Reel to wheel
Take 1, scene 1: On a freezing February evening, an Italian ship coming from Genoa battles big waves as it berths in the Grand Harbour area. The cargo hold opens and a new four-wheel-drive Mercedes comes out, pulling an attached closed trailer. The driver exits and meets his Maltese contact. All formalities quietly conducted, they quickly pass through customs, with the necessary documents having been processed beforehand.
The Maltese drives off in his car, closely followed by the newly arrived vehicles, to an unmarked destination off the beaten track. On arrival, the Mercedes and the trailer, which are physically and electronically attached and cannot be released from each other, are garaged for the night, and the sophisticated security system is turned on.
A 1922 priceless and historic Hispano Suiza, insured for "2.5 million, has finally arrived on the island, ready for the next day filming of the National Geographic second series of Genius, now featuring well known actor Antonio Banderas in the role of Pablo Picasso.
Cut to Kalkara, the location of the Malta Film Commission and the Malta Film Studios in Rinella, the frequent port of call for foreign productions wanting to...
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