all over the place to try and find the best location, but it was really here that we found what we were searching for... a mix of the old and the new, something with some kind of a deep oriental feeling to it, and we got all of that here." He said Malta is at the crossroads of many cultures that can now be utilised by the thriving film industry, which, he believed had "huge potential, not only for its history, but also because of the studios". Perched on the Valletta bastions, Mr Lalonde emphasised the importance of the tanks to maintain the industry. "They are renowned worldwide and are practically the only ones in the world," he said. The Greek ships of the movie Troy, sailing into the harbour at sunset, prompted Mr Lalonde to draw comparisons between a "comfortable" $180 million-budget movie and the $15 million-budget of A Different Loyalty. "Ours is a very tight budget, but everyone seems to be a partner on the production and understands what we are trying to achieve." As a film servicing industry, Malta needed a wider crew base of qualified technicians to be able to accommodate two films at the same time... if not more, said Mr Lalonde. "The only thing we lacked was a bit more support in terms of crew and facilities simply because the majority were on Troy. We had to bring in some people from outside, which we probably would have found here." That did not, however, detract from the fact that "Malta is a great place to shoot". Where else does the canteen on a film set offer such breathtaking views? Chairs and tables for the crew to "lunch" - as is the term in film jargon during a night shoot, even though it was 7 p.m. - were set up on St Barbara Bastions, overlooking Grand Harbour and surpassing any first-class dining outlet. According to Mr Lalonde, as a couple, Rupert and Sharon "work very well", exuding the required chemistry - important since A Different Loyalty, based on the true 1960s espionage tale of the world-renowned British spy Kim Philby, who defected to Russia, is more of a character-driven drama, with the sweeping romance between the couple overriding the spy story. "When you are married to someone for a long time, do you really know that person? Is the double agent loyal to his political beliefs, or to his family? The film questions all that, rather than putting the spy story up front, although it is still important," said Mr Lalonde. "Rupert had been drawn by the plot for a while and has known director Marek Kanievska (Less Than Zero) since they worked together on the movie Another Country in 1984." How was a star like Ms Stone roped in? "There aren't too many stories for 45-year-old women and the script really appealed to her. It portrays a strong woman whose world is turned upside down when she discovers the love of her life is a Russian spy, and Sharon got totally into it, giving a very nice rendition of the character (Sally Cauffield). "It could not be played by a younger person. It needs maturity... and determination, because it is about a woman who is really searching for the truth, for honesty and loyalty within her marriage," Mr Lalonde explained. Through her experience, Ms Stone has delved deeper into the research of the characters. "A lot of casting was carried out before we got to Sharon, but we were very happy because it was the ultimate choice." As regards Ms Stone calling the shots on the movie, Mr Lalonde said: "The director is very present and very respected". A Different Loyalty is being produced by an independent Canadian production company, Forum Films, and has also been shot in Montreal and London. Line producer Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante said the project was born from a "casual" conversation with one of the film's co-producers, who happened to mention the company's search for a setting that resembled Beirut, following which a successful recce was organised.

Sharon Stone graces Malta The Times of Malta - June 2, 2003 Sharon Stone at Malta International Airport. Picture: Darrin Zammit Lupi. Stunning Hollywood actress Sharon Stone, renowned for her seductive role in Basic Instinct, arrived yesterday for the shooting of the film A Different Loyalty, which starts on Wednesday. The film is also starring British actor Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding and The Next Best Thing). When contacted, line producer Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante said he could not disclose information on the stars and their whereabouts. He did say, however, that the government was supporting the production in many ways. The $10 million-budget film is being produced by an independent Canadian production company, Forum Films, in co-production with the UK. The Malta shoot is spread over two weeks, with locations varying from Valletta fortifications to a sandy beach. Based on the true espionage story of the world-renowned British spy Harold Adrian Russell "Kim" Philby, who defected to Russia, A Different Loyalty has already shot in Montreal and London. It moves to Moscow after Malta, which managed to fight off stiff competition from Casablanca and Spain, and is doubling as Beirut in the 1960s. A Different Loyalty is being directed by Marek Kanievska (Less Than Zero) and produced by Richard Lalonde, Demitri Samaha and Jan H. Vocke. Over 500 extras days are being used in the film. The character-driven drama focuses on the relationship and characters of the couple, Eleanor and Kim Philby - in the film, Sally and Leo Cauffield - played by Stone and Everett respectively. Stone accepted a breakthrough role in Basic Instinct (1992), with Michael Douglas, and her interrogation scene is a classic in film history, her performance captivating everyone, from MTV viewers, who honoured her with Most Desirable Female and Best Female Performance Awards, to a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. Other landmark films include The Specialist (1994) with Sylvester Stallone and The Quick and The Dead (1995) with Gene Hackman. However, it was not until she played the beautiful, but drug-crazy wife of Robert De Niro in Casino (1995) that she got far more than just fame and fortune, receiving the acknowledgment of the films industry for her acting ability, her first Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. According to Empire magazine - and not only - Stone is one of the 100 sexiest stars in film history. The actress also ranked 77th in Empire (UK) magazine's list of Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time. A Different Loyalty is expected to be released in cinemas worldwide early next year.

