300 students from M.A.V. College, have been working and learning from professionals in the entertainment industry throughout the summer.

Minister for Education Justyne Caruana recently paid an early morning visit to the film set at Fort St. Elmo in Valletta, of the Opera-Film BLAT – The Island Fortress.

The Minister acknowledged the “enormous benefit to both the students and staff at the specialised schools of Art, Drama, Dance and Music. Being executively produced by Mikiel Anton Vassalli College (M.A.V. College), the national network of specialised schools for Visual and Performing Arts Education in Malta and Gozo – this is the first ever Opera-Film in Maltese.”Welcomed to the set by the Head of College Network Victor Galea, who volunteered to take the role of the Executive Producer for this production, the Minister was introduced to the professionals involved in such production such as the artistic director, the Film Director and his Assistants, the Choreographer, the Set Operator, Hair and Make-up Artists, Location Manager, Production Secretary, Production Assistants, Production Manager, Production Designer, solo singers, choral singers, wardrobe mistress, seamstresses, property manager, director of photography and sound operators among others.

Dr Caruana was also introduced to several of the students taking part on set in different roles such as extra actors, singers in the Young Voices (an ensemble from the Malta School of Music) as well as the adult choir consisting of advanced voice students from the Malta school of music.“This production brought forward a paradigm shift in our College. Administrators of the specialised schools took further roles, mainly that of coordinating the artistic and musical direction, motivating their teaching staff as well as students from their respective artistic disciplines to take up such roles outside their normal tasks, and assist in creating synergy between the various disciplines of dance, drama, art and music,” said Victor Galea.

He said that this production gave a golden opportunity to students registered in any of the schools within Mikiel Anton Vassalli College, to apply their learnings by working closely with the various professionals in the entertainment/cultural industry.

In all, over 300 students from the different disciplines that the College covers were involved. The poster/logo of the Opera-Film BLAT – The Island Fortress is the design of Kirsty Mercieca a digital art student attending the Gozo Visual and Performing Art School.

BLAT – The Island Fortress, conceived by composer Dr Reuben Pace and librettists George Peresso and Amy Borg is based mainly in Valletta during World War II.

Now that the post production works are underway, it is envisaged that this Opera-Film will be premiered during the first quarter of 2022.

Dr Reuben Pace Artistic Director and Composer, Mr Alan Fenech the Film Director and Screenplay Writer who is also the Administrator of the MAVC Malta School of Drama and Dance together with the Music Co-coordinator Ms Maria Blanco who is also the Administrator of the MAVC Malta School of Music and Ms Glorian Sammut the Wardrobe seamstress on behalf of the Art Coordinator Mr Umberto Buttigieg who is the administrator of the MAVC Malta School of Art were also present for the visit.

Top photo: Education Minister Justyne Caruana on set; below – from left to right, Alan Fenech Film Director, Victor Galea Executive Producer and Minister Caruana and below the students on set

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