Filming of 'Wickie the Mighty Viking' complete November 9, 2008

Filming of the international feature film Wickie the Mighty Viking has just been completed in the Maltese Islands. The film is due for cinema release nationwide in Germany, Switzerland and Austria in September 2009. Having sold millions of novels and comic books and the star of a 78-episode animated series, Wickie has been firmly established as a cult figure over the past 35 years. For many German-speaking fans, this film shall be a dream come true. In August 2008, director Michael “Bully” Herbig began lensing this film, starting in Germany and continuing on the islands of Malta and Gozo. His films have been seen by no fewer than 23 million moviegoers.   The popular cartoon upon which the film is based   Michael "Bully" Herbig   Filming took place for four weeks at Mediterranean Film Studios where real-size pirate and Viking ships were built. One of the boats, a period Viking ship, was made seaworthy in order to sail from Kalkara to Gozo where filming was continued. Forty Maltese extras dressed as pirates and Vikings took part in the filming. The German crew and cast which stayed in Malta for six weeks were around 100, working with a 30-strong Maltese support team. The producers and director were initially attracted to Malta because of the water tanks at Mediterranean Film Studios which also delivered excellent craftsmanship with its boat-building skills. The interest of the producers in Malta was further solidified after visiting the Gozo coastline leading them to increase their filming by a further seven days. Director Michael “Bully” Herbig is practically a household name in German-speaking countries. He is known formally as a comedian-actor and is today considered to be one of Germany’s most successful directors. The filming of this production in Malta is expected to enhance the island’s popularity with both the German film and tourism industries. The Producer's Creative Partnership (PCP) thanked the Government of Malta, the residents of Gozo, the Malta Environment & Planning Authority (MEPA) and especially Mediterranean Film Studios for their utmost cooperation and assistance with the shooting of this film in Malta and Gozo.

Dancing on water for a Greek commercial

September 30, 2008

Using the seamless horizon and an underwater platform

to create the illusion of dancing on the sea.

Photo: Edson Martinez Baena

 

One of Greece's leading production companies Movielab filmed earlier this month in the world renowned Shallow Tank utilizing the effect of the natural horizon to create a seamless edge between the tank water and the real sea/sky in the background.

 

The green-light for this TV commercial arrived at a late hour and the making of this production was challenged by set design and construction plans delivered 48 hours before the shooting day. Fortunately 'impossible' is a word hard to find in the PCP's vocabulary. This sentiment is also shared by the hard-working craftsmen at Mediterranean Film Studios (MFS), the company managing the water tanks. 

 

In less than two days MFS built a platform on a hydraulic 'lift' and built other set pieces to create a modern-classical and mystical environment for a dancer with the illusion of dancing 'on the water'.

 

The shooting crew consisted of approximately 10 Greeks and 10 Maltese. Electrical and grip equipment was hired in Malta whilst 35mm and high-speed HD cameras were brought in from Belgium.

 

The commercial, for the "IOLI" drinking water brand, was produced by George Kalomenopoulos.

 

This picture shows the real sea (and tanker) in the background

and the 'fake' sea in the foreground in the tank. When water

is over-spilling the tank edge this creates the effect of a

seamless horizon, creating the illusion of being in the open sea.

With the cooperation of the Malta Maritime Authority traffic of

vessels in front of the tank is minimized.

Photo: Edson Martinez Baena

 

Malta benefits from good reviews of A Previous Engagement

May 15, 2008

The first Maltese-Canadian co-production ‘A Previous Engagement’ was premiered last Friday in North America and has received reviews which refer not only to the actors, story or film-makers but with also specific references to the cinematic beauty of Malta.

John Anderson of “Variety” claims “Production values are terrific” and “The Maltese landscapes are almost too pretty, at least for a movie with such a heart of darkness”. Andre Sarris of “The New York Observer” refers to the “picturesque Mediterranean island of Malta”.

Debbie Lynn Elias of the Los Angeles trade “Culver City Observer” talks about the cinematography by Bruce Worrall saying “Through his lighting and lensing, Malta is even more beautiful on film than in coffee table picture books and picture postcards. It is this striking elegance and beauty that gives the film an Edensque feel leading one to wonder how one could not fall in love and then want to wait 25 years to see if the emotion is real or just the magic of the country. I could watch the "travelogue" footage and seascapes over and over again on a continuous loop and never tire of it.”

The film stars Juliet Stevenson, Daniel Stern, Tcheky Karyo and Valerie Mahaffy. “A Previous Engagement”, directed by Joan Carr-Wiggin and produced by David Gordian, is a story about a middle-aged woman on a vacation in Malta with her husband. She is also in Malta keeping her vow with her former lover for a rendez-vous planned 25 years earlier. Surprisingly after so many years the lover shows up and her marriage is about to end when her husband reacts unexpectedly by hitting the Maltese club scene.

The “Variety” review says the film “nicely balances unutterable truths about marriage and love with the comedy that is human interaction and the unending drama that is man and women, repulsion and attraction. Stevenson is simply a magnet, of course, as usual.”

Such rare films that portray Malta as itself have a tremendous impact on the island’s publicity abroad, especially when film critics start to feature the island in their writings.

The release of the film in Malta will be announced by the Producers’ Creative Partnership (PCP) in due course.
 

An indecent proposal in Malta

Oscar-winning director for Malta-shot film

by Cynthia Busuttil

The Sunday Times of Malta - February 3, 2008

Fort Ricasoli in Kalkara is slowly being transformed into ancient Egypt as preparations are in full swing for a film by Oscar-winning director Alejandro Amenbar.

Columns, decorated with hieroglyphics and topped with faces of ancient Egyptians, head covered in a blue and gold head-dress, are quickly taking shape.

Work in progress on the new film at Ricasoli.

A statue of what looks like an Egyptian pharaoh lies on the ground at the 17th century fort, which is buzzing with activity.

During a visit by Investments Minister Austin Gatt on set yesterday morning, details on the film were sparse. Spanish line producer Jos Louis Escolar said the film, with a budget of €50 million (Lm21,465m), had not yet been announced, and details would be given during an official launch at a later date.

He said the film did not even have a name yet, and currently has the working title of 'MOT', although designs in the fort's workshops had 'Mists of Time' written on them.

Mr Escolar was also tight-lipped when asked who was starring in the film, saying only that it was being directed by Mr Amenbar, whom he described as "one of the most talented directors in Europe today".

The 35-year-old Spanish director won an Oscar for best foreign language film for the classic The Sea Inside. He also directed the

2001 film The Others, starring Nicole Kidman, and this will be his second English-language film.

According to a number of websites, a film about King Tutankhamen was expected to be filmed in Malta. But the film about the young Egyptian pharaoh is directed by someone else.

Yet, the props being readied for the Malta film clearly indicate an Egyptian influence. And, with a smile, Mr Escolar - who has worked on a number of renowned films, including Kingdom of Heaven, said the set was environmentally friendly since wood and plaster were being used for the props.

Parts of the fort are also being incorporated in the film, with a primitive church being constructed in part of it.

Apart from Fort Ricasoli, filming will also take place on location in Mdina, Valletta and Marsaxlokk.

The film, which is estimated to require 76 shooting days, is expected to inject at least €21 million (Lm9 million) into the economy.

Almost 400 Maltese people have already been employed, the majority of them plasterers and carpenters, and by the end of shooting some 700 locals would have been employed with the production crew.