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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 OCTOBER 2023 6 ALMANAC My essentials MATTIA SCICLUNA 23, propmaker, costume maker My name is Mattia Scicluna, or Matti, I am 23 years old and currently work as a propmaker and costume maker for film/tv and other productions such as nightlife events, short films, fashion, and commercials in London. I recently finished my course, 3D Effects for Performance and Fashion, where I studied different processes and materials used to make props and puppets for the movie and TV industry. I specialised in fabrication, specifically the use of foam and thermoplastics. I was financially aided by the Maltese Government's Malta Arts Scholarship, which I am very grateful and thankful for. 4 5 1. Book 2. Film 3. Internet 4. Music 5. Place I have been recently listening to The Broski Report by Brit- tany Broski, where apart from the laughs and silly motives, she delves deep into culture and art, and generally says things that are quite strik- ing. Especially when she talks about the feeling of 'home' and what she had to give up to be where she is now. It really resonates with me, now that I live quite far away from my COSMO Sheldrake was and still remains my favourite musician and artist. He uses sounds recorded from nature - birds, aquatic animals, or general sounds - and merges them together to create beau- tiful compositions. His lyrics sometimes take on a life of "nonsense poetry" and that also is a reminder that not everything has to be taken ex- tremely seriously, even in an art form such as music. I res- onate with this in my personal work. LAST year I took a two-day break in Norway, where I stayed in a cabin away from civilisa- tion, with no running water or food close by. I had to wake up at around 4am to chop wood to light the fire that was keeping me warm, and it reminded me to take it slow. Life can be so fast paced and non-stop. Being in the countryside with no one around you other than trees and the occasional horse whine re- minded me to take it easy and just think about where I am now and how lucky I am. THE latest book I read was Of Love and Other Demons by Ga- briel García Márquez. I read it for my second-year unit, where I then had to take an extract from the book to make it as an artifact or prop. The book is quite strik- ing in its descriptions and slight- ly problematic. But the way the author describes certain things in detail, although harrowing, paints an incredibly bright pic- ture of what one is reading. Bringing that to life was a chal- lenge but finally the result is one that I am very proud of. I rewatched Princess Mon- onoke also for a universi- ty submission. The world of Studio Ghibli movies is breath-taking and just so colourful and vibrant. Em- ulating that feeling of fly- ing in this landscape and breathing in the smells of the food being served and diving in the overarching narratives in these movies 2 Compiled by Laura Calleja suggestions by email lcalleja@mediatoday.com 1 3 This article is supported by Arts Council Malta