New Film May Harm Gibson's Career

NY Times. ^ | February 26, 2004 | SHARON WAXMAN

[siliconpatriot]

I didn't see anyone else post this. It seems important that many of Hollywoods Jewish leaders seem to be trying to make Mel Gibson suffer for doing this great film.

Maybe Mel can start a Christian revolution in Hollywood.

February 26, 2004
New Film May Harm Gibson's Career
By SHARON WAXMAN

OS ANGELES, Feb. 25 — Mel Gibson's provocative new film, "The Passion of the Christ," is making some of Hollywood's most prominent executives uncomfortable in ways that may damage Mr. Gibson's career.

Hollywood is a close-knit world, and friendships and social contact are critical in the making of deals and the casting of movies. Many of Hollywood's most prominent figures are also Jewish. So with a furor arising around the film, along with Mr. Gibson's reluctance to distance himself from his father, who calls the Holocaust mostly fiction, it is no surprise that Hollywood — Jewish and non-Jewish — has been talking about little else, at least when it's not talking about the Oscars.

Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, the principals of DreamWorks, have privately expressed anger over the film, said an executive close to the two men.

The chairmen of two other major studios said they would avoid working with Mr. Gibson because of "The Passion of the Christ" and the star's remarks surrounding its release.

Neither of the chairmen would speak for attribution, but as one explained: "It doesn't matter what I say. It'll matter what I do. I will do something. I won't hire him. I won't support anything he's part of. Personally that's all I can do."

The chairman said he was angry not just because of what he had read about the film and its portrayal of Jews in relation to the death of Jesus, but because of Mr. Gibson's remarks defending his father, Hutton Gibson. Last week in a radio interview the elder Mr. Gibson repeated his contention that the Holocaust was "all — maybe not all fiction — but most of it is." Asked about his father's Holocaust denial in an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC, the movie star told her to "leave it alone."

The other studio chairman, whose family fled European anti-Semitism before the Holocaust, was less emphatic but said, "I think I can live without him." But others said there would be no lasting backlash against Mel Gibson. "If the movie works, I don't think it will hurt him," said John Lesher, an agent with Endeavor. "People here will work with the anti-Christ if he'll put butts in seats." Mr. Lesher added, "He put his own money where his mouth is. He invested in himself."

As Mr. Lesher implied, Hollywood is also a place of businesspeople, and Mr. Gibson is a proven movie star, popular with audiences. There are few actors with that kind of bankability, no matter their personal views. Mr. Gibson is also a capable director. So some of the initial reactions to his film may fade over time.

Mr. Gibson not only directed and helped write the $30 million film, but he also paid for it, including production and marketing costs, out of his own pocket, which Hollywood has filled.

As an actor and successful director, from "Mad Max" (1979) through "Lethal Weapon" (1987) and its sequels to the Oscar-winning "Braveheart" (1995), Mr. Gibson has long been a Hollywood pet. But he has also been known as a prankster and a self-confessed abuser of various substances. Many in the relentlessly secular movie industry see his recent religious conversion — he practices a traditionalist version of Roman Catholicism — as another form of addiction.

Last Friday the media billionaire Haim Saban, former owner of the Fox Family Channel, sent a concerned e-mail message to friends about Mr. Gibson and his father.

The message forwarded an article by the journalist Mitch Albom calling on Mr. Gibson to repudiate his father's denial of the Holocaust. Mr. Saban sent the article to, among others, Roger Ailes, who heads Fox News; Norman Pattiz, who runs the Westwood One radio network; and Michael R. Milken, the securities felon turned philanthropist.

Amid the daily dealings of Hollywood, the film and the star have been fodder for unfavorable gossip. Dustin Hoffman has talked to friends about what he called Mr. Gibson's "strangeness" during the ABC interview. The producer Mike Medavoy said Mr. Gibson's religious zealotry made him feel uncomfortable. Mr. Hoffman is Jewish; Mr. Medavoy is the child of Holocaust survivors.

"One question is, `What propelled him to make the movie about the passion of Christ?' " Mr. Medavoy said. "It makes me a little squeamish. What makes me squeamish about religion in general is that people think they have the answer: `I think my God is the right God.' How do you argue against that?"

But many non-Jews in Hollywood have also been unhappy about the religious divisions that the movie has exposed and could deepen. A public relations expert who usually works closely with Newmarket, which is distributing the film, said she declined to work on the film, though she is Roman Catholic. "This kind of thing tends to bring out the worst in people," she said, insisting that her name not be used.

The director David O. Russell, who described himself as areligious, said that although he had not seen the film, he was disturbed by the prospect that "The Passion" could feed anti-Semitism. "There are so many wonderfully provocative things about Jesus' life and death that challenge us to be better people," he said. "If it stirs anti-Semitism, then what a wasted opportunity."

Melisa Richter, a publicist who worked for one of the largest Christian movie production houses in the country, Cloud Ten Pictures, wrote in an e-mail message that the film "feeds into the culture of anti-Semitism that is out there, repeating it again and again in a popular format (the film medium), lacking vital historical context and background."

Several prominent people interviewed for this article said they were curious about the film but would not buy tickets to see it.

Still, some of Mr. Gibson's Jewish friends have been defending him and the movie. The producer Dean Devlin, who is Jewish, said, "It's a phenomenal movie about love and forgiveness, and I personally didn't find it anti-Semitic whatsoever."

Mr. Devlin said that he thought those in Hollywood who were angry would get over it. "I think it's a big issue today, as the movie is opening, but over time it will be seen as one of many beautiful renditions of the story," he said. "My hunch is this will pass, this film will be remembered as a beautiful film, and Mel will go back to making movies. That's my hope."

