Quo Vadis the Malta film industry?

Vanessa Macdonald looks at the current state of play and the future.

Malta's role as a film location has been boosted by the December 23 release in the US of Stephen Spielberg's controversial film Munich but other people connected with the film industry in Malta believe there is no room for complacency.

"Malta's potential is easily three times what it is now," Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante said from Bulgaria, where he has been working on a film.

It has been a busy year, with parts of the Da Vinci Code and a German TV production shot here but the industry is far from the critical mass needed to justify more investment in equipment or trained personnel.

Mr Scerri-Ferrante added: "Malta's size is no excuse for only servicing the occasional films that come. The incentives for local companies have a limited effect if filming activity is not increased. This is why we need a film fund to create a producing industry or initially a co-producing industry."

He believes that the fund would create steady work throughout the year, in turn creating a need for services and facilities - which will stimulate private investment.

"The good work put in by all concerned, including the government and Malta Film Commission, to encourage films, by facilitating permits and offering incentives, should always be commended. But the danger is to feel overconfident and sit back, waiting for more enquiries to come in."

One problem is that the MFC seems to eye private operators with suspicion. "The MFC seems to think that people like us are competition." Troy" film producer Winston Azzopardi said. "It should not be a big secret when a talent scout comes here, as recently happened. We should all be encouraged to network."

Indeed, the real task is ensuring that nothing puts off those that are interested - and even encourages them. Mr Azzopardi praised the rebate system of up to 20 per cent off the film's spend in Malta, introduced by Minister Austin Gatt.

Mr Azzopardi is a strong believer in local films as the bread and butter of the industry. Mr Azzopardi believes that a film fund could be used to offer tax exemptions against investment in local films. Five films a year would create 200 full-time jobs but they do not need big budgets. "Lm250,000 could make a nice movie." His idea is for the films to be in Maltese - as he believes that trying to do them in English can sound fake - with English sub-titles.

Much of the processing can be done abroad; meaning all you really need is a 35mm camera. The main problem is finding a good director of photography and lighting people. Like Mr Scerri-Ferrante, Mr Azzopardi thinks that the MFC needs more funds to be able to market Malta properly, invite influential people here and attend film fairs. "We could also organise or sponsor conferences for key people like location advisers, lawyers and producers, just as Malta Enterprise is doing for its sectors," he said. "But when we say that they should invite them here, we mean they should really look after them. My trip to the Dubai Film Festival was fully expenses-paid," he said pointedly. He spoke wistfully of Morocco, where a letter from the King enables the bearer to film anywhere. Although getting permits for location shooting is relatively simple here - if not as simple as in Morocco - the MFC could help to prevent overcharging, which always deters film-makers.

The views of Mr Azzopardi and Mr Scerri-Ferrante are consistent with those of a foreign freelance production manager, Carol Snook.

"It is very difficult to encourage film companies to shoot in Malta. It's a small island with limited locations and the amount of investment necessary to provide specialist equipment and facilities would take years to recoup - if ever," Ms Snook said.

"Countries like South Africa and New Zealand attract film-makers because of the multifarious locations and it makes sense for them to invest.

"The competition in these fields is fierce and huge discounts are given by existing suppliers around the world. The rapid expansion of computer technology is also a major consideration as this eliminates a lot of facilities and in the future could affect use of the tank at the studios."

She also made a strong argument for training of locals. "On large productions, heads of departments will always bring their own crew but can often be persuaded to supplement with local labour as this saves money on travel and hotels. For smaller units on restricted budgets this would prove invaluable and it would also enable several small productions to shoot simultaneously."

Author Vanessa McDonald
Source 'The Times'