Cameras start rolling on Troy

The Times of Malta - May 14, 2003

Homeward bound...after a day's shooting

Filming of the $180 million-budget movie "Troy" was underway yesterday at Ghajn Tuffieha with film star Sean Bean as Ulysses.

"Troy" is the fruit of the vision of director/producer Wolfgang Petersen.

The cast includes Brad Pitt as Achilles, "Lord of the Rings" heart-throb Orlando Bloom and Academy Award-winners Julie Christie and Peter O'Toole.

Principal shooting continues in Mexico after Malta and is expected to wrap at the end of August.

"Troy" is scheduled for worldwide release by Warner Bros Productions and Village Roadshow Pictures in May 2004.

The city of Troy will come alive with thousands of crowd extras in about two weeks' time.

Film extras wanted

April 15th, 2003

The Producers' Creative Partnership is seeking over 250 extras for the shooting in Malta of the film "A different loyalty", starring Sharon Stone and Rupert Everett.

The film is being shot in the first two weeks of June. Extras will be required for one to two days in early June.

The PCP is looking for men and women of all ages to play the part of Arabs and of foreign-looking people, aged between 30 and 55.

It is also after over 50-year-old vehicles, including buses and trucks, for one to four days. They should be pre-1960s models - Lebanese, American and British - and need not be in good working order. The PCP is also looking for a sedan.

Anyone interested is requested to send an e-mail to info@pcpmalta.com

Sharon Stone, Rupert Everett for Malta shooting

April 7, 2003

Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone, renowned for her seductive role in Basic Instinct, and British film star Rupert Everett will be in Malta at the beginning of June for the filming of the movie A Different Loyalty.

The low-budget picture - around $10 million - is being produced by an independent Canadian production company, Forum Films, and is also being shot in Montreal, London and Moscow.

Malta managed to fight off stiff competition from Casablanca and Spain, and is doubling as Beirut in the 1960s, said a spokesman for the Producer's Creative Partnership.

Filming in Malta will last six days and should include Valletta fortifications and a sandy beach.

The spokesman said the project was born from a "casual" conversation with one of the film's co-producers, who happened to mention the company's search for a setting that resembled Beirut, following which a successful scout and a recce were organised.

Scouting in Malta and finding the appropriate locations was not easy, particularly identifying a 1960s-style hotel. "It was like looking for needle in a haystack", he said.

"One of the major challenges is the fact that A Different Loyalty is shooting around the same time as the war epic film Troy, which is absorbing Malta's limited resources," the PCP said.

The producers were receiving strong cooperation from the Malta Film Commission with regard to permits and other bureaucratic issues, the spokesman said.

A Different Loyalty, a UK-Canadian co-production, is being directed by Marek Kanievska (Less Than Zero). The character-driven drama is based on the true espionage story of Harold Adrian Russell "Kim" Philby, who defected to Russia. He was one of the few British traitors and counter-spies to have earned such national revulsion.

Vain, arrogant, cynical and oozing with self-confidence, Philby was a clever spy, who revelled in outwitting the British intelligence agencies for whom he worked. He was a dedicated Marxist, who preferred Communism to western democracy at any cost, including his own citizenship and reputation.

The movie focuses on the relationship and characters of the couple, Eleanor and Kim Philby, played by Stone and Everett respectively.

