The Malta Film Commission website is now trilingual: English. Chinese. And Russian.
Published:
February 2, 2014 at 12:49am
The Malta Film Commission website, which is in English (Maltese would be pointless in this context) has been given two little flag icons signifying alternative language options.
French? Italian? German? Spanish?
No.
CHINESE. And Russian.
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Check the top right-hand corner:
http://www.mfc.com.mt/
How do you say ‘Arani Issa’ in Chinese?
Chinese Traditional @ BING Translator
阿拉尼現在的
Don’t know, but I think “bal oon” is Chinese for football.
老大哥在看著你
The wonders of Google translate! 看我 pronounced kàn wǒ
Kan zhe wo ( look at me )( now = understood, so no need to say, but if needed: Xian zai ( now ) kan zhe wo // Kan zhe wo, xian zai ).
Xi mi naw
阿寒湖尔萨
ask the minister’s wife
Curious, shame on us for not speaking Chinese. I have to start learning Russian and Chinese; of course as I have borrowed the translation from a friend. Thanks to all the switchers we shall be learning new languages.
Spanish and French should be there as well. Forget German; most Germans speak better English than the Maltese.
Wrong: the German-speaking film industry has been among the most lucrative for Malta, followed by the French and Italian markets.
It’s not about how fluent somebody is, but the sense that in offering a service, one’s needs will be catered for. It’s marketing.
With Russki and Mandarin, the message is “Come shoot a film and we’ll throw in a passport for good measure”.
The younger French and Spanish generation speaks decent if not very good English. But that’s not the point here.
What, no Korean or Iranian?
Why do I sense Kenely’s hand there?
Actually, have you seen the entry requirements for their recently launched training programmes? Applicants have to score at least 60 points to be called for an interview. The allocation of points is based on the applicant’s residence, age, education, and gender. Yes, gender. Male applicants get 10 points, female applicants receive 20.
According to their selection criteria, the ‘ideal’ applicants would be Gozitan women who fall within the 40-55 age bracket, with almost no educational background whatsoever.
http://www.mfc.com.mt/page.asp?n=esftraining
It seems that the Film Commission portal is another marketing tool for selling all of those prospective fast-track “Maltese” (EU) passports.
As Malta gears up for its Eastern expansion (and future life-line), they also should include a ready link to Henley & Partners on the site.
Marta – the prace to make brockbuster.
Conservative, ‘most Germans speak better English than the Maltese.’ I say, most Germans speak better English than the the English themselves. Let alone the Maltese. But that’s besides the point here.
Well at least Jackie Chan can feel comfy reading the website in his own tongue. Who knows, he might then produce and direct a film in Malta in return.
Why not Indian? This is discrimination.
看我現在
Nothing to do with this subject. The Minister for Gozo is going to introduce new tariffs for the Gozo Channel. Now you will be able to pay a bit more and jump the queue.
The Taghna lkoll slogan should be changed to Malta Ta’ Min Jista’ Jhallas.
And will there be a very special tariff for those who call the ship back to port?
Surprisingly, they seem to have omitted Arabic. Then again …
It must be because Gaddafi is dead…
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-02-02/news/manuel-mallia-pledged-to-resignif-any-residency-requirement-is-introduced-to-citizenship-programme-3845357575/
So, I suppose with the huge influx of Chinese billionaires, all wanting to integrate with the local culture, it will not be long before we start seeing names like Gorg Tse Tung and Maria Wong cropping up. I’m not trying to be ‘negetif’ here, in fact I derive some consolation from the whole scam knowing that quite likely ‘The Year of the Rat will be dedicated to Joseph Muscat.
And the Year of the Rooster? Any guess who that will be dedicated to?
How long before we see the same on gov.mt, transportmalta.gov.mt and the like?
Next is North Korean, who knows, Kim Jong-Un might continue his father’s tradition of film making, and shoot the sequel of Pulgasari in Malta http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCKSR0JArUQ
Why not Indian? Bollywood in Malta.
