'Creative issues' delay Spielberg film shooting in Malta
Publication date: August 18th, 2004
Film director Steven Spielberg (Schindler's List, E.T.) is said to be
postponing his latest film project about the 1972 Olympic Games in
Munich, which was scheduled to be shot in Malta this summer.
Spielberg, without a doubt one of the most influential personalities in
the history of film, as well as one of the wealthiest film-makers in the
world, was in Malta in April on a fleeting visit, scouting for potential
locations for his movie.
Although it has yet to be made official, Malta was to be one of the
locations for the controversial movie about the hunt for the Palestinian
terrorists who murdered 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in
Munich.
A number of extras have already auditioned and have been selected to
take part in the movie, which has been delayed before and has now been
postponed to next spring.
Last week, Sky News announced the postponement of the Spielberg film due
to the current, sensitive, political climate. It said the "sensitive
subject matter and the current political climate has led the director to
put the production on hold".
The film's production manager Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante would not confirm
the director is attached but referring to the film's delay, he said "The
only climate we are worried about is the weather.
"We have been delaying the film for various creative reasons, which are
now taking us into the winter. There are still some important creative
issues that need to be sorted. That's all!"
Mr Scerri-Ferrante said he was awaiting news from the Maltese government
about incentives and that Malta was still "very much on the cards",
despite rumours that the producers were considering shooting the film in
Eastern Europe instead, because of the lucrative incentives on offer
there.
A couple of thousands of extras had auditioned for the movie at the
Catholic Institute in May. Those selected are now being informed that
they would be called next spring once filming preparations resume.
Meanwhile, any applications would remain valid and be held for the next
two years for consideration for other productions filming in Malta.
Local coordinators thanked the Malta Film Commission for its assistance,
as well as the Mediterranean Film Studios and Malta Drydocks for their
continued support in view of the film's delay.
In the yet untitled film, which Sky News said was called Vengeance,
actor Sir Ben Kingsley is said to have dropped out because of the delay,
while Eric Bana, who played Hector in Troy and has, therefore, already
filmed in Malta, is reported to head the remaining list of stars who
have signed up for the movie.
The local production manager, however, said the creative talent would be
announced at a later stage once everything was confirmed.
Olympic medallist dives off cliff for advert shoot
Fiona Galea Debono
Publication date:
September 17th, 2004
German Olympic divers yesterday jumped into the sea
off a suspended cage at Xrobb l-Ghagin, in Delimara for
a Belgian mobile phone company commercial being shot
here.
For the 30-second advert, which should be aired in
Belgium and Holland, Tobias Schellenberg, a silver
medallist at the Athens Olympics last month, had to dive
into the sea several times, change his clothes and get
his hair styled again and again... But he was not
complaining.
The Mobistar advert was the 25-year-old champion's
first commercial but it did not result from his Olympic
success.
Neither did Ditte Kotzian, 25, land the job because
of her participation in the Games - she placed sixth in
synchronised diving and 11th in the individual contest.
She is also a sports model and was chosen for the
commercial through her modelling agency.
"The production company only found out afterwards
that we had been to the Olympics," she said.
Both are modest about their participation at the
Games and do not feel they can go for gold in the 2008
Olympics. "The Chinese and the Russians are too strong
for me," said Ms Kotzian while Mr Schellenberg thought
he would be too old in 2008. "Four years is a long
time... and a lot of hard work," he said between takes.
"It was a great fortune. We were aiming for the
bronze medal but the Chinese, who are the strongest
divers, made a major mistake and so we moved up." That
is how Mr Schellenberg explains his silver medal for
synchronised diving.
Besides, he explains, "synchronized diving is easier
than individual diving because you are only up against
eight teams. The hard part is qualifying for the
Olympics" - a statement that crushes his argument. They
are, indeed, the eight top teams.
Mr Schellenberg is studying social work and hopes to
complete his course by March. "For now I want to focus
on my studies, which I had to push aside for a whole
year."
In the run-up to the Olympics, he trained for up to
six hours a day, six days a week for an entire year.
Coupled with constant commuting from Leipzig to Berlin
to meet his girlfriend, there was little time for
anything else.
Ms Kotzian, who has been diving for 16 years, claims
the prerequisites for a top-class diver are being
"strong, but petite". "I have the strength but I am not
small. That is why I could never be a champion. I look
elegant due to my length and that is my forte, but, as a
result, my spin is slow and that is my downfall," she
admits.
Together with model Steven Verbrugghe, they are
taking part in the making of the Mobistar advert, which,
through complex technological effects, should show them
emerging from the water for a "funky portrayal of
happiness".
The costly commercial, directed by Lieven Van Baelen,
is being produced by Czar.be, one of the leading
production companies in Belgium and Holland, in
association with the Producer's Creative Partnership.
Czar.be was looking for a seven-metre cliff, which
faces south-east, or south-west, overlooking sea that is
4.5 metres deep for the dives, offering access for a
35-ton crane at the cliff edge, no public interference
and good weather - quite a tall order.