Stone accepted a breakthrough role in Basic Instinct (1992), with Michael Douglas, and her interrogation scene has become a classic in film history, her performance captivating everyone, from MTV viewers, who honoured her with Most Desirable Female and Best Female Performance Awards, to a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.

Other landmark films include The Specialist (1994), with Sylvester Stallone, and The Quick and The Dead (1995), with Gene Hackman. However, it was not until she played the beautiful, but drug-crazy wife of Robert De Niro in Casino (1995) that she got far more than just fame and fortune, receiving the acknowledgment of the movie industry for her acting ability, her first Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination.

Stone has been chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 sexiest stars in film history and ranked 77th in Empire (UK) magazine's list of Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time.

Everett grew up in privileged circumstances, but the wry, sometimes arrogant, intellectual was a rebel from the start. In 1984, he successfully transferred a stage role, Another Country (1984), to film, turning into England's hottest new international star.

His career was further revitalised as Julia Roberts' gay confidante in My Best Friend's Wedding (1995), and continued to bloom in such films as Shakespeare in Love (1998), An Ideal Husband (1999), The Importance of Being Earnest (2002) and The Next Best Thing (2000), with Madonna.

Malta backdrop for Sony's music videos of young soprano

The Times of Malta - January 27, 2003

Young soprano Summer Watson filming her videos in a Maltese house

Up-and-coming young soprano Summer Watson chose Malta for the filming of her two music videos and promotional material for a new CD release.

Her songs are being released by Sony Music (UK) initially in the UK and then around the world.

Locations for the two-day shoot last week - with 18 hours of filming each day - included Mdina, Senglea, Marsaxlokk and Golden Sands, which feature prominently in the videos.

Golden Sands and its watchtower were used as a backdrop, as were Marsaxlokk's church, the market and the luzzus.

"The music videos should be a good showcase of Malta", said the Producer's Creative Partnership, which collaborated with UK music video producers and creative managers, Stylorouge. The crew consisted of seven British and nine Maltese.

The videos were directed by Rob O'Connor, who intended to return to film other music videos in Malta, the PCP said.

Despite budget challenges and adverse weather conditions, filming ran smoothly. The weather turned out to be the major headache, and one of the best locations, Senglea promenade, had to be dropped after it was set up due to the rain.

Senglea local council collaborated to remove signposts, cars, boats and fix lights and the Vittoriosa waterfront, opposite the promenade, was also lit up for the scene. Alas only a fraction of what was needed could be filmed due to the rain, the PCP said.

Ms Watson's videos mark the fourth music video PCP has worked on since it was set up just over a year ago. 

The PCP thanked the Local Councils, the Malta Film Commission and Mediterranean Film Studios for their support and cooperation.

Following the shoot, director Rob O'Connor and producer Mick Harris wrote to the PCP saying: "Our enormous thanks for making a potentially difficult shoot such a smooth-running and enjoyable experience. The crew, locations and facilities you provided on our none-too-generous budget was a revelation. We would whole-heartedly recommend PCP to anyone looking for professional production support in Malta (in fact we already have!)."

When Asterix & Obelix came to Malta

The Times of Malta - January 13, 2003

The comedy was partly filmed in Malta at the Rinella water tanks.

Many of the credits of the film Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, currently being shown at Embassy Cinemas, are local names.

The comedy, directed by Alain Chabat and starring Gérard Depardieu and stunning Italian actress Monica Bellucci, was partly filmed in Malta at the Rinella water tanks over a period of 10 days in 2000. The bulk of it was shot in Morocco.

About 25 per cent of the film's crew was Maltese, its production manager was Malcolm Scerri Ferrante and many of the pirates in the movie were Maltese.

Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra was the second film Depardieu shot in Malta, following the TV mini series The Count of Monte Cristo in 1997.

In the movie, popular cartoon characters Asterix & Obelix go to Egypt to help architect Numerobis, who is building a palace for Cleopatra.

According to critics, Chabat, who also acts as Ceasar, has managed to capture the essence of the Adventures of Asterix - the French comic books it is based on - and to "create a fantastically modern and intelligent comedy, which also pays homage to the world of animated films".

The only drawback, the critics say, is that a non-French speaking audience may not get all the private jokes - there are so many dialogues that are impossible to translate and many situations that are directly related to the comic books, or to the French way of life.