Jack Bauer may come to Malta

It is possible that parts of the award-winning and world-renowned TV series 24 may be shot in Malta before Christmas as it moves out of LA for the first time in six years - through the push of its Malta-born director and executive producer Jon Cassar.

Mr Cassar, who is back in his country of origin after an eight-year absence, said he would do everything in his power to shoot parts of the seventh series in Malta even though Morocco and South Africa have been earmarked so far. In a nutshell: "24 is definitely moving out of LA and the world is open right now. But, obviously, it does have a Maltese executive producer/director, so... he would love to lean it towards here," he told The Times yesterday.

The script for the seventh series is being penned as we speak, and when Mr Cassar gets to read it, he would immediately be able to tell, knowing Malta well, whether the island fits the bill and could work.

What he does know is that it incorporates an old church, "so that is fine". However, it depends on the storyline, and "if the script is wall to wall jungle, we've got a problem," he chuckles. "If the word 'green' is in there even once, we're kind of messed up!

"The story unfolds in Africa, but, of course, you can be anywhere to be Africa. It depends what they write: If it is an expansive shantytown in the African desert, it would be tough to do it anywhere else."

Meanwhile, the latest news is that he should be scouting for locations in Morocco and South Africa - although the brief is constantly changing as the writing process is still underway.

Despite his enthusiasm, Mr Cassar knows that moving a TV show is a "massive" challenge, as opposed to moving a feature film, which does not have the same kind of deadlines.

The seventh series starts shooting in July and is aired in January, meaning six months in which the production can move around before settling down. But after that, the shooting and airing of the shows get tighter, he explained.

Moreover, the budget of a TV show is minuscule compared to that of a feature film, so it cannot be a question of one scene. "I would need enough scenes to make coming to Malta worthwhile - at least a week's worth of work."

The man who, last year, won a prestigious Emmy for Outstanding Direction of a Drama Series for an episode of the fifth series - the highest accolade in the TV industry, equivalent to an Oscar - continues to express an interest in filming in Malta.

More than an interest, "I cannot even imagine how exciting it would be to work here. It would be such a thrill... I love the island. And filmically, it is wonderful too".

The fact that he could speak to some of the crew in his own language would be "fun" - even though he would have to think of what he wanted to say line by line.

Taking advantage of his holiday in Malta to learn more about its film industry, Mr Cassar was curious about the strength of its crew base and the percentage of foreign workers brought over on films.

"The more competent crews you have, the more attractive it is for someone to come in because the cost is lower," he advised.

He is, therefore, discussing a plan with the Malta Film Commission to return to conduct workshops - "not a full-out film university, but a taste, so that young people, who are just starting their lives, can decide to take it further, go and learn more elsewhere and come back...

"I remember being in students' positions. I see myself in their faces... I've always liked teaching and I'll probably end up lecturing in some university when I'm tired of running round the world."

After a trial run, the workshops could grow, he augured. "Once you start building the crew base, that is when things begin to be profitable. The bottom line is that no one goes anywhere unless they can save a buck. Location and saving money is why people move!"

As regards turning the riveting and addictive 24 - that has crossed cultures with equal appeal - into a feature film, and the possibility of shooting it in Malta, which he had previously expressed, Mr Cassar said the script has already been written. But it has been put on the back burner, at least until the seventh and eighth series are produced over the next couple of years.

"Then, I would do anything I can to write a Malta scene," he declared.

"The problem is none of us working on the TV show want to let go of the movie and pass it on to others. But, unfortunately, the TV show takes up 11 months of the year, so it would be impossible to do the movie at the same time, without splitting the focus.

"Once I start that show, for 11 months, it is nothing but that! If the creative heads go off and do the movie, the show is left dead... It's never the same with new people... We're truly possessive. It's that special recipe of all of us together that makes it so good. The second you pull people away, it starts to disintegrate."

So, the 24 feature film may be on hold, but Mr Cassar has other plans - if only he had 48 hours instead! A movie he would like to bring over is The Juke Box Queen Of Malta, set in World War II. The problem is he does not yet own the project, but he is "still fighting to get my hands on it... Hopefully, it will end up back on my lap".

As regards the movie on the Egyptair hijack, a good script has been penned and it was now a matter of finding interest and money in LA.

"There are such great stories here that have never been told, such as the Great Siege, which is on many producers' lips."

Despite the fact that Mr Cassar left Malta at the age of six, the connection is still strong and he feels it every time he looks out of the plane.

He was surprised at how much the island has "come around" and "grown up", having noticed a major change: "It is more developed, more beautiful and more organised". Then again, he has just spent a week in Italy, "and probably, anybody is organised after Italy!

"Even on the drive from the airport, I noticed the trees have lights on them; and the highway is good."

Another thing he loves about Malta is the fact that it is "steeped in thousands of years of history. You never want to lose that; you want to save it. After all, it is part of what makes it attractive to shoot here".

From the point of view of a film-maker, "the only reason to leave home is because you cannot find it anywhere else. Malta's biggest attraction will always be the castles and the landscapes. You point the cameras and it is exactly what it looked like when the Crusaders were running around.

"You must not let that get away! It is always going to be important from the film point of view, and also for history's sake."

Mr Cassar yesterday toured locations and attended an informal seminar with industry stakeholders.

In a meeting with IT Minister Austin Gatt and Film Commissioner Luisa Bonello, he said his aim was "to see how we can help each other".

Mr Cassar may have found success far from Malta's shores, but he still wants to bring it back. "I think it is an obligation for anyone in my position, who is as lucky as I am, to do that. I know how hard it is to get to where I am. My route was not easy. I do it in Malta because of the blood connection, but I do it also in Canada and elsewhere."

Dr Gatt said the idea was to tap into Mr Cassar's experience and contacts to promote Malta, and the director was more than willing to do that.

"Right now, what's happening in LA is a massive move to Romania and the Czech Republic - business is volatile and the hot spots shift," he said in an earlier interview.

Mr Cassar may not have the answer as to how to bring productions to Malta, but he believed it was "definitely on the right track. I think what the Malta Film Commission does is fantastic and it really shows a professional front. The fact that some of the biggest movies have been made here over the last five years is really amazing".