Film-servicing industry makes giant strides

Dr George M. Hyzler, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Economic Services, whose responsibilities include the film-production industry, in this interview with The Sunday Times, describes the progress made in this sector under the present administration.

During a recent presentation on the film industry in Malta, which has been part of your portfolio as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Economic Services, you stated that you looked back with "pride and satisfaction" on what has been achieved in this field in the past four and a half years. What are the reasons for this?

I look back with pride and satisfaction because the film-servicing industry is on a sounder footing than it ever was. This is due to the particular attention we have given to the sector and to the structures that we have set up.

The figures speak for themselves. Fifty audio-visual productions in less than four years, over 100 weeks of shooting, 80 weeks of production preparation and an estimated Lm50 million spent in Malta is certainly a record to be proud of. For more than a year we have had at least one film being produced every single day of the year.

The setting up of the Malta Film Commission in 1999 has helped to attract to Malta a number of big-budget film productions and also documentaries, TV commercials and short features. You have estimated total expenditure to have amounted to Lm50 million since then. However, the work involved is of a temporary nature, so any employment generated by this activity is also temporary. Do you envisage a sufficient volume to generate full-time employment, which will then be at the service of production companies on a permanent basis?

Work in the film industry is by its nature "temporary". What we hope to achieve is a sufficient flow that will allow local talent to become more professional and to encourage the setting up of more industry related companies. It is important for us to have a trained and experienced pool of professionals.

This would be an added attraction to production companies coming to shoot in Malta. This would compliment our excellent climate, varied locations, our bilingualism and competitive skills.

What have been the major problems which you have encountered in this area, and how do you plan to address them? What changes would you bring about? Have you had co-operation from other institutions and government departments?

The first area of concern was the lack of a focal point for the industry. We addressed this by setting up the Film Commission. The MFC was entrusted with assisting production companies when conducting research or in their enquiries. This was an instant success. The MFC also undertook an overseas marketing exercise. This was complemented by the appointment of representatives in Los Angeles and London.

Other areas of concern that were addressed concerned bureaucracy relating to work permits, customs, permits for set construction, as well as certain attitudes by people working in the sector and certain local councils. We tried to attack the long-standing attitude that a film is a one-off and that one should try to squeeze out of it whatever one could. The results have been positive all round.

What have been the major reasons for attracting foreign film productions to Malta? Have there been any major complaints? Has any effort been made to encourage local film productions, either by local TV stations in conjunction with foreign stations, or by amateur or even professional film-makers, possibly with financial backing from local banks? What incentives do you offer in this case?

Most productions made use of the water tanks at Rinella. However following the success brought about by Gladiator we are attracting a number of 'period' films. Malta has doubled for Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, Troy, Baroque Italy and France, Palestine, and even New York. This has also been due to our decision to offer Government-owned locations at nominal rates, which has increased our competitiveness as a location. We are now also offering attractive fiscal advantages on a case-by-case basis.

Last year I signed the European Convention on Audiovisual Co-productions of the Council of Europe. This has met with immediate response. In fact the Warner Bros (UK) film Troy has applied for co-production status and this is a major reason it has come to be shot in Malta. In fact this is the very first film that when approved will be considered a UK/Malta film.

Major complaints relate to the lack of availability of trained/experienced personnel and a lack of basic facilities such as equipment and sound stages. These are certainly two areas that must be looked into further.

As regards training, we have organised training courses together with ETC and the UK Film and Television School. Another initiative is the partnership we have entered into with MEDEA, an audiovisual initiative financed by the European Commission and the Government of Andalucia (Spain). Forty locals were trained in the past years in script development, and marketing skills. Moreover, two local companies obtained funding amounting to €50,000 to develop a feature film and a documentary.

In your presentation speech you referred to the ongoing training of film facilities staff. How would EU membership affect the industry in Malta, and not just from the training aspect? Would EU funds be available to finance film productions?

EU membership will allow us access to funding from various programmes such as the European Investment Bank's "i2i" for training programmes and for development and distribution of audiovisual projects. The fund is of €12 billion and is only available to member states.

The current MEDIA programme with a budget of €400 million was set up to strengthen the competitiveness of the European audio-visual industry with a series of support measures dealing with training development, distribution, and promotion of audiovisual works.

Access to funds will certainly contribute towards the growth of a local film industry.

Looking back on your political career so far, would you consider the achievements in the film production sector the highlight of your career? Can you briefly explain how the other areas for which you have been responsible have progressed?

The results obtained in this sector have certainly been the more visible. However I must admit that progress in various other areas falling under my responsibility such as in the field of consumer protection, competition, intellectual property as well as in Maltapost and Kalaxlokk is just as significant.

What are your political ambitions at this stage?

To take on any responsibility and to continue to serve in any capacity the Prime Minister may entrust me with.

Dr Hyzler is contesting Saturday's general election as a Nationalist Party candidate for the sixth and tenth districts