This Week • 01 DECEMBER 2002

What a week!

Chrysander Agius, better known as Il-Profs with all Mini-Bugz fans, talks to Ramona Depares about life on TV

Monday: Up lateish today, just before nine o’clock. Watched a bit of cartoons – yes, I still enjoy doing that! – and then the news strips while having my cuppa. Next followed my usual argument with mum: she insists on keeping me up to date on all the latest gossip, who’s died, who’s married to whom and who’s given birth… Not stuff that rally interests me, but anyway! Monday is normally comparatively relaxed.

Off to Dee Media, in Floriana, where I do production work: I plan for filming, brainstorm and generally develop ideas together with Owen Bonnici, my business partner. Mid-morning what we call the meetings marathon is held: Owen and I take care of the sales aspect of our projects as well, which means there is a lot to do. Afternoon, Mini Bugz and off home for dinner before attending my weekly drama lesson. I’m in my fourth year with Lemonhead productions and the tutor is a very good friend of mine, Bryan Muscat. In fact we’re also working on something else together. Speaking on theatre, I find drama easier to do than comedy: it’s so much harder to make people laugh!

Tuesday: Up early, rushed over my tea and went to the office. I’m actually a freelancer but because of the upcoming project I do spend a lot of time at Dee Media. A quick plate of pasta at about mid-day and then raced off to Net Tv. Mini Bugz is aired between 3.45 and 5, but Tony Busuttil (the guy who manages the programme) and I have to be there about two hours before. There’s such a lot to do, especially with regards to the set. Because we work in a limited space, the set has to be set up and dismantled every single day.

Today is normally editing day, where I spend a good afternoon editing the programmes for Mini Bugz. Editing is not what you’d call quick and easy: a ten minute feature typically takes some two hours of editing. Not that I mind it, I normally enjoy every single minute. Still, at the moment there is not much editing to be done: most of the cameras are pre-booked due to the pre-election commitments and so we are keeping outdoor features to a minimum.

Wednesday: Had a long meeting today at work. In truth, one day is pretty much the same: when I’m working on a project I tend to focus most of my energy on it. Afternoon had a particularly great session of Mini Bugz. The programme has no written script, but it’s not like some people imagine either, that we just ad lib cheerfully as soon as we’re in front of the camera. There is a certain structure that we do follow. And we also have a ten minute pre-programme everyday, where we really get into our respective characters before the show actually starts. Then after five we have to spend another hour to make sure everything on set is properly put away and to put the puppets to sleep, of course!

Thursday: A busy day today, one mad rush from Floriana to Pieta. Home after the programme: had a shower and lovely, real meal. At about ten o’clock I picked up my girlfriend Alison and we went off for a quick cup of coffee. That’s the only time in the day when we can relax together! Then it was back home to try and get some sleep. But of course, as is my wont as soon as I put my face on the pillow I couldn’t drop off. There aren’t many ways to beat insomnia, unfortunately. I have tried reading, but if it’s a good book this means that you become so engrossed you end up more insomniac than before. The other alternative is working – and I tend to resort to that quite often. Unless it’s a really quiet week, in which case I end up chatting on the Net. But this doesn’t occur often!

Friday: Today made it a point to go to the cinema: watched K19. Rather dragging, but it did pick up towards the end. Anyway, I love watching movies and I make it a point to go to the cinema regularly. The last great film I saw was Insomnia, with Al Pacino. As long as it’s not comedy, I enjoy most movies really.

Saturday: My day to relax. Woke up really late, at about one in the afternoon: called Alison and picked her up immediately, as she’d just finished work. I love Saturday afternoons: we go out to some spa or we watch a video at home… whatever, as long as it’s lazy. Or sometimes we go for an impromptu weekend break. Saturday is also the day for board-games, which I love. M yfavourite is Friends: it’s a girls vs boys kind of thing and to win it you really have to know the other players inside out.

Evening off to a bar in Birgu, Il-Forn: wine is my favourite tipple and we have a good time there. Afterwards straight off to Amazonia. Dancing feels amazing after the hassles of the week – it’s a great way to remove excess energy. Although mind you, Saturday is not my favourite day of the week for clubbing: places tend to be too crowded!

Sunday: Up earlyish at 8. Went to get petrol for my car and then off to a coffee shop in Marsaskala where I stay reading the papers peacefully. Early afternoon off to work in Rabat: I do animation at a venue in Buskett. Straight off to Mdina for coffee and snacks and then on to Paceville for a bowling session. A great weekend all in all.