Then we wonder why we are losing interest from European film making http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140111/local/malta-loses-major-film-shooting-pitch-to-matera.502243
Poor old Film Commission. From the frying pan into the fire. A showcase of ignorance, ego and stupidity.
Yeah, we really want to encourage Chinese filmmakers (who historically contribute zero to film industries overseas) and also encourage the money-laundering from Russia. Who cares? They come up with the cash and they produce a ‘movie’ so it’s all legit…
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-02-02/news/manuel-mallia-pledged-to-resignif-any-residency-requirement-is-introduced-to-citizenship-programme-3845357575/
Let’s sing together “Please Don’t Go” Lyrics provided.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKeZbbDDVaA
Can they make it any more obvious? I mean, seriously?
Evidently the Malta Film Commission is anticipating a mad rush of Chinese and Russians applicants for Muscat IIP Malta (and EU) passport and it is making suitable arrangements for them how to fill their idle moments while they acquire brownie points for their mock residency status.
And someone had the cheek to complain about the lack of “local talent” that necessitated an IIP to attract their foreign talent to our shores!
Wow, that’s going to be so useful for Maltese actors. Sure, let’s have Russian and Chinese films in Malta.
This is not an issue of what languages should be available, but what is the mentality of those running this Commission. This is a throw-back to the days of Mintoff and KMB where ideology supplanted economic sense.
Genau.
Well, these are going to be important languages moving forward.
https://www.facebook.com/events/553006848104223/ Since when do a parliamentary secretary’s responsibilities include maintaining the Facebook pages of particular cultural events?
Both Times of Malta and The Malta Independent carried editorials criticising the prime minister’s tendency to play with words, shifting seamlessly from one position to its opposite to gain some political advantage or worse, pull a fast one.
I think there’s even worse to come than just the citizenship scheme, disgusting that may be, but what they have in mind for Marsaxlokk isn’t sinking in fast enough. With this one however, one can to remember their promises in recorded words, numbers and details.
The video below was uploaded to give an indication of the dimensions of the two tanks envisaged in their pre-electoral specs, 34,000 cubic meters each tank they said, that’s equivalent to one individual tank on the ship in the video, so that’s two of those to get to 60,000 cbm Konrad mentioned, ergo iz-zewg koppli tal-Mosta.
Which total capacity has gone up to 140,000 cbm implying four of those tanks, making the ship they’re looking at, and which they won’t show us, equivalent to the one in the video.
(There we were, looking at two of the tanks in the video to get an idea, when it was the whole ship we should have been looking at).
Personally, I wouldn’t want to be one of those experts who tried to play equidistant and safe, they’re toast.
And if we have to be absolutely correct, it’s not one ship, but two moored alongside each time refilling takes place. I think the PN cannot emphasize enough Labour’s mother of all lies; Konrad’s presentation to stakeholders in that ‘bizniss breakfast’.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywWNJaGDyMo
Maltarightnow’s renderings just don’t illustrate the extent of what will happen in Marsaxlokk bay. And don’t anyone dare mention compensation for the people of Marsaxlokk.
I did NOT vote this psychotic madness.
Even more when the minister himself admitted safety isn’t a priority when delusionary deadlines and costs have taken over.
So what is it he’s saying, they’ll proceed to demonstrate some macho determination even if it kills us?
This article shows the terrible consequences of 140,000 cubic mteres of LNG leaking into the air..
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-03-30/news/bal-op.lng30mar30_1_lng-storage-natural-gas-cubic-meters
Kurt El Corto Farrugia is gaining popularity http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2549457/The-hairy-hunk-lusting-Coconuts-new-superfood.html
More from the Malta government’s good friends in Ukraine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rngDCfpGlA
Houston, we have a problem here. Communication is now incomprehensible.
I think the government is doing this to attract Chinese and Russian talent. You know, the sort of talent which costs Eur 650,000 per head.
If Joseph Muscat is lucky, he might attract the ‘Russian’ actor and film-maker Gerard Depardieu, even if this might cause more headaches to Mr. Francois Hollande.
