It was full house at the Mediterranean Conference Centre for a significant event in the world of film. The audience was there to celebrate 90 years of Malta as a Film Location which was being organized by the Malta Film Commission.
I was invited by the Ambassador of France to join her, so we arrived in comfort and did not have to go round in circles to find a parking space. She had just attended a reception at Villa Arrigo. Where does she get her energy from and of course, there is never a dull moment with her.
I am often discouraged from going to functions in Valletta because of the parking so was very happy to be dropped at the door of the MCC.
The compère that evening was Claire Agius who was also the recorded voice over. Claire needs no introduction for she is well-known as a TV personality and actress. The script, written by members of the Malta Film Comission, included many interesting details. Claire told the audience that from 1925 until today 140 films for the cinema and numerous TV films had been shot on these islands. This year the film industry was going to leave in Malta's coffers around 100 millions Euros.
The evening was dedicated to all those, alive or dead, who, over these years, had worked in different ways to make this industry a success.
During the evening excerpts from films produced in Malta were shown followed by excerpts from the music score of that particular film. The Malta Symphony orchestra under the energetic baton of Maestro Brian Schembri did us proud. Musical arrangements were in the hands of Wayne Grima.
The first film to be featured was Troy (2003) possibly one of the greatest films shot in Malta with a start-studded cast which included Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Julie Christie and Peter O'Toole. The orchestra played the Troy Suite.
This was followed by scenes from Raise the Titanic. Since 1964 when the facilities at Rinella were launched many foreign productions were shot in these tanks. With the apparatus available, all kinds of weather conditions can be created in the tanks. A model of the Titanic, 55 feet long was built for this film locally. The Philharmonic orchestra played John Barry's soundtrack for this film.
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In 1992, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America two films were made: Ridley Scott's 1492: Conquest of Paradise and Christopher Columbus: The Discovery with Catherine Zeta Jones, parts of which were shot in Malta. Replicas of the three ships the Niña, La Pinta and the Santa Maria which had set sail to discover America, were built life-size by Maltese craftsmen in eight weeks.
Oliver Stone who had already won an Oscar for the screenplay of Midnight Express(1978) most of which had been shot in Malta came with a crew of eight to shoot 'plate shots' of the bastions which were used in the film Alexander(2004). This film has one of my favourite musical accompaniments by Vangelis Across the Mountains.
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The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) was directed by Kevin Reynolds who was impressed with our islands as he managed to find 80 per cent of the locations he needed for the film. He commented that he could imagine no other place where he could shoot scenes of Marseille except in our Grand Harbour. The Torri ta' Santa Marija on Comino was perfect as the legendary Chateau D'If.
Malta too, was chosen for the shooting of some scenes for the hugely successful The Da Vinci Code (2006).
Parts of the popular television series Game of Thrones were also filmed on these islands.
We watched excerpts from Gladiator directed by Ridley Scott. Here are two favourite quotes: "What we do in life echoes in eternity," and "Nothing happens to anyone that he is not fitted by nature to bear." Scott had already come to Malta four years previously to direct White Squall.
A replica of the Coliseum for Gladiator was built in Malta. It was 52 feet high and made mostly of plywood and gysum. Two-thirds of the height of the Coliseum were added digitally. The cost of this replica? One million pounds sterling. Gladiator won no less than 5 Academy Awards.
Julie Zahra came on stage to sing Now we are Free, from Gladiator which was followed by Suite composed by Hans Zimmer played by our orchestra.
We then watched excerpts from Midnight Express (1978), which won two Oscars. You may recall that this film is based on the true story of a young American student, Billy Hayes , who was caught at the airport of Istanbul attempting to smuggle two kilos of hash out of Turkey and thrown into prison for 30 years. (He escaped!) The Turkish authorities would not give permission for the film to be shot in Turkey (understandably as it did the image of Turkey a great deal of harm). The Fort of St Elmo was used to shoot this award-winning film.
The well-known theme from Midnight Express composed by Giorgio Moroder (for which he won an Oscar) with arrangements by Wayne Grima, was then played and enjoyed by the audience.
We were then shown excerpts from Cutthroat Island (1995) which, the presenter said, is possibly the first big budget production which was shot in Malta. Although this film was not a success and, indeed, lost a cool $147,157,681, however the vibrant and swashbuckling score composed by John Debney is still very popular.
The waterside of Birgu was transformed to represent Port Royale in Jamaica and two full-size galleys were built in Malta to the tune of one million pounds sterling.
I don't want to forget to mention the Silent Film Montage which was very interesting and demonstrated how far the film world has developed since those early days. Producer Bruce Woolfe with a small crew came to Malta 90 years ago and shot several scenes on HMS Malaya and at Minzel tal-Majjiesa for Sons of the Sea, which is considered to be the first film to have been shot on these islands. Four films were shot between 1925 and 1930 - three were silent and the fourth, Tell England, was one of the first 'talkie' films.
For the film Bolibar many Maltese 'extras' were used and the shooting took place in Mdina and Zebbug.
We were shown scenes from these three films and the orchestra played music especially composed by Albert Garzia for this occasion.
Oh Yes, I must not forget to mention The Malta Film Fund and Limestone Cowboy. While Malta is attracting the shooting of international productions the Malta Film Commission has also has a special fund which, for the last few years has helped local productions such as Simshar which is doing so well. Limestone Cowboy is another film which has been made with the help of the Malta Film Fund and will soon be shown on our screens. The Malta Philharmonic orchestra played a theme from Limestone Cowboy, music composed by Mirko Galea.
A lively reception followed this enjoyable evening and I was happy to meet the dynamic and hardworking Minister Zammit Lewis and is attractive wife Elena and congratulate him on his many successes.
I have only one gripe. If you have a foreign audience you simply cannot have a commentary entirely in Maltese. A short commentary should have followed in English after every excerpt shown. The alternative is not to invite non-Maltese to an evening like this. The audience, you can be certain, were all literate in English and the commentary could have so easily be done in English.