https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/11481 Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:30:11 GMT 2026-10-18T00:30:11Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149253 Title: How can Maltese films be sold internationally : a qualitative approach to distribution research Abstract: This study explores fundamental topics that serve as the foundation on how Maltese films can be sold abroad. Three crucial research questions emerged from the literature analyzed which shape the direction of this study: what are the distribution channels open to Maltese filmmakers internationally?; how do sales agents facilitate the sales of films from small countries?; and what do Maltese films require to be sold abroad? In-depth semi- structured interviews were carried out with both Maltese filmmakers and foreign sales agents to identify whether their expectations correlate. The findings of this study confirm that multiple distribution channels are accessible to Maltese filmmakers, with sales agents utilizing key strategies, such as film festivals, diverse markets - including VOD, and non- commercial opportunities, to maximize their effectiveness. Furthermore, the results highlight that while there is no specific criteria Maltese films must follow to be sold abroad, there are factors which contribute to making such efforts a reality, such as following certain legalities. This notion further adds weight to why attaching a sales agent to a film production is crucial since they hold the necessary knowledge and expertise that guide filmmakers through unfamiliar territories. This study’s research also outlines other elements which contribute to the necessity of global distribution for Maltese films, including the enrichment of the indigenous film industry, a widening of opportunities for Maltese cinema, and the resulting understanding in the difference of local and global distribution dynamics. Description: B.Comms. (Hons)(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149253 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149247 Title: The influence of film adaptations on book cover design : a qualitative study on readers and non-readers Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between film adaptations and book cover design, to address how film imagery influences the perceptions readers and non-readers have of the original literary works. It takes a look at Frankenstein (1818), Dracula (1897), and The Phantom of the Opera (1909)—three frequently adapted novels—in order to confirm whether visual changes made from book to screen have been conflated with what was originally written. It also addresses how these visual changes printed on book covers affects consumer expectations and purchasing behaviour. Qualitative methods were used, including a semiotic analysis on some of the OFCs (outer front covers) belonging to the aforementioned novels; and focus groups divided between readers and non-readers. The semiotic analysis guided the selection of covers presented in the focus groups, which allowed the participants to engage with the discourse surrounding book cover design, and to gain a deeper insight into their thoughts and opinions. This helped to establish the symbiotic relationship shared between film and book cover design; and how certain imagery impacts recognition, perceived accuracy, and purchase appeal. The results indicate that both reader and non-reader perception of the novels is notably influenced by film imagery; and that the most significant difference between the two groups is in their book cover design preferences: although both favoured accuracy, the reader group preferred having a vague representation of a book’s content. However, design was noticeably favoured to accuracy on a case-by-case basis, even though what they often all considered to be accurate was also what they thought had the best design. This could provide a reason for why film imagery continues to be reused in both new film and TV adaptations, and on book covers, in spite of its tentative connection to the original work. Description: B.Comms. (Hons)(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149247 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148118 Title: Greenwashing : awareness and perception of responsibility among graphic designers Abstract: This thesis explores the awareness and sense of responsibility of creative communication agency leaders regarding greenwashing. Greenwashing is a misleading communication practice that abuses consumers’ growing concern for sustainability, leading to growing mistrust of consumers around truly sustainable products and slowing down the sustainability movement. While the legal responsibility lies with the client commissioning the misleading visuals, graphic designers and other creatives function as the mediator between the client and the consumer, thereby carrying out the practical work. This thesis uses a qualitative approach to explore the awareness of four Maltese creative communication agencies’ leaders around greenwashing and to explore their potential responsibility as communicators. The study draws its importance from the 2024 introduced ‘Green Transition Directive’ (EU 2024/825) that turns a moral consideration for graphic designers into a legal wrong. Firstly, the interviews revealed that “greenwashing” can easily be mixed up with other issues within the wider domain of sustainability in designers’ minds. Another finding is that a potential lack of sense of responsibility among creatives may be explained by the belief that individual action does not have a sufficient impact to tackle those problems. Since lawmakers and companies are perceived as more powerful, some interviewees attribute the main responsibility for introducing positive environmental change to these parties. All agencies interviewed have principles for the selection of their clients and declined clients for ethical reasons. Being able to be selective and act ethically also depends on the establishment of an agency. At the beginning of one’s career, however, there can be the temptation to overlook design ethics in an effort to establish professional acumen and market exposure. Description: B.Comms. (Hons)(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/148118 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147395 Title: Communication through a combination of art and poetry Abstract: This project dissertation investigates how the combination of visual art and poetry can enhance communication and emotional expression. Motivated by my personal passion for both painting and writing, the research aims to demonstrate that pairing these two artistic forms creates a powerful and clear communicative experience. The study begins with a literature review that examines the dynamic relationship between poetry and visual art, including the psychological and cognitive effects of imagery, colour, and nonverbal cues. It explores the concept of ekphrastic poetry – where poets respond to visual art – and the narrative power of illustration, drawing on works by key scholars and examples from notable artists and poets. The practical component consists of a creative project: a book pairing original paintings with thematically linked poems, reflecting personal experiences and emotions. This is supplemented by interviews with local artists working at the intersection of art and poetry, whose insights enrich the understanding of the creative process. A reflective journal documents the evolution of the project, detailing inspirations, techniques, and challenges encountered. Findings from the research and inferences of the project suggest that the interplay between visual and verbal media deepens audience engagement, clarifies meaning, and evokes stronger emotional responses. The dissertation concludes that integrating art and poetry not only enhances the communicative power of each medium but also fosters richer, more immersive experiences for both creator and viewer. This project-led inquiry highlights the value of interdisciplinary approaches in contemporary artistic expression. Description: B.Comms. (Hons)(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/147395 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z