One of the reasons why Chinese billionaires are running away from communist-crony-capitalist China with their money (and buying Maltese passports) is this:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/10612451/Currency-crisis-at-Chinese-banks-could-trigger-global-meltdown.html
I recommend reading through this UK Telegraph commentary and especially do not miss the comments.
I think we have to say goodbye to that bridge.
What a sick country Malta has become and this only after 9 months since the PL took over.
Speaking of films and culture, I watched the video clip in this news item. Can someone pass me the sickness bag?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140202/local/-We-have-a-cultural-plan-but-won-t-reinvent-wheel-.505088
Just read the Police Commissioner stated today that he is not part of the ‘political machine’. Does that imply that there is one? Sad sod.
Whilst elsewhere Ukrainians are battling out against the cold and riot police to distance themselves from Russia and forge coder ties with Europe, our beloved government is distancing itself from Europe and forging closer ties to Russia and China. Go figure.
On the topic of the Arts:
“I believe that Vicki has huge contribution to make and I want to continue to work hand in hand with her if she is willing.
“But if she believes that there is no direction, perhaps she is in the wrong place.”
This was reported as per link below as what Albert Marshall said about Vicki Cremona (The missing article in front of ‘huge’ is in the original text). Are these familiar words with an added sting in their tail?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140202/local/-We-have-a-cultural-plan-but-won-t-reinvent-wheel-.505088#.Uu89evldV8E
I have just witnessed the epitome of Labour arrogance on TVM breakfast show in the form of Veronique Dalli. Tad-daqqiet ta’ harta.
She is unwittingly revealing the true face of Labour every time she appears in its name. And our dear Pablo can hardly contain his biased enthusiasm during this same programme. Back to Dardir Malta.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-02-02/news/top-pharmaceutical-company-snubs-malta-invests-155m-in-iceland-3845357574/
Is that coffee I smell?
Where’s the Malta Gay Rights Movement? Apparently, if it’s not happening in Malta, then it’s not happening.
http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9126622/putins-pink-peril/
Hi Daphne.
On a different note, may I ask you through this blog and your readers to put pressure on the police to investigate the murder of innocent dogs and cats by some inhuman maniac around the Mosta area? Is there a legal deadline which binds police to come up with results?
Many thanks
[Daphne – Cruelty to animals is not the point here. The real issue, which people seem to miss, is that there is a deranged person running around Mosta who should more properly be in the secure wing of a mental hospital.]
The other worrying issue is this. If this deranged person was nailing people upside down on a cross, would he/she have managed to get away with it too? On such a small rock – and not even that because we’re talking about Mosta only – how can an animal ‘serial killer’ manage to slip through the hands of the police for so long.
Because animals don’t speak. People do.
A 21st-century version of the New Testament has been found in a Burmarrad cave which will turn the teaching of the Bible on its head.
A copy has been sent to the Malta Film Commission for translation into Chinese and Russian and possibly to be put on the big screen. Under the title of “The Kingdom I want to live in and rule over”, the principal character is J.M. (Joe the Magnificent). It contains some fine gems.
Happy are the rich in pocket for theirs is the kingdom.
How easy and cheap it is for the rich to enter into the kingdom of Mal-Eur.
If you want to follow me, give us about a million and you will be “in” even if/when you are out.
A rich man is welcome in Castille Palace while the poor Lazarus is left to drown in poverty.
Michelle Muscat hosts the lepers to high tea at Girgenti Palace, but her husband doesn’t turn up to cure them because he’s taken up with selling his new product, passports.
Those who make donations of at least Eur50,000 can enter the temple, where they will be met by High Priest Sandro Chetcuti. Widows and orphans beg at the gate. If those widows and orphans are African, they are put in a cage and threatened with being sent to Libya.
Give us today our daily million.
I came to be served and not to serve, because I don’t go down on my knees before anyone.
We promised you change, but you’re the ones who are going to have to change.
Has nobody else realised that the MLP ‘Malta Taghna Lkoll’ slogan has discreetly been replaced with the ‘Malta Ewropea Globali’ one? I’m serious.
