Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1506448
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 AUGUST 2023 COMMENT The Skinny Malta, shrunk down EDITORIAL Electronic tagging: get on with it! PAGE 2 JOSANNE CASSAR People are willing to spend money on concerts and festivals - just don't rip them off PAGE 6 From enhancing productivity to revolutionizing industries, the potential benefits of AI are vast. However, as we've explored, this promise is not without its pitfalls ALEXIEI DINGLI | PAGE 12 What are we skinning? Film Commis- sioner Johann Grech's public reaction to criticism levelled his way when it emerged that the government is dish- ing out sizeable cash rebates to Holly- wood productions like Gladiator 2. Why are we skinning it? Because it's indicative of the way we tend to pro- cess public and political dissent on the island. How do you mean? Instead of address- ing any criticism and/or public misun- derstanding through a transparent breakdown of the facts, we tend to turn to partisan and populist mud-slinging as a way of scoring points for our 'side' by tapping into the superficial emo- tional kick this gives us. What actually happened, though? So a lot of fuss was made in the media with regards to the amounts spent in cash rebates by the government to help attract foreign productions to Mal- ta. This was further weaponised by the Opposition, who even went so far as to suggest that an investigation should be launched into the cash rebate scheme to identify any irregularities. Did the Film Commission respond by publishing the necessary evidence that would definitively prove other- wise? Nope. Did they attempt to alleviate the anx- iety the general population may feel about such blockbuster numbers, by showing how such productions truly provide long-term added value to Malta? Nope. (Though there's plenty of selfies with Johann Grech and Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo going around, if that helps.) Did they finally address the costs of both the Malta Film Awards and the Mediterranae Film Festival? Nope. (Though Bartolo promised a report of some kind will be published in Sep- tember). Did they reassure Maltese filmmak- ers that a more equitable distribu- tion of funds will be made available, ensuring that they do not feel like second-class citizens in their own in- dustry? Nope. Well, what did they do then? The Film Commissioner, in his wisdom, issued a piece-to-camera monologue where he said that the criticisms of the cash rebate scheme amount to nothing more but an 'attack to Malta', and that whoever even dares to suggest they should in any way be scrutinised is operating on an agenda to rob hon- est, hard-working Maltese and Gozitan people of their jobs in the film servic- ing industry. How very totalitarian chic. Say what you will about our Film Commission- er, but he's certainly taken to at least one audio-visual genre with flair and energy. Didn't the Tourism Ministry make roughly the same points earlier? It did, but I suppose Grech felt he needed to add a more explicit visual adjunct to the party line on this. Do you really think it will sway peo- ple's opinions? It may mobilise some of the converted, but I don't see how it will contribute to the conversation in any meaningful way. Even the most sober and moderate of the critics will want concrete answers, not propagan- da lines. In fact, it's funny that Grech should mention 'unity' on this front... Exact- ly. Such a discourse aims to divide us between 'us' and 'them. Grech is es- sentially saying "you're either with us or against us". And who's the other side, really? If Grech means the PN, that's a non-start- er. Why do you say that? Most film in- dustry professionals operating in good faith have no interest in partisan squabbling -- they just want a better industry and better access to resourc- es. Also, the PN attacking the rebates on principle is just dumb. Ah, the PN. Learning the wrong les- sons from each (possible) scandal. Yep. The rebates aren't the issue. The perception of overspending in other areas, and the lack of support to local filmmakers, is what really gets our col- lective goat. As if their wins with the hospitals deal taught them nothing. That's your perfect example right here. In that case there was concrete evi- dence brought to bear with deter- mination. This is just populist ping- pong on both sides. Do say: "The Film Commission should not be penalised a priori for having a cash rebate scheme in place, and any criticism in that regard should be substantiated by concrete evidence. However, responding to complaints through a video broadcast propped up by little more than buzzwords and sprinkled with sinister, populist state- ments is no way of turning the narra- tive around." Don't say: "I don't understand. Isn't this guy Russel Crowe's PR agent in Malta? Why is he talking about secur- ing my job?" No. 206 - They Can Take Our Freedom, But They'll Never Take Away Our Rebates MICHAEL FALZON A clubbing destination! PAGE 7 SAVIOUR BALZAN I have had enough PAGE 5