Parts of a docu-drama for BBC and Discovery about the miracles of Jesus have just been shot in Malta and another TV production is due to start filming in June.

Anna Cox, who is producing and directing one of the programmes in the three-part BBC production, said there were some "spectacular water scenes" such as the stilling of the storm and the walking on water. These required the use of the Mediterranean Film Studios water tanks.

Series producer Jean Claude Bragard was already acquainted with the tanks, having filmed a programme on gods and goddesses in Malta last year.

From his experience, he considered Malta to be the best place to film the water scenes in a controllable environment.

"We came for the tanks," said Ms Cox, adding that filming was carried out over two nights.

Miracles Of Jesus is expected to be shown on the Discovery Channel over Christmas and possibly at Easter on BBC, although the series has not yet been scheduled. It is estimated that such programmes attract about six million viewers in the UK, Ms Cox said.

A number of Maltese actors were engaged to play the part of the disciplines, along with others from Morocco, where filming was held prior to Malta.

Meanwhile, another TV production, a docu-drama based on the story of Black Beard - the Real Pirate of the Caribbean - is preparing to start shooting in Malta in June for a period of about three weeks.

Production supervisor Simon Sansone, who also worked on the BBC production, said that roughly 90 per cent of the programme is being shot in Malta and mainly at the MFS water tanks but also on sets that are being created at the studios and just off the premises.

"It was the tanks that attracted the UK production company, Dangerous Films Ltd, to Malta, but this was not the only factor," he said.

Massive construction works were under way - two 30-metre pirate sloops and the back of another were in the process of being built.

Mr Sansone said local crew, involved in construction and production, would number around 100, while some extras would be required for the small-budget production. The cast has not yet been finalised, he said.

Between preparation work and filming, the total duration of the docu-drama in Malta should be around three months and interest has also been expressed in doing part of the post-production on the island.

The government is planning to introduce incentives to inject new life into Malta's film industry and Parliament is currently debating a Bill to regulate the operations of the Film Commissioner and the Film Commission, set up five years ago.

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