Malta's electric light orchestra

Renowned projection artist and designer Ross Ashton is performing Blues Brothers moves in a studio, guiding giggling Fakawi band members during a filming session.

Choreography and dance may not exactly be his area - he is the man behind Fort St Angelo's different facets during the celebrations to mark Malta's EU membership in 2004. But he is taking the usual hands-on approach to the design and creation of high power projections for the upcoming rock concert, Rockestra, in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund.

In Malta for a couple of days to record footage at the Audio Vision Studios in Ħamrun before putting it together in the UK, he is looking forward to the challenge, which should result in a full sensory experience and is "all very exciting".

Although he has just finished projecting images on to Edinburgh Castle for the renowned Edinburgh Tattoo, Mr Ashton feels the concert that is seeing the 65 musicians of the National Philharmonic Orchestra go rock for charity is also a "very ambitious event" and "quite unusual in the world of music" in its attempt to tie the two genres together.

"It is going to be a challenge for (musical director) Sigmund Mifsud to work that out, but when it works, it will be a fantastic, rich sound, what with the scale of the orchestra. He has chosen great pieces and I just hope I can add that little bit extra!"

Filmed against a green screen to be manipulated in post-production, the Blues Brothers part is supposed to be fun and light-hearted, Mr Ashton explains, as he peers at the monitor and laughs at Fakawi's comical moves. But he is also aware of the show's philanthropic aim, and plans to feature the work of the Community Chest Fund as the backdrop to one of the songs.

"It is an evening for people to, hopefully, have a good time. But of course, there is also a very serious point to the event, as there was in the case of Live Aid, for example. The idea is that the audience feels good for two reasons: because they are seeing a great concert; and because their money is going to a good cause."

The Malta Fairs and Convention Centre at Ta' Qali may not be providing an architectural backdrop as spectacular as Fort St Angelo.

"But the excitement for me is working with the orchestra. This is still a large-scale event. Yes, it may be a flat screen, which is easier in some ways because you are not being dictated to by the architecture. But in some ways, it is more difficult for me because my background is architectural projections.

"This is not a projection show as such; it is a musical show, and it is my role here to add to what is happening on stage and not to replace it and supersede it," Mr Ashton says.

The illustrations are not supposed to dominate it, he insists, referring to Edinburgh Castle and the Edinburgh Tattoo. Finding the right balance all boils down to "instinct" and experience, he maintains.

"After all, any modern rock concert has a complex lighting and video system these days. It is expected, and I hope to add some fun to the show."

Some of the filming is also being done at Verdala Castle, which Mr Ashton is impressed with: "I have never seen anything like that," he says, referring to the murals.

As to where Fort St Angelo features in his personal portfolio, a look at his web site provides the answer: of all his works, it adorns the home page.

"It is very important to me; it was the first large-scale event I did after Buckingham Palace and the first one outside the UK. It is a fantastic site. The Maltese live with that view as part of their heritage and culture, but as an outsider, when you see that space and it is yours to play with it, it is amazing."

Mr Ashton has been visiting Malta since 1999, when he took on his first job at the Malta Freeport. He has had four opportunities to work on the fort now and feels that being able to reinterpret it again has been an honour.

His involvement in Rockestra is "something I want to give back to Malta, which has been very good to me".

Rockestra is being held on September 12, under the patronage of the President and Mrs Abela. It will be including works by Queen, The Beach Boys, Eagles, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Deep Purple and other popular pieces, together with the input of local artistes. Mr Ashton is devising a projection for each piece, with some being more complicated than others, he anticipates.

Tickets at €10 are available from www.rockestra.org, the Embassy Cinemas box office (Level 2) and the Millennium Stand Ta' Qali. Children under 12 enter free if accompanied by adults.