Ein Sommer auf Malta - Working method

Synopsis:
Franka Eyckner (Katharina Nesytowa) comes to Valletta to convince the new director of the local language school of the modern sophisticated learning system that is the basis for the success of "Talk to Me", a language school operating worldwide. But John (Michael Epp) prefers to teach languages situationally and does not shy away from test manipulations to block Franka's efforts. Fortunately, she also has friendlier encounters in Malta, especially with the charming craftsman Till (Eugen Bauder) - unaware that he is an impostor. (ZDF)

Working Method:
Actually, you might think that Malta itself is such an ideal and charming film set that you don't have to do much as a production designer.
But when you want to shoot a departure scene in the airport, but you are not allowed to enter the airport...
A scene in the police station with a market in front of it, is in the script, but the police station is cleared out and renovated on the day of shooting and the market does not take place at all...
The main location is a language school, a university that wants to remain recognizable as such at all times of the day and night...
When the second main location is suddenly so dilapidated that you are no longer allowed to shoot there...
You then have a substitute location for it and have to set up a large tent and a detailed model in front of it and it starts to storm...
Three terrace restaurants are to be set up between three churches for a night shoot, and then it starts to rain and the electricity fails...
A love scene is to be shot at a monument and suddenly it is scaffolded...
The sea is so choppy and the stones in front of it are so soggy that you can't get close to them, then it's difficult to stage a message in a bottle scene here...
When a van that has been removed suddenly looks completely different shortly before shooting and has to be fitted with a fence construction in order to transport sheep, actors and motor scooters on it...
When there are other boats at the fishing harbor as agreed and not a single fishing net is there as ordered...
Yes, then you have to do something by hand and improvise in places.

But that's one of the things that makes shooting abroad so appealing to me.