Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/487054
III This week maltatoday, Sunday, 29 March 2015 This week Creating stories that matter Holy Week events today as its Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign gets underway, TEOdOr rELJIc speaks to young director Keith Tedesco, who is hoping to fund an upcoming short film, In the name Of Bjorn, by the end of the coming month. The film – a collaboration with actress Sarah naudi – takes its cue from a real-life figure, and seeks to explore the theme of 'extremism' How did the initial idea for the project come about? Sarah and I have been friends for many years, though recently we started collaborating with each other to make short films together. For me, it was practice for bigger projects, for Sarah it was a chance for her to do what she loves most – acting. Then as fate would have it, we met again on the set of By The Sea, directed by Angelina Jolie, and due to our atmosphere, we were simply inspired and magically the characters evolved in our minds. What made you opt for a film as your chosen format to tell this story? Film is our passion. I have been studying film for the past three years, and before that I was an ex- treme enthusiast you can say. Sarah has been trained to act profession- ally for stage and the big screen, and she also shares the same pas- sion I do. We chose film because we imagine everything through a lens. You say that the 'film matters because it is current'. In what ways is it current? The film touches heavily on the theme of extremism, though ex- tremity isn't taken in the traditional sense, as we tackle the subject through a different perspective. The film is our version of society, and every character represents an archetype of human behavior in their own version of extreme. So rather than solely and controver- sially focusing on extremism in religion, we focus on extremism in everyday social life. What kind of team are you working with at the moment? How do you hope to carve out the necessary time to make this film? From cast to crew, our team members are professional and passionate individuals who have worked, trained and studied in the arts, and film for a number of years. We were very selective with our entire team as the project is our baby. We now have a cast and crew that are as connected to the script as we are. They ultimately chose us. We have been working on this film for months and our team is all set to go for our shoot in July. We have scheduled everything, so with regards to time management, we are solid, and when you have a team who are as dedicated to film, find- ing time is never an issue. Why did you opt for crowdfunding as your primary source of income for the film? Did you consider other more conventional funding streams, like sponsorship, or perhaps a grant from the Malta Film Commission? The Malta Film Fund was our first option. I have the highest respect for the Malta Film Com- mission, and for the new film com- missioner Engelbert Grech who is doing a fantastic job with regards to building on Malta's indigenous film industry. The new schemes presented this year are fantastic, such as the short film production fun that supports new emerging talent. We chose crowd funding simply because the dates didn't match up and we would have had to push back our filming dates and risk losing our entire cast and crew. We will still apply for funding from the Malta Film Commission when we are more prepared with our next project. Are you hopeful that Maltese people will respond to your crowdfunding call? How do you think the local filmmaking ecology would benefit from your project? So far people have been so sup- portive and the feedback has been incredible. We have no doubt that the calls, emails and messages of support will keep coming in, and we welcome it all. Obviously, we don't only do this solely for entertainment purposes. We want to create a message with every film project that we make, and because we are Maltese, our culture and heritage pours onto paper and will eventually make it to the big screen. We know that the Maltese film in- dustry is growing, and all we want is to grow with it so that together we can create stories that matter. To see the film's Indiegogo campaign, log on to: https://www. indiegogo.com/projects/in-the- name-of-bjorn-short-film Keith Tedesco Sarah Naudi POSTER DESIGN BY FLEUR VAN OOSTEN Kristu fi Strada Stretta Maltese-language, site- specific production at Splendid Place, Strait Street Valletta at 20:00. Written and starring Joseph Galea. Cast also includes Carlos Farrugia, Sarah Camilleri, Ryan Galea, Patrick Tanti and Justin Sean Spiteri. Tick- ets at €15 can be booked from St James Cavalier, Valletta: www.sjcav.org, 2122 3200. They can also be purchased from Carlos Intimo, Hamrun. The play is rated 15+. Adonai Easter pageant by Centru 19 ta' Novembru 1944, at De La Salle College, Birgu at 19:30 on March 28, and 19:00 on March 29. Writ- ten and directed by Joe Buhagiar. Dan Min Hu? Annual Good Friday pageant at St Benedict's Primary School, Kirkop at 19:00 on March 28 and 18:30 on March 29. Entrance is at €2. Barabbas Easter play on the Biblical charac- ter of Barabbas at Sede Azzjoni Kat- tolika, Senglea at 19:30. Organised by Senglea Drama Group. Written by Joe Gatt and directed by Adrian Falzon and Andrew Grech. Tick- ets can be purchased from the bar at the Azzjoni Kattolika daily from 18:30 to 20:30. More information: www.sengleadramagroup.com. Barabbas by the Sede Azzjoni Kattolika at Senglea Music for Holy Week around Valletta The Manoel Theatre is presenting a unique concert for Holy Week at the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Republic Street, Valletta on March 30 at 19:30. The concert will feature the re- nowned Ghislieri Choir and Consort who will perform Leonardo Leo's 'Dove fuggo, a che penso', Niccolò Jommelli's 'Miserere' and will revive a highly interesting composition, namely the 'Improperia per il vener- di' santo', by the renowned Maltese composer Benigno Zerafa (1726- 1804). As its name implies, this work is ideal for performance during Holy Week. Benigno Zerafa, a composer was clearly influenced by the Nea- politan School, pupil of Francesco Feo (1691-1761) and fellow-Maltese Gerolamo Abos (1715-60). Frederick Aquilina, musicologist at the University of Malta states that, "Zerafa's 'Improperia' is a part of the liturgy and although little known is fascinating. The text, probably derived from 'Apocalypse of Ezra' and due in part to the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah, imagines the 'blame' that Jesus addresses the Jews from the cross, partly overlap- ping the reproaches of God himself, which reminds Jews of the salvation granted to the chosen people of Moses." Directed by Giulio Prandi, the Ghislieri Choir and Consort is the ensemble-in-residence at the historic Ghislieri College of Pavia and is supported by the Municipality of Pavia. It is one of the most successful emerging ensembles in Europe at the moment and its director Giulio Prandi has already featured on the front cover of the prestigious Ama- deus magazine. Ghislieri Choir and Consort has a special relationship with Malta and Valletta in particular. Collegio Ghis- lieri in Pavia is the alma mater of this accomplished baroque ensemble and it was founded by Pope Pius V who also funded the building of Valletta our capital city in the 17th century. His bust by Algardi is to be found in front of the Law Courts in Valletta. Ghislieri was the Pope's family name. Manoel Theatre Artistic Director, Kenneth Zammit Tabona said that, "It is our intention to extend the season by having seasonal concerts in churches and palaces besides the theatre on the same lines as the baroque festival. Last Christmas the Charpentier Litanies de La Vierge and Pastorales de Noel at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces was extremely successful which is why it was decided to have a dedicated concert of Music for Holy Week". The concert, which is being sup- ported by the Istituto Italiano di Cul- tura, is on March 30 (eve of a public holiday) and starts at 19:30 and will take place in the beautiful church of St Francis of Assisi on Republic Street. Tickets are €20 with discounts for students and senior citizens from www.teatrumanoel.co.mt, bookings@ teatrumanoel.com.mt or 2124 6389 The Ghislieri Choir and Consort