As Malta’s movie-making industry continues to enjoy its boom, Jo Caruana chats to scriptwriter Ruth Frendo ahead of the release of animated film The Golden Calf.
Malta is set to see its first-ever full-length animated movie dedicated to our heritage propelled onto international big screens next year. Produced by Pro.Motion Ltd and with Charlo Bonnici at the helm as executive producer, the film was inspired by a number of historical events and popular myths related to Malta.
The fact that the storyline is linked to the Bible and the recounting of the imprisonment of Ulysses on Gozo has attracted attention on an international level
Currently in development in collaboration with the Malta Film Fund, The Golden Calf is based on legendary events that have been dramatised around a compelling script. The movie is about two eight-year-old cousins who hear that the Golden Calf, mentioned in the Bible, is buried in their neighbourhood. They then embark on a treasure hunt around Malta and Gozo filled with exciting adventures.
“The movie, which will be 72 minutes long, is about finding one’s own true identity and working to achieve your dreams,” says Ruth Frendo, who penned the script. “It is aimed at six- to 11-year-olds and their families.”
In addition to the main storyline, the film also refers to a local legend, recounting how a farmer found the Golden Calf while digging in his fields.
“This calf is then sold to a Gozitan who refuses to give it to the Grandmaster of the Knights of St John; the transgression earns him a long prison sentence and when he eventually passes away the secret about the Golden Calf’s hiding place dies with him. In the film, the children do their best to find and unearth it after all these years.”
The film also tells the real-life story of the disappearance of 30 children in the 1930s. They had gone missing while on a school trip inside the prehistoric, underground Hypogeum and the mystery remained unsolved.
“Finally, it incorporates Odyssey’s Calypso Cave in Gozo, which also plays an integral part and holds the key to the whole mystery,” Frendo adds.
Bonnici, who came up with the original concept, has always been fascinated with both mythology and history, especially when related to Malta and Gozo. The fact that the storyline is linked to the Bible and the recounting of the imprisonment of Ulysses on Gozo has attracted attention on an international level and there is already quite a buzz about the project within the animated movie sector.
Bonnici and Frendo were among the 15 media professionals selected to attend the recent training course for audiovisual professionals organised by the Malta Film Commission, which was a first for the island. During the one-year course, the duo decided to further develop the concept behind The Golden Calf. With work on production in full swing, the project was handpicked for an evaluation and a one-on-one session with renowned Romanian scriptwriter Razvan Radulescu, one of the tutors of the Torino Film Lab who visited Malta.
“Radulescu was the consultant of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, the film that won the Palme d’Or and the Film Critics Award at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. The fact that he liked the idea of the movie enough to offer us further consultation is extremely encouraging,” Frendo says.
With support for the project continuously pouring in, Frendo and Bonnici decied to attend the Annecy Animation Market 2012, considered to be one of the top in terms of contacts and exposure.
The French Embassy in Malta helped to fund the trip and, despite having no previous connections or contacts, the two film-makers managed to secure meetings with some of the top international distributors and television stations in the world.
“We hope to be working with some of them in the future as several expressed serious interest in distributing the finished product.”
Armed with new knowledge and contacts, actual production could now start.
“The first phase, known as the development process, is considered to be the backbone of the movie and mainly consisted of an in-depth research process, as well as the advancement of the script and some initial marketing efforts,” Frendo explains, adding that none of this would have been possible without the constant support of the Malta Film Commission.
A lot of work went into crafting storyline and sourcing factual information that provides the skeleton of the script. Taking on the bulk of this role, retired headmistress Mary Anne Zammit was the team’s main researcher and her job included looking up old newspaper articles for details of the mentioned historical and mythological events.
“We also managed to find a 1940 edition of National Geographic magazine, featuring the tragedy of the disappearance of the schoolchildren, which was incredibly useful,” Frendo says.
In the next phase, known as production, work involves casting, the full animation creation, editing and any filming involved. Meanwhile, to reach targets and achieve goals, the project has brought together a number of local experts to lend a hand. These include animators and modeling professionals Aaron Briffa and Anton Attard, as well as Paul Abela, who created the soundtrack.
“Now we’re in the final stages and the project gets more and more exciting in the run-up to distribution. We are hoping it will inspire international interest in our islands’ heritage,” Frendo adds.
The Golden Calf was launched during the Annecy Animation Market in Annecy, France, last summer. Plans are underway for it to be distributed locally.