French singer Keen’v’s love affair with Malta was officiated in August 2015 when he used the island as backdrop in his music video for Un Monde Meilleur (A Better World). The video received incredible feedback and four years later, the French star has just released a second music video, this time for Pour Y Arriver (To Succeed), which features Malta along an exclusively Maltese cast.
The video was shot entirely in Malta between 26th and 28th October 2019 and features local actors Rueben Micallef who plays Bernard in viral Maltese TV period drama l-Gharusa (The Bride), as well as young rising rap star Ike Mizzi and Miss Supranational 2019 Rebecca Pace, alongside 25 young extras.
The beautiful countryside of Zurrieq features extensively in the music video, alongside Vittoriosa’s narrow streets and Marsaskala’s sea shore around the former Jerma Hotel. St Margaret College Verdala Secondary was also used for all the school and student race scenes.
Lawrence Cassar Jr
Assistant producer on both music videos alongside Jason Spiteri, Lawrence Cassar reveals that the director, Cedric Tagnon, shares Keen’v’s deep affection for the island, having used the island for a third music video back in April 2015 for Voulez Vous Danser by famous French trio Presteej.
Although operating under an intense filming schedule, Lawrence reveals that it wasn’t without it’s fair share of hilarity. The Kite scene in Pour Y Arriver proved a great source of diversion (and frustration) for the crew: “the character of Tom (played by Ike Mizzi) had to run and fly this kite in the valley but it just wouldn’t take off,” Lawrence confesses. He explains that the crew joined forces with several local people to help it fly, but the bad weather conditions did not facilitate their work.
Lawrence Cassar Jr
Another moment was when a scene filmed in a Vittoriosa townhouse required one room to be extremely modified to fit their artistic requirements. It turns out the owner hadn’t been aware of this change and his reaction showed this: “the look on his face when he walked in and saw his sitting room upside down was priceless!” Lawrence lets in. And with reason!
Lawrence Cassar Jr
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