Following four days of intense scouting by land and
sea, and logging of sites, Xrobb l-Ghagin fitted the
bill.
(From top left to right)
Silver medallist Tobias Shellenberg takes a dive on
camera. The high-speed camera built by Panavision
in a special rig which takes it 'diving' underwater.
A special effect pulling the cast out of the water.
The high-speed camera used for the scene shot
yesterday was one of only three worldwide, which has the
capacity to shoot up to 500 frames per second, explained
co-producer Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante.
The commercial was a costly operation, using a
sensitive, complicated, counterweight system, whereby
the camera, in its glass box, was rigged to a customised
cage, built by Swaay Brothers Ltd, and followed the
divers at their speed in their descent from the top of
the jumping platform to the sea and under.
It was devised in Belgium over a week in a race
against time to be in Malta for the shoot, Mr Scerri-Ferrante
said.
Two cranes and three boats were required for the
operation, which involved about 55 crew members, 50 per
cent being Maltese, and two days of shooting.
Shooting continues today at the water tanks of the
Mediterranean Film Studios, in Rinella.
German mini-series shoots partly in Malta
October 2nd, 2004
Parts of a new German TV mini-series "Die Patriarchin"
were recently shot in Malta. The 3-part mini-series
promises to be a fascinating
three-piece story offering spectacular settings in
Germany, Austria, Malta, Kenya and the USA. Each episode
of 90 minutes boasts top class
actors and shall be broadcast at peak time on German TV.
 Filming
of the Malta part was completed earlier this week over a tight 2-day
schedule. The various locations, handled by Joseph
Formosa Randon, included the Chamber of
Commerce, the Malta International Airport and various
exteriors and interiors around the old city of Valletta.
About 50 extras took part, coordinated by Pierre Agius.
One scene required the creation of a procession with
chains and hoods set in the old city of Valletta. Mediterranean Film Studios,
renowned for their set construction works headed by
Angelo Delia, built various set pieces
within challenging deadlines.
The story revolves around a family saga
about Hamburg's coffee dynasty. The world is breaking
down for rich widow Nina Vandenberg, played by Iris Berben.
The sudden accidental death of her husband
leads to an investigation on her family's coffee empire
and the disappearance of funds. Nina is determined
to prove her innocence but for this she must overcome
many struggles with her powerful family as well as deal
with a haunting past in Africa. She becomes torn between
truth and betrayal. Also starring in the mini-series are
Ulrich Noethen, Ina Weisse and Christoph Walt amongst
others.
"Die Patriarchin" is
produced by Oliver Berben and
Reinhard Schwabenitzky.
Filming started last
May and is scheduled for completion later this month.
Despite the low budget restrictions and
the tough challenge to prep everything within one week,
director Carlo Rota had only words of praise before
leaving the island, saying "It could not have gone
better! I got everything I asked for!"
The Producer's Creative Partnership
thanked all government and location entities involved
for their cooperation with the filming.
DOCUDRAMA ABOUT GREEK MYTHS FILMED IN MALTA
March 2004
Filming of a BBC docudrama "Gods & Goddesses" was
completed last week on the island of Gozo following a fierce storm
created at Malta's water-tanks.
The docudrama team filmed for one month
in Morocco and ended with a 7-day shoot in the Maltese islands.
Presented by TV star Jonathan Edwards the series will be aired this
coming June on BBC 1.
 
One
of the exotic locations used in Gozo
Filming at Mgarr ix-Xini
Assistant Director Simon Sansone explained the series is
an analysis about two Greek myths: Jason and the Argonauts and
The Odyssey, shot more like a dramatic film rather than a
documentary. "The myths are anaysed in context with the values and
ways of life of the Greek civilization", Mr Sansone explains.
 The Malta filming involved some 50 extras and dancers.
A large storm was filmed in the renowned special effects tanks of
Mediterranean Film Studios (MFS), which also provided a Greek-aged boat for
filming in the open seas. In Gozo, the team filmed at Mgarr ix-Xini,
Fungus Rock and Comino. With most of the filming happening at sea, the
crew's schedule was totally weather-dependent. But with intelligent
planning and a stroke of good luck, filming was completed ahead of
schedule.
Jonathan Edwards presenting the show in
the middle
of dramatic recreations
Filming was also
conducted from a helicopter provided by the Armed Forces of Malta. The
docudrama series is
directed by Jean-Claude Bragard, with Chris Openshaw as Director
of Photography. The crew consisted of around 7 British and
25 Maltese nationals. The Producer's Creative Partnership (PCP),
on behalf of the BBC team, thanked the Maritime Authority, the local
councils and the Armed Forces of Malta for their cooperation.
Maltese dancers simulating Sirens Maltese extras dressed as sailors
The Greek boat built by MFS craftsmen headed by boat-builder Angelo
Delia. Picture on right shows filming in the MFS water tank with the
natural horizon in the background.
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