Malta Ciniza.
All hail The Middle Kingdom.
So, I suppose with the huge influx of Chinese billionaires, all wanting to integrate with the local culture, it will not be long before we start seeing names like Gorg Tse Tung and Maria Wong cropping up.
I’m not trying to be ‘negetif’ here, in fact I derive some consolation from the whole scam knowing that quite likely ‘The Year of the Rat’ will be dedicated to Joseph Muscat.
“Party executive secretary Lydia Abela presented a motion for approval entitled Malta: Maltese, European and Global. She said that the motion was about understanding that Malta must not fear change. Malta must defend and strengthen its identity without being sentimental about the past ”
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140203/local/pl-presents-its-financial-report-slams-pn-for-copycat-changes-to-its-statute.505374#.UvC1Qvl_smk (the penultimate paragraph)
From timesofmalta.com Noon 03.02.2014
Poll
Which party gained most from the citizenship controversy?
The Labour Party
38%
The Nationalist Party
58%
Alternattiva
2%
Total number of votes: 13061
Game. set and match !
Ok, Mr.Kalin, whatever you say.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Austria-and-Cyprus-have-no-residency-requirements-Kalin-from-Henley-Partners-20140204
“Our remuneration has been made public. The other points are quite irrelevant for public discussion. It contains some important features that need to remain confidential because they are related to national security questions. These obviously shouldn’t be published.”
And on he goes about Austria’s scheme,
“Effectively this provision has been used to attract investors and business people. The same as Malta is doing now. The only difference is much smaller numbers and complete secrecy about the process and the names involved.”
He said that in Austria, there were about 20 to 30 cases a year.
“But as I said, these numbers are not published at all.”
So there, none of our business who gets their passport, if you’ll pardon the pun, because at this point, I’m not even allowed to put in my two cent’s worth who should get it.
And finally the parting shot.
“It is very clear that we obviously have an interest and this is our business. We are specialists in this field and we advice government’s and countries around the world. But I do take offence in the way some of those criticisms are being aforesaid. Especially from those who are in opposition and the judicial protest, because this doesn’t make any sense. One thing is to have a mature political debate about that. We are specialists that provide solutions in this field and we pride ourselves to do this very well,”
That no one question whether this scheme be managed by anyone else. Here he is, asking for a mature political debate, when all that means is to accept Henley and Partners dictating our internal affairs.
Let’s have a fresh challenge now that legal notices keep sprouting every other week shall we? This time to Henley’s particularly blatant exhibition of conflict of interest, they can’t even get themselves to settle for any clear criterion except the money they get to make. Rather aggressive are we?
Let’s have an open competition who gets to work the system, remove all potential conflicts from the new agreement and avoid EU infringement proceedings to fair competiton.
Surely Muscat, if he’s squeaky clean, doesn’t have to employ these people at all costs. Of course not.
As for the terms and conditions outlined by the august well-known expert, read Kalin’s aversion to any further chit chat by the natives, perhaps he needs to understand that he doesn’t get to determine what goes on in parliament and that amendments can and will be presented.
Carry on Kalin, patronise.
“We are specialists that provide solutions in this field and we pride ourselves to do this very well”
Really? Does this mean you’re determined to keep Muscat’s plot outlined last September, or did you miss the four revisions?
When according to you, Henley pride themselves on this mess, you can’t be allowed anywhere near a ministry.
Some record this winter eh, I bet your perfomance review’s up.
Henley & Partners now have an entrenched business interest in perpetuating a Labour government. They failed to push through their citizenship scheme with the PN and are even less likely to do so now.
What guarantees are there that Henley & Partners will not interfere, directly or indirectly, in the electoral process when their business in Malta is built on the distortion and exploitation of democratic processes and institutions?
All those Chinese & Russian visitors of Malta Film Commission who can’t understand the English words they can get help of a free site (favoritewords dot comm). At this site they can find very interesting concepts that can build their vocabulary and support them reading English.