Heroes in the Sky, a local production, hit the cinemas on 31 October. The film will be showing in all cinemas from 7 November.

The story takes the audience back to World War II, when Malta became the most bombed place on earth. Young pilots were sent out to defend the island, and despite the overwhelming odds, they achieved incredible success.

Featuring exclusive interviews with former RAF pilots and historians, accurate re-enactments, archive footage and CGI, this production tells a great story about the hardships and triumphs of an outstanding group of pilots. The Malta Independent met with writer, producer and director Engelbert Grech to get a better idea of this project.

What inspired you to produce this film?

When I was a child I used to enjoy listening to my grandparents telling stories about their hardships during the war. I was impressed as sometimes they got so emotional that they even cried. I remember being especially interested in the stories about the legendary Spitfires and the 'dogfights' over Malta against the German fighter planes.

Twenty years on, I wanted to revive those emotions, and started my research to write a script on the war in Malta with an emphasis on the brave pilots based here.

What sort of production is it?

Heroes in the Sky (HITS) is quite a unique production both in content and aesthetics. It is a documentary film, with a fast paced script which gets to the point quickly without being too technical. Thanks to the modern style of filming, editing, special effects and even an original rock soundtrack by Winter Moods, HITS appeals to every age group.

Do you have a particular interest in aviation or in World War II or in aviation during WWII?

I am no history freak, just very passionate about Malta's role in WWII. I believe that many don't realise what an important part our island played in defeating Hitler. HITS tells some incredible stories which very few know about. It’s history, told in an interesting way. Entertainment, rather than a boring history lesson.

How did you choose the three main protagonists – are they more famous than others? What quality in their story caught your eye?

I chose these pilots because of their incredible courage. They were crazy.... because every flight over Malta was like a suicide mission. Just to give you an idea of the odds they faced, in Malta in 1941 there were only four allied planes fighting against 80 Germans.

HITS explores the character of Adrian Warburton, who was a reconnaissance pilot. He was a daredevil who hated rules and risked his life to take photos of the enemy. In Malta he even had a love story and was considered as a 'rock star'.

Then there is George 'Screwball' Beurling, who in Canada is considered to be a national hero for his incredible success in Malta. In the air he was unbeatable thanks to a special technique he developed himself. He was a very strange person but was considered as a genius among fighter pilots. There were times when he even shot down five enemy planes a day. I got a lot of insight about Beurling's character and exploits from exclusive interviews with his ground crew and fighter aces who flew with him.

What in your view are the elements for a great documentary or film production?

I really believe in the notion of info-tainment. It’s the balance that a producer has to find between information (in this case history) and entertainment. I want the audience to get to know the great people who defended Malta, and at the same time enjoy an audio visual experience enhanced with computer animated graphics (CGI) and Dolby Prologic Surround sound.

Were you able to stick to your vision of the end result or did you have to compromise, given that your protagonists are not alive today?

Each production is a journey on its own, and you never know where it will take you. The original script of HITS changed so many times that in the end it was totally different from what I ever imagined. I think the major changes came about after spending whole days talking to veteran fighter pilots. I got so much insight from them that I had to include their ‘passion and emotions’ in the script.

How long did it take to finish this movie?

It took just over a year from research, scripting, production and post-production. Needless to say that all the team gave much, much more than expected. If we were to stick to the budget we would have finished in two months, but there was our pride and passion, so we just kept going.

Was this your first production on such a large and ambitious scale?

I’ve been around for quite some years but they say that you’re as good as your last production. I just love the challenge which every project brings about. The ultimate aim is to create a piece of art but ultimately I always leave the audience to judge.

What kind of learning curve did it offer?

I call it the University of life. No matter how many lectures you sit for or how many books you read, if you want to produce, just get out there and do it.

Halo Productions is one of Malta’s pioneers in High Definition – where did your interest in HD begin and why?

HD is ushering in a new era for independent film-makers like us. The quality is incredible, almost five times better then the Standard Definition which has been used for so many years. This technology bridges the gap between video and film, making it easier for small film to make it to the big screen.

What expenses were involved in producing this film?

We are light years away from the incredible Hollywood budgets, but our policy is to make the most out of the limited resources available. The production was financed entirely by us, but one has to say that all those involved gave much more than what they were paid for. As for our marketing campaign we were lucky to have the full support of Vodafone Malta. I must give them credit for believing so much in local talent.

What can we look forward to in terms of future productions from Halo Productions?

At the moment we have a project in development and another one in production.

When will Heroes in the Sky be out? And where will it be shown?

HITS will open the KRS international film festival on 31 October and will be showing in all major cinemas in Malta and Gozo.

Will it be available on dvd?

Theatrical release was always the priority. There are no plans yet for a DVD release, maybe in a year or so.

Profile

Engelbert Grech studied TV & Film at the University of Malta where he graduated with Honours. He furthered his studies abroad, most recently with Discovery Campus, a MEDIA training programme with Discovery Channel and other major international broadcasters.

His adventures in TV production started over 11 years ago when he produced various programmes for PBS, for which he won four Malta Broadcasting Authority awards.

In 2001 he co-produced one of Malta's first full length feature films and then moved on to produce a series of short films and documentaries and music videos for the local and international market.

Heroes in the Sky, supported by Vodafone Malta Limited, will be showing at local cinemas as from Wednesday. To watch the trailer visit www.maltaheroes.com