Water Tanks
Malta is world-renowned for its water SFX
facility situated in the south-eastern side of the island.
Mediterranean
Film Studios (MFS) boasts of one indoor tank and two large exterior
water tanks situated along the coast and therefore enjoying a
natural horizon. In size the tanks are only second to Fox
Studios' water facility in Baja, Mexico. However the Malta
tanks are significantly cheaper.
Life-size mock ups
of U-boat submarines in the Shallow Tank for "U-571'. Small-scale models were used in the Deep Tank
for all underwater shots.
MFS was founded back in 1964 by a special effects
wizard called Benjamin 'Jim' Hole who was assisted by
Paul Avellino. It
was formerly called Malta Film Facilities and hosted a large number
of productions over its long history. Popular productions include Dino de Laurentiis' "U-571" (1999) and
Ridley Scott's "White Squall' (1996). A considerable
amount of TV commercials are also shot in the tanks each year.
For many years the facility was government-owned
and this made the company's development ultimately subject to the
politics of the time. In 1993, after 35 years of being a parastatal
company, MFS was privately leased and subsequently bought by Catalyst
Entertainment Inc. based in Toronto. Headed by Charles J. Falzon,
MFS was taken out of its parastatal years and this proved to be one
of the most important steps for the studio. The company was later
bought in 1999 by German businessman Jost Merten who has since
changed its management and restructured the workforce with the aim
of making it more cost-efficient.
AGNESI commercial (1998) directed by
the late Julius Cassar. This behind-the-scene photo reveals
the 1m model and a false 'sun'
lifted by a crane. A brut was spotted on a silver (foiled) 'sun' and a filter
was used on the lens to create the sunset effect.
Actor Jeff Bridges makes a rescue attempt underwater
in WHITE SQUALL (1998) directed by Ridley Scott. The
photo
on the right shows the Insert Tank where typical underwater scenes
can be filmed. Another tank, the outdoor Deep Water Tank is
also very popular for underwater filming because of its water clarity
which can at times extends to over 50 feet.
Citroen commercial (1990). The behind-the-scene
photo shows the French special effects team at work on the model car.
Citroen commercial (1990). The tip tanks and a large
hand-painted cyclorama create a storm in the tank.
An Andromeda super luxury yacht entering the
harbour in a commercial for DIMPLE WHISKY (1999). The picture on
the right shows MFS model makers at work on the 7m model.
The village of ERIK THE VIKING (1988). The
set was built in the Shallow Water Tank (which was then 4-foot deep)
in order to simulate the village being flooded.
Gerard Depardieu in
the TV Series THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (1997). A
glassed camera box can be handy for shooting such scenes at water
level or split water level.
_____________________
Some interesting quotes published in
film journals
"We were like a Hollywood sound stage in the tank
with the Mediterranean as our back-drop" -
Rennie
Harlin, Director of 'Cutthroat Island' (1994)
"What we got out of Malta was terrific. It's very
much a studio situation and it's the best water facility I know of."
- Ridley Scott, Director of White Squall (1996)
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