27-August-2004 -- EWTNews Feature
Irondale, AL (EWTN) - Actor and Academy
Award-winning director and producer Mel Gibson sat down with EWTN's Raymond
Arroyo this week to talk about the August 31st DVD and video release of The
Passion of the Christ, and to reflect on the cultural impact this landmark
film has made on Christians and non-Christians around the world. This is the
third time the actor has granted an exclusive interview to Raymond Arroyo,
EWTNews Director and host of the Network’s international newsmagazine, The
World Over Live. The first time Gibson spoke with Arroyo was in Rome during the
film’s shooting. The second time was shortly before the film’s release and
this week’s interview was on the occasion of the film’s home video release.
The program will air on EWTN Global Catholic Network on Friday, August 27th at
8PM on television, radio and the Internet (www.ewtn.com).
The World Over Live has tracked the success of The Passion of the Christ,
since its release last Easter. To date the film has grossed $610 million
worldwide, including $370 million in the U.S. During the interview, Gibson
discussed the film and its impact on his life, his faith, and the culture.
Arroyo asked, “Was making this film a walk of faith for you?” Gibson
replied, “Well, win or lose, what was the worst downside? It wouldn’t work?
I was prepared for that to happen, so we just kind of kept forging ahead. I had
an idea that it would be all right.”
Arroyo asked Gibson if the pain was necessary for the success of this film?
“The personal pain you went through watching your name dragged through the
press, watching your family dragged through the press?” Gibson replied,
“Yeah, I think probably. You know, you don’t trade anything in. Even bad
experiences, in retrospect, are sort of good.”
Gibson was asked to comment on what the film’s level of success and
worldwide embracing of this film has meant for him personally. He said, “I
felt like I did something good and the effects have been those that I hoped
would be there. This film was about faith, hope, love and forgiveness.”
“These have been the by-products,” Gibson continued. “Despite a lot of
people who said the film was going to cause violence, first in the US and then
in Europe. I don’t know, but it hasn’t happened.”
Arroyo asked, “What is the long-term cultural impact of the film, for the
viewer, for the audience?” Gibson replied, “I think it’s a very vivid
reminder of what many people profess and just draw focus on. It may have lasting
effects because if you feed anything in, it’s going to stay there in some
form.” Raymond commented that the DVD release will mean that everyone will be
able to take the movie into their homes, where there is an intimacy that you
don’t have in the theatre.
Gibson responded, “It’s pretty hard material. It’s hard to watch.
It’s an ‘R’ rated film and I think some people may have been too young to
see it. Now you will be able to have parents who can supervise it and talk about
it and judge whether or not they show it to them. Some people wanted it to be a
private experience and not a shared public experience with popcorn. Not that I
think anybody ate much popcorn during this."
Arroyo then asked about the actor’s future and whether he was tired of
acting?
“Am I tired of it? No. I think it really feeds you,” Gibson said. “But
as you go on, you become more relaxed about the whole thing, which means you
actually get better at it. Then you become more discerning about what it is that
you’ll do and I think, there is a lot of stuff I’m just not interested in
doing. If I see something I like, I’ll grab it.”
The complete interview on The World Over Live airs EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 23rd year, is available in 104 million
television households in 110 countries. And with its direct broadcast satellite
service, satellite delivered AM & FM radio networks, its worldwide
short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com and publishing arm, EWTN
is the largest religious media network in the world.
Friday, August 27th at 8PM,
Saturday, August 28th at 1AM,
Sunday, August 29th at 5 PM,
Monday, August 30th at 10AM and 11PM,
Friday, September 3rd at 8PM,
Saturday, September 4th at 1AM,
Sunday, September 5th at 5PM, and
Monday, September 6th at 10AM and 11PM.
(All Times Eastern)