Emmy winner keen on filming in Malta

The award-winning, Malta-born director of the addictive blockbuster TV series 24 has told The Times that if he ever gets to direct the much-talked about movie version, he would find "any excuse in the world" to come and shoot part of it in Malta.

"Guaranteed!"

Jon Cassar, who was recently awarded a prestigious Emmy for best director of the action-packed and thrilling series that is known to keep viewers worldwide glued to their TV screens, watching the counter-terrorism drama unfold in real-time format, still cherishes his ties with Malta.

In fact, despite the openings he has in Hollywood, he would still "love to come and do a picture here. There is one in particular that I would love to get the rights for. It is a book on World War II, which has been turned into a script".

Although time is an issue, and Mr Cassar cannot get up and go as he pleases due to his current contract with Fox, he has other Malta-related projects in the pipeline, including a film on the EgyptAir hijack, which he has been discussing with a local production company.

"Time is the toughest thing. Right now, Fox has me virtually on a contract that I cannot really get out of for the next couple of years. Then we'll see from there."

Still recovering from the "shock and surprise" of having beaten off stiff competition from the directors of renowned TV series like Six Feet Under, Lost and The Sopranos to win a major TV award, Mr Cassar has not forgotten his roots and tries to keep in touch with Malta's film industry.

"I know a little about it," he told The Times from LA, but he is still brimming with ideas... and enthusiasm to go with them.

"Using my Emmys and my 'sort of' stature now in the film business - whatever that may be - I'd love to help the industry in Malta move ahead, however I could. I just don't know what I can do because I physically can't be there.

"There is nothing I would love more!"

A full interview with Mr Cassar will be carried in tomorrow's edition.