Alan Nierob, Mr. Gibson's publicist, is himself the child of Holocaust survivors. "I think Hollywood appreciates good art and will embrace the talent of a filmmaker," Mr. Nierob said. "I don't see a negative reaction."

[Arpege92]

"I won't hire him. I won't support anything he's part of. Personally that's all I can do."

That can work both ways Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen. I won't support anything you are part of and I will encourage others to do the same. Me thinks you will be singing a different tune when you both start losing huge money!!!!!

[Welsh Rabbit]

Mel has achieved such level of success that he doesn't need the Hollywood establishment's approval. He has the means to produce his own projects now. At this point in his career, I don't think he's interested in making Lethal Weapon XII anyways.

[KriegerGeist]

"That can work both ways Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen. I won't support anything you are part of and I will encourage others to do the same."

Dreamworks "SKG" stands for Spielberg, Katzenberg, Geffen. So, if two of the three express this sentiment, then you can take to the bank that the third [Spielberg] is also of like mind as well. They are also tight with George Lucas.

I think Mel Gibson will have to probably make future films the same way he made The Passion of the Christ.

Check out this intelligent and insightful article at National Review Online on this very subject:

Link to NRO article on Movies Will Never Be The Same

[John Valentine]

Hollywood is all about selling tickets, popcorn, can dy, and soda.

If the Passion of Christ makes money, Hollywood will notice, and none of these guys gives a fig what the movie is about.

This will be a blockbuster movie, packing seats for weeks and weeks.

There will be Hollywood movie mogul money chasing Mel Gibson everywhere he goes, and "religion" will have nothing whatsoever to do with it.

[Arpege92]

"Mel has achieved such a level of success that he doesn't need the Hollywood establishment's approval."

Fair enough, but what about the artists who will follow in his footsteps? What happens to them should they dare to put themselves and their opinions out there for all the world to see and judge.

"He has the means to produce his own projects now."

Yes he does and I for one will support Mel Gibson. I also feel it's important that those in Hollywood who attack Mel Gibson because they don't like his movie need to hear a strong message from the viewing public. The best way to get that message across is to hit them in the pocket hard. They need a lesson in tolerance.....the same tolerance they pretend to preach to the rest of us.

"I don't think he's interested in making Lethal Weapon XII anyways."

That's too bad....I really liked the last one he made.

[Arpege92]

I'm familiar with Dreamworks, but do you know for sure that Spielberg feels the same way as the other two idiots?

[Sabatier]

As an aside, I can't imagine eating popcorn during this movie.

[Paul Atreides]

Hollywood is a close-knit world, and friendships and social contact are critical in the making of deals and the casting of movies. Many of Hollywood's most prominent figures are also Jewish.

Who wouldn't blink at a movie critical of Christians, as a whole? Typical Follywood logic.

[Alissa]

I can't help but notice that the rise of David Geffen, who is filthy rich and gay, and the boldness of gays in recent years have some connection. Nothing I can put my hand on, but I sense it. He is a very powerful man with lots of money.

[Carolina]

Already posted here with 200 posts: New Film May Harm Gibson's Career

[1rudeboy]

I didn't see anyone else post this.

Did you bother looking? There are two other threads with multiple responses. I cut & pasted the title, clicked 'Search,' and voila! Try it sometime.

[Arpege92]

"He is a very powerful man with lots of money."

That's why he's so bold. It's easy to be bold when you have lots of money.....my grandmother used to tell me all of the time that "money talks and bull_hit walks."

[Dutch Boy]

It's amazing how the left is over reacting to the Passion. It's almost like they have a genetic fear of any accurate and public discussion of christianity. I wonder what they are afraid of? I wonder if there are feeling a little warm.

[lavrenti]

As if Gibson would ever consider working with Lucas. In fact, he's hasn't worked for Speilberg either. Gibson has long since written his own ticket. The Passion of Christ is already enough of a success that he faces a choice few actor/directors have ever been able to have: the ability to make his own films, his way, by choice.

Chaplin was able to do that to a certain extent, and with uneven quality and success. Gibson just guaranteed a loyal, loving audience appreciative of his work of The Passion.

I wrote of my concerns regarding the film recently in a thread. After seeing the film today, I feel far differently. Typical. I should have kept my damn mouth shut.

All I can say is that it millions of Christians have no concept of the Passion. I do on an intellectual sense. What I saw was what I expected. It was overwhelming.

Gibson does not need Hollywood. However, the audience he just created certainly needs him.

[Paul Atreides]

As if Gibson would ever consider working with Lucas.

Word is, that George Lucas will be having umpteen versions of the original Star Wars trilogy.

[dasboot]

Corporeal existence is not a thing kind to those who are in service to Him, it seems: I anticipate much suffering for Mel if he be truly on an errand for the HS. Just the way it goes.

Can you think of one who, by the record of their service to God, can be acknowledged to have been used in such manner, and to have lived out a long life of luxury and plenty? I can't.

The heros are slain in battle. Their reward is elsewhere.

[isthisnickcool]

Gibson is going to make so much money these guys are going to be sucking wind. Or in David Geffen's case wind and fecal fudgesicles.

What next for Mel? What will he do with all this money? What movies will he make next? There are all sorts of bible stories. Or how about the Life of Mother Theresa?

[jackbill]

First, when an anti-Gentile Jew writes such garbage, I tend to ignore it.

Second, there are more of us than there are Hollywood Biggies. They make the movies, but we buy - or don't buy - the tickets. We have the power.

[pepsi_junkie]

Ah, so if I dont want to see Tim Robbins or Sean Penn movies because I dont like their anti-war stance, the left says I am a McCarthyite who is oppressing free speech by not buying a ticket. Nevermind that those two still get work. But Mel Gibson is on the verge of being blackballed for real, where is the outrage amongst the lefties?