Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/871892
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2017 News 7 'PAUL, Apostle of Christ' is a his- torical drama produced by Sony Pictures through its faith-based Affirm Films label, Variety reports James Faulkner, Jim Caviezel, Olivier Martinez, Joanne Whal- ley, and John Lynch are starring in a historical drama, "Paul, Apostle of Christ" with shooting starting in Malta, Variety has reported. According to Variety, the film is being produced by Sony through its faith-based Affirm Films label and directed by Andrew Hyatt from his own screenplay. Pro- ducers are David Zelon ("Soul Surfer") and T.J. Berden ("Full of Grace"). Variety reports that the sto- ry covers Paul, portrayed by Faulkner, going from the most infamous persecutor of Christians to Jesus Christ's most influential apostle. The movie will follow his last days awaiting execution by Emperor Nero in Rome under the watchful eye of Mauritius, Mamertine Prison's ambitious prefect, who seeks to understand how this broken old man can pose such a threat. As his days grow shorter, Paul works from prison to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and embolden his followers to stand strong in their faith against Ro- man persecution. "Next to Jesus, no one played a more central role in the growth of the early church than the Apos- tle Paul," Affirm Films executive vice president Rich Peluso told Variety. "He wrote a vast swath of the New Testament and trav- elled more than 10,000 miles on foot to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Berden added, "Paul changed from murdering Christians to becoming their unlikely leader. His life personifies 'forgiveness,' a concept that seems almost im- possible today – but which is desperately needed. We at ODB Films are overjoyed to be working alongside Sony Affirm to share this much needed story with the world." The film is slated to release in 2018 through Affirm Films. and micro-chipping of pets Get your bacon chipped: new rules for pet pigs How to rear a pet pig The RSPCA warns, "Whilst piglets may look cute, even miniature breeds (e.g. the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig) soon grow up to weigh 35kg to 70 kg and over 150 kg if overfed. Other breeds will grow as large as a commercially farmed pig. And while some pigs have a very good temperament others should be handled with care. Pigs are also described as "social herd animals" and owners in the UK are advised to keep "at least two pigs, which get on well, to live together". Moreover pigs should not be kept in the home, must be exercised regularly to avoid obesity, constipation and prevent their feet from becoming overgrown. Each pig needs a minimum area of 36 square metres with access to warm, dry, draught-free, straw-bedded accommodation, as they easily get cold. They must also be provided with somewhere dry to lie down. Human foods are not considered appropriate for a pet pig. Meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, cooked leftovers from the table, canned foods and alcoholic beverages are not recommended. Pigs can acquire salt poisoning from having too much salt in their diets. In some cases pigs are highly allergic to chocolate. Since a pig will practically eat everything offered to it, obesity is a common problem among these pet pigs. But underfeeding your pet pig in the hope of keeping it small is not just cruel but can result in its death. exhibitions, shows, fairs and similar activities, with the prior permission of the authorities. Most pigs kept as pets are min- iature breeds. A micro-pig on sale on online shopping site mal- tapark.com is described as an animal that "eats anything" and fetches a €40 price tag. Other micro pigs were on sale for €25. Miniature pigs weigh between 22.5 kilogrammes to 68 kilo- grams when fully grown. In its web site, the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals has expressed concerns on the keep- ing of pigs as pets " due to how difficult it can be to meet their needs" jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt New film starring Jim Caviezel, James Faulkner and Olivier Martinez to be shot in Malta Photo: Variety/Affirm Films