It was a truly interesting experience to meet Steve Aquilina, director and producer of the well known Saturday night programme ‘Showtime ma’ Aceline’, to find out more about a significant change that was about to take place concerning its production. Also present was co-producer Ray Baldacchino, who interjected with valuable bits of information every now and then.
Melanie Drury
As I was warmly welcomed, it was almost as if there was so much to say that I didn’t know where to begin! Their enthusiasm about the show and its development was apparent, and I was therefore keen to learn more about the programme right from its conception to the present stage of its development.
What is the scope of Aceline Entertainment?
Aceline Entertainment Ltd was created in order to produce Showtime. I have another company called Aceline Dance Company, and Aceline Entertainment resulted from that.
How did the idea for the TV programme Showtime ma’ Aceline emerge?
I’ve had two years’ experience with Tista’ Tkun Int, and Ray has a lot of experience in the field, but our personal relationship goes back a long way. The idea for the show emerged from a need for something of the sort, since no quality variety show had previously been broadcast on Maltese television, so we joined forces and decided to create one.
It has been TVM’s Saturday night show since October, with a very successful viewing rate right from the beginning… at this stage we have the highest viewership of all, even when competing with the foreign market, since, according to a survey report by Media Warehouse, 49 per cent of all Maltese people watching TV on a Saturday night are watching Showtime ma’ Aceline! This has been a very motivating factor for the current developments underway.
The show is presented by Moira Delia and Manuel Xuereb. How and why were they chosen?
Manuel had spent 26 years in the UK, and only a couple of years since his return to Malta I spotted him in a Karaoke Bar. I was impressed with his talent, and asked him to join Aceline Dance Company, which puts on live shows and entertainment in hotels and other venues, providing dancers, singers and all the equipment in the form of a mobile studio. He became a full-time cabaret singer in that company, and had had some previous exposure in Tista’ Tkun Int. With that, being a versatile showman in himself, and very presentable, we thought he was an obvious choice since there is no other presenter in Malta with such qualities. Initially, there was some concern for his Maltese accent, but even since October there has been huge progress and positive feedback.
Moira was the perfect complement – they are a naturally good combination in all respects! She is actually the main presenter of the programme, stemming from her many years of experience, which has made her a household name. She is also a dancer, which is an added quality that makes her a perfect presenter for a variety show. She and Manuel work extremely well as a team, for which we feel very fortunate, as their natural positive vibration can be felt in the studio by all those present, and conveyed to our viewers at home. Another point is that they are not over-exposed, and their image is now very exclusive to Aceline.
The programme consists of a variety of things: dances, songs, contests, interviews. How are the performers and participants selected?
We have resident dancers and singers as well as guest acts, all of whom perform live, except on the odd occasion. Most of the singers are contacted in cooperation with the Council of Culture and Arts, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them profusely for their assistance. We also work with the Malta Song Board, especially with regard to the Opportunity 2 initiative. As far as guest singers, however, we often face a problem in that, because the programme is broadcast live on a Saturday night, most well-known performers are already contracted and working elsewhere, so we miss the opportunity of enjoying their talent. The dancers in the show are mainly from the Aceline Dance Company.
One of the highlights of the programme was the Opportunity 2 initiative. How did that concept come about?
Opportunity 2 was a concept created in collaboration with the Malta Song Board, and was used to launch Showtime. We amalgamated the new concept of a Maltese variety show with an existing well-known and much revered singing contest. Part of the show was dedicated to allowing the public to vote for contestants who had never participated previously as finalists for the Malta Song for Europe Festival. This allowed us to see a lot of new faces, with new songs from Maltese authors and composers. The two successful acts from 36 appearing over nine episodes were by Lara Azzopardi, and Josef and Amanda, who were added to the 16 chosen by the traditional method. Since Aceline has the right of first refusal for the same initiative in the coming years, we look forward to the October 2006 contest!
Is there a change forecast for the programme now that Opportunity 2 for the Malta Song for Europe Festival on 4 of February is complete?
Many changes are due and Showtime is on the move in more ways than one. Some features will remain the same, of course, for example Moira and Manuel are a must. Ritienne is a resident singer with Manuel too, and you could say that she has an affair with Manuel on stage. They are actually best friends, and he is very protective of her, but their emotion on stage is of the sweetest kind. Kylie and Klinsman Coleiro are also resident singers. However, there will be big changes taking place in the production and layout of the programme, starting on 11 February that I am sure the public will find even more attractive.
Could you tell me more about this change with regard to the production of the programme?
We will be moving studios from Audiovision to Studio 7, one of the largest studios in Malta. This will improve camera positioning facilities and lighting opportunities, which form part of our focus on product development. Also, Studio 7 is fully digitalised and has a wide-angle lens camera at our disposal which will dramatically improve effects. Another feature is that there are walkways above the studio, which, by the overhead access they provide, make possible all sorts of imaginative and creative ideas we may come up with!
We are fortunate to have this opportunity, as a result of collaboration with other parties who have made this possible for us.
Moira and Manuel are very enthusiastic about the move.
The increased space will also mean that we can use it for various different sections that will be introduced to the programme. For example, we will have a resident six to eight-piece live band, and the official Showbiz News section. There will also be a development where Moira’s current Office interviews are concerned, with Moira and Manuel hosting guests in a much less formal area and setting, and which will be intermingled with the programme. Next Saturday, we will be welcoming Ira Losco and her band.
What about the personalities we can expect to see on this programme in future?
Well... we had nine programmes dedicated mainly to Opportunity 2, and then we had the Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve programmes, which were pure entertainment and which solicited a very high response with extremely positive feedback.
From February, we intend to maintain and increase the high standard of our performance and entertainment. However, we will also have a few novelties. In the next episodes we will be showcasing new talent, for which we will be scouting, in order to promote and give exposure to local talent.
Showtime will also be opening an entertainment school. Anybody who is talented in dancing and singing and who would like an audition should send an email to: [email protected]
As we concluded the interview, Mr Aquilina offered to show me a few DVDs of past programmes to clarify some of the issues that he had been talking about. I could especially see how passionate he was about Showtime – brimming with ideas on how to make it bigger and better.
I have no doubt of his team’s success, with that much positive energy being put into it! In fact, with a number of people not really keen on spending Saturday nights watching television, one could even say that Showtime ma’ Aceline, with its ever increasing quality level and popularity, ought to be considered as a programme that deserves a repetition.