Gibson
Posted on 07/25/2005 5:20:32 PM PDT by Liz
Gibson
When production chiefs from selected studios trooped to Icon Prods. headquarters after an invite to read the film Mel Gibson planned for summer 2006, they were surprised at the very first page of the script. "The dialogue you are about to read will not be spoken in English."
Gibson, who last made the most successful Aramaic-language film ever, is at it again.
"Apocalypto" hardly fits the traditional definition of a summer film. Set 500 years ago, pic will be filmed in an obscure Mayan dialect, presumably with the same kind of subtitles Gibson reluctantly added to "The Passion of the Christ." It will star a neophyte cast indigenous to the region of Mexico where Gibson will shoot in October. And it likely will carry an R rating, unless Gibson tempers the onscreen depiction of violent scenes he wrote in his script.
Since Gibson's bankrolling his pic and will sell foreign himself, studios were offered only a rent-a-system deal, such as George Lucas had with 20th Century Fox for his last three "Star Wars" films. And because "Apocalypto" is not a religious pic, there's no guarantee of an encore turnout of the church groups and hardcore Catholics who made "The Passion of the Christ" a nearly $1 billion box office/DVD bonanza.
'Passion' prediction
At least three studios passed on the project before Disney bought it. Nevertheless, the fact that more than one studio bid for the project shows Gibson's viability and makes laughable last year's prediction by the New York Times that Gibson would be blackballed by Jewish executives after the "Passion" controversy.
That charge never really had much traction, said sources within Gibson's agency, ICM. There was a post-"Passion" pile of scripts with $20 million-plus offers for Gibson's acting services. While that paper piled up on ICM co-prexy Ed Limato's desk, Gibson was accumulating pages of his own, scribbling "Apocalypto" in his office and becoming so passionate about it that he changed his plans to star in the Icon-produced drama "Under and Alone" for Warner Bros.
Even though studios including Paramount and Universal walked away from "Apocalypto" either for creative reasons or because Gibson's asking price of a high P&A commitment was too high, Disney's agreement to step up shows how much things have changed for Gibson since he struggled to get backing for "Braveheart." Gibson felt he was too old to play William Wallace, preferring to cast Jason Patric, but he was hard-pressed to raise coin even when he agreed to star.
Paramount wouldn't make "Braveheart" without a partner, and before Fox (which passed on "Passion") stepped up, Gibson had a demoralizing meeting with his longtime haunt Warner Bros., which wanted another "Lethal Weapon" as a condition of the deal. Gibson made "Braveheart" on a shoestring, won picture and director Oscars and made money for both Paramount and Fox.
Happy with Disney
Now content to bankroll his vision and armed with his own overseas distribution and sales company, Gibson no longer goes hat in hand. Sources said at least two studios wanted the pic, but Gibson liked Disney, where he has a good relationship with Dick Cook, chairman of the Walt Disney Studios. For its part, Disney agreed to Gibson's tough deal terms.
Already, there is talk that Disney will program "Apocalypto" against the Warner Bros. film "Lady in the Water," which just happens to be the first M. Night Shyamalan-directed film Disney hasn't financed since the filmmaker's breakthrough, "The Sixth Sense."
For his part, Cook said he was confident "Apocalypto" fits the summer bill.
"We couldn't be more excited about working again with Mel and his team," said Cook. "This is one of the most original and unique scripts we've had the opportunity to read recently, and we plan for this to be an anchor of our summer schedule."
I think Mel may have been a little flakey right after the Passion. There have been several reported projects that Mel was supposedly going to do following The Passion.
Which they changed to be PC. The original had Barbara Billingsly (Mrs Cleaver) saying:
"N*gga don' wan' no hep', N*gga don't ge' no hep'"
On the DVD, it is:
"Sucka don' wan' no hep', Sucka don't ge' no hep'"
The idea of Mrs. Cleaver using the N-word is what gave the oomph to the scene! They ruined it!
Mel Gibson should do Victor Hugo's "Ninety-three."
That's the first thought I had. Cool subject, only hope he tells it straight, giving both sides their due. Might be a great film.
Mel Gibson should do Ayn Rand's "Anthem".
(Subtitled: "Golly!")
I think it would be better in Aldus Lamp
Only in part of the movie. Nor is a western with soldiers and Indians quite so esoteric as an ancient Mayan war flick.
I thought the Mayan civilization died off long before the Spanish arrived. Perhaps this is about that mysterious extinction of their culture.
Victor Hugo remains a towering figure in literature; Ninety-Three was his last novel, I believe.
I believe you're correct about the Mayan extinction before the Spanish came. It'll definitely be interesting to watch what he'll do with that.
Nope. The Mayans were still around - ARE still around! From the wikipedia:
The Itza Maya, Kowoj and Yalain groups of Central Peten survived the "Classic Period Collapse" in small numbers and by 1250 CE reconstituted themselves to form competing polities. The Itza kingdom had its capital at Noj Peten, an archaeological site thought to underlay modern day Flores, Guatemala. It ruled over a polity extending across the Peten Lakes region, encompassing the community of Eckixil on Lake Quexil. These sites and this region were inhabited continuously by independent Maya until after the final Spanish Conquest of 1697 CE.
Post-Classic Maya states also continued to thrive in the southern highlands. One of the Maya kingdoms in this area, the Quiché, is responsible for the best-known Mayan work of historiography and mythology, the Popol Vuh.
The Spanish started their conquest of the Maya lands in the 1520s. Some Maya states offered long fierce resistance; the last Maya state, the Itza kingdom, was not subdued by Spanish authorities until 1697.
The Itza Maya, Kowoj and Yalain groups of Central Peten survived the "Classic Period Collapse" in small numbers and by 1250 CE reconstituted themselves to form competing polities. The Itza kingdom had its capital at Noj Peten, an archaeological site thought to underlay modern day Flores, Guatemala. It ruled over a polity extending across the Peten Lakes region, encompassing the community of Eckixil on Lake Quexil. These sites and this region were inhabited continuously by independent Maya until after the final Spanish Conquest of 1697 CE.
Post-Classic Maya states also continued to thrive in the southern highlands. One of the Maya kingdoms in this area, the Quiché, is responsible for the best-known Mayan work of historiography and mythology, the Popol Vuh.
The Spanish started their conquest of the Maya lands in the 1520s. Some Maya states offered long fierce resistance; the last Maya state, the Itza kingdom, was not subdued by Spanish authorities until 1697.
El Yucateco XXXtra Hot Mayan SauceFrom a recipe inherited from the ancient Mayan civilization of Yucatan, the folks at El Yucateco revived this special edition hot sauce. KutBil-Ik (Mayan voice that means "tamulado peppers") won a 1st prize from the Fiery Foods Magazine. It is ideal to accompany any kind of meal. Add just a few drops of this Sauce to your favorite food and know it's explosive Hot Flavor and XXXtra-Pungency..
Maybe. At least they weren't cooking their neighbors, like the Aztecs... I think.
I'd be about 75% sure this has some sort of religious overtone, and not a movie against illegal immigration/multi-culti, etc.
An apocalyptic epic with religious overtones sounds right up his alley.
And illegally immigrating to the United States from Mexico and Central America. Some are full bloods and some are part Mayan blood - Mestizo. The revenge of the Indian race who we warred against as America grew great
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.