Following three successful seasons on television, fan favourite Il-Klikka makes its big screen debut. Produced by Martina Zammit and Rachel Cachia for V Squared Media Productions, the story revolves around a typical klikka, a group of friends who are joined together by their deep affection for one another in good times and bad. I spoke to the producers, writer Anna Zammit and director Nadya Cachia about the series’ enduring popularity and the challenges of transferring it to the big screen.
“Il-Klikka was a refreshing experience,” says writer Anna Zammit. “It had a young element but with themes that targeted old and young, a touch of drama spiced with gentle humour and fast-paced action. There was always that anticipation for the next episode.”
Producer Rachel Cachia says: “I think Il-Klikka broke new boundaries in terms of visuals and screenwriting formats. Nowadays, being surrounded by foreign TV series, audiences are more discerning in terms of aesthetics and storytelling. I believe our audiences, especially the younger members, were attracted by this fresh style of scriptwriting, filming and editing. The story is not spoon-fed to them: on the contrary it encourages them to read between the lines. We wanted our viewers to love or hate the protagonists and this created ongoing interest in the characters week after week.”
The producers admit that the show was not aimed at viewers that stuck to the traditional way of watching dramas. As Martina Zammit remarks, there was another element that made Il-Klikka stand out.
“We were the first and only Maltese example of transmedia storytelling where certain plots continued and were revealed on a Facebook page (Rajt ma rajtx, smajt ma smajtx). It was exciting to see the public’s immediate reaction. I think this new way of storytelling promises an exciting time ahead to experimental transmedia artists.”
This new way of storytelling promises an exciting time
It is no secret that making feature-length films offers myriad challenges to producers, and unsurprisingly, Il-Klikka was no different.
Another challenge faced by the team was time – or rather lack of it. Anna Zammit recalls the long hours spent plotting scenes only to have very little time to write them in order to meet deadlines. “A project which should have taken months had to get done in a few weeks,” she says.
Nadya Cachia also claims that time was her worst enemy – in different ways. “The fact that the actors are part-timers limits filming time and it may also limit the use of certain locations.”
Another tough task was one that faces any big screen adaptation of a successful TV show – satiating diehard fans while attracting newbies. It took the team months of meticulous work, discussing every little detail and finally testing the script by giving it to somebody unfamiliar with the story. What was obvious was that this was never going to be merely a sequel to the TV series. The aim was always to create a film that was both a stand-alone story and a fitting conclusion for the avid fans.
“We had to be careful with the storylines chosen and the structure of the script,” says the director. “The film starts with an introduction to all the characters, and from there one can determine which of the characters are the heroes, villains and victims and who drives the plot.
“The story starts four years after the conclusion of the series, which will satisfy the diehard fans , while we have ensured that those who never watched it will understand who these characters are, their conflicts and ultimately the underlying plot.”
What do the film-makers hope audiences will take from the big-screen experience of Il-Klikka? Judging by some positive feedback following the film’s premiere, reports Rachel Cachia, there are three elements.
“Some tension and excitement, a good laugh from the comic moments and plot twists that will keep the audience hooked till the very end.”
Says Nadia Cachia: “From a director’s point of view, I hope that it will give the audience a pleasant visual experience, with a little something extra than what we usually get in Maltese dramas.”
Anna Zammit hopes that ultimately, audiences will go back home with a smile, happy to have escaped real life for a couple of hours…
Il-Klikka stars Valentina Rossi, Taryn Mamo Cefai, Tezara Camilleri, Jovan Pisani, JP Xuereb, Andrei Grech, Alvin Cacciatolo, Louisa Abela, Tiziana Tedesco Triccas, Ben Camille, Jerry Mallia and Giuseppe Micallef and is being screened exclusively at Eden Cinemas.