Mel Gibson's 'Passion': Publicity Juggernaut
In January, the star had gone on "The O'Reilly Factor" to counter Jewish criticism of his cinematic account of Jesus's final hours - a provocative opening volley given that no critic of any faith had yet said anything about his movie (and wouldn't for another three months). Clearly he was looking for a brawl, and he hasn't let up since...
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"Inadvertently, all the problems and the conflicts and stuff - this is some of the best marketing and publicity I have ever seen," Gibson told The New Yorker. That's true - with the possible exception of the word "inadvertently" - and I realize that I've been skillfully roped into his remarkably successful p.r. juggernaut. But I'm glad to play my cameo role - and unlike the conservative author Bill O'Reilly, who sold the film rights to one of his books to Gibson's production company, I am not being paid by him to do so.
This isn't the only aspect of the marketing campaign, of course. There was the direct marketing to church groups. And there was the screening of the film for the pope, who was reported to have said, "it is as it was". The Vatican later confirmed that the pope had seen the movied, but denied that he had endorsed the film.
- a provocative opening volley given that no critic of any faith had yet said anything about his movie (and wouldn't for another three months). Clearly he was looking for a brawl, and he hasn't let up since..
I saw the interview and it was basically O'Reilly talking to Gibson about the reporter (NY Times?) going after Gibson's father in a personal attack. It had already happened. Gibson's family was already being attacked for his making this movie. That was the jist of the interview.
And there was the screening of the film for the pope, who was reported to have said, "it is as it was". The Vatican later confirmed that the pope had seen the movied, but denied that he had endorsed the film.
Whether the Pope said this or not is still up for debate.