Storyworks is dedicated to those willing to develop their screenwriting and film production skills. The project is both innovative and informative, and includes workshops and master classes delivered by some of the top professionals from the international film industry. The aim is to have different people working on scripts and screenplays together and to have these production-ready by early 2017.  Storyworks is ideal for aspiring writers and producers wishing to hone their skills, but it is also beneficial for film professionals already working in the industry who would like to develop their craft further.

For this reason, I met Kenneth Scicluna, a filmmaker, and Danjel Bugeja, an MCAST media lecturer, to hear what they had to say about the course and their experience of it.

Scicluna claims that the course offers a process of inspiration. It has taught him that he can write scripts that aren’t just for his films, but also for others. “Whenever I wrote something in the past, it was so that I could direct it.  I am, more or less, doing the same, although I am now more open to writing for others.  And that, perhaps, is the biggest change — reaching out, trying to write in a manner that can not only be intelligible for others, but also possibly inspiring.”

Scicluna, who also participated in last year’s course, admits that the second time round, the experience is much better and he feels that he’s improved a lot. “This time round I have a brilliant writing partner — Erica Muscat.  It was her story to begin with, although we’ve now travelled to a rather different place.  So the first improvement, I would say, is the ability to truly work with someone else.  To listen, and make something better through the combined strengths, experiences, and sources of inspiration.  And then, sometimes I could be staring something in the eye, but need a different perspective to grasp an idea — and I feel I’ve had a few epiphanies along the way.”

The production Scicluna is working on deals with the subject of a young woman overcoming her misconceptions. So far, the production is moving along swimmingly. Although the course has been rewarding – with Scicluna building working relationships, meeting up with new and old colleagues, and learning new things – it hasn’t come without its challenges. Scicluna, as a father, found it hard to take his daughter to school and make it to Valletta on time, a problem that most parents struggle with during rush hour traffic. But that’s not all – he also had to leave most of his preconceived notions at the door in order for him to learn new things with an open mind.

“In placing an emphasis on underlying structure, the course helps one to shed the chaff and nurture the salient aspects of one’s story, in a filmable manner,” he remarks.

Danjel Bugeja has also had a positive experience with the course, but unlike Scicluna, this is his first time. “Storyworks was truly an eye opener, it has helped me to understand how to better structure narratives and shape stories more effectively. This was my first time and it was an incredible experience which I definitively recommend to anyone.”

Bugeja enjoyed watching stories developing and flourishing, but he also greatly appreciated support from peers. Another aspect of the course Bugeja enjoyed was the real life application of what he learnt during sessions. However, he too had some reservations at first. “The concepts and the radically different approach to screenwriting might be hard to accept at first. However, once you see them at work it forces you to do a 360 degree turn.”

Bugeja firmly believes that you can always learn something new, no matter what stage you are at in your scriptwriting career. Storyworks is able to help with this, especially when it comes to acquiring new skills and bettering existing ones.

Bugeja believes that, thanks to an initiative like Storyworks, we can develop the film industry further as it lays solid foundations for the future. “Hopefully we will see more initiatives like this and many well-crafted Maltese films in the future,” he concludes.