By Emmanuel Gandu
HIGHLIGHTS
1. Excerpts
2. Introduction
3. The money making Christian film
4. Why “The Passion of the Christ” is the greatest story ever told
5. Mel Gibson
6. Jim Caviezel
7. Is there part II of this film?
EXCERPTS
Good Friday is the day Jesus was crucified and died on the cross.
Christians all over the world are observing the day in prayer, fasting, abstinance and total solemnity.
In many of the Parishes of the Catholic Dioceses across the world, there is a re-enactment of this historic event in order to bring home the ‘humanitarian suffering of Jesus to redeem mankind.
This presentation is an attempt to highlight the role of religious films and movies in money making, wealth creation, entertainment and recreation, fame and popular disposition, with its great resultant impact on the world stage.
To attain this objective, the Good Friday event presents an opportunity for this Easter discourse, using the film, “The Passion of the Christ” produced and directed by Mel Gibson, with lead actor Jim Caviezel as Jesus Christ.
This film is set on the arrest, agony, suffering, crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Released in 2004, “The Passion of the Christ” is a Box office success by the versatile film actor, producer and director of world repute, Mel Gibson.
Instead of the usual menu of spiritual reflection on the lessons of Good Friday, yours sincerely decided to spice up the whole thing with both a business and entertainment approach for the sake of variety and contemporary exigency.
INTRODUCTION
Film making is such a lucrative venture that the script writers, producers, directors, actors, Television and media outlets, allied professionals, tourism and the entertainment industry, revenue/tax collection etc, make so much money as they smile to the bank.
Suffice it to say that the entertainment industry is not just a gold mine but is already a big replacement for oil as source of income and revenue for countries.
Interestingly, religious films are increasingly becoming varitable tools and avenues for providing a market of ideas for the producers, actors, and others in the industry to showcase their own talents.
If “The Lord of the Rings” series is anything to go by, and if it made box office gross record, surely, you must have since found out that the “The Passion of the Christ” surpassed that achievement in record time. They have succeeded in churning out films and movies that have kept viewers glued to the screen.
It’s even becoming more convenient to patronize these films and movies not necessarily through the conventional cinema/theater or desktop but from the laptop, palm top, especially with the aid of the social media including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X), and YouTube of the 21st. century internet revolution.
MEL GIBSON
He produced and directed “The Passion of the Christ film which was released on Ash Wednesday of 2004.
He is a world acclaimed American actor, singer, film director, producer, and screenwriter.
He is currently working on the sequel to the Passion, ie part II to be released sometimes in 2027
JIM CAVIEZEL
He acted Jesus in the greatest story ever told.
One of the best actors of our time, Jim Caviezel had audience with three Popes – John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.
WHY IS “THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST” THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD ?
(1) Mel Gibson and Jim Caviezel have severally met Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.
(2) This film engulfed the world like wild fire, swept like in a tsunami, and infected like a pandemic so much so that the viewership cut across religious divide.
In Egypt it ranked among the top 20 in 2004.
(3) The film received many world acclaimed awards and nominations :
+ Academy Award
+ People’s Choice Awards
+ EMMA Awards
+ Hollywood Film festival Awards
+ MTV Movie Awards
+ GMA Dove Awards
+ GEA Best foreign language film
+ AFI top 10
(4) This film remains the highest – gross – R – rated film of all time, and of course the highest – grossing Christian film of all time.
(5) This film costs $45 million to produce and market.
It grossed well over $612 million and became the 7th highest domestically in the US at just the end of it’s theatrical run (premier)
(6) The film is highly praised for its quality of cinematography, performance, graphic violence, originality, professionalism in delivery, and captivating scenes that holds the viewer spellbound to the end.
(7) There were two (2) conversions, or better still, a religious epiphany of the crew and cast :
(a) Luca Lionello the actor who played Judas was an atheist, but was moved to ask for confession, he baptized his children, sanctified his marriage, and came back to the Church.
(b) Abel Jafri, a French Tuareg of Algerian origin who was a Muslim converted to Catholicism. He was one of the actors in the film. He acted as one of the Temple guards who was in charge of arresting and torturing Jesus (Jim Caviezel) gave Jesus the beating of his life. He converted to Christianity because he was overwhelmed by the power and experiences of the film.
(8) Mel Gibson, the director is said to have made so much money from the proceeds of this film that even if he were to never again make another film would keep him and his children secure for the rest of their lives.
(9) Jim Caviezel (Jesus) had very unpleasant and life threatening experience during and after the shooting :
(a) Was struck by lightning while up on the cross at the top of a hill.
(b) He dislocated a shoulder.
(c) He lost 45 pounds of his body weight.
(d) Was afflicted with lung infection.
(e) Had prolonged hypothermia.
(f) Had to carry a 150 pounds wooden cross for the duration of the filming.
(g) Suffered Pneumonia due to the exposure to the winter cold.
(h) Had mouth injuries.
(i) Had skin infection as a result of the various chemicals from the make-up
(j) Had to learn to speak Aramaic.
IS THERE PART II OF THIS FILM ?
Yes, a sequel titled “The Resurrection of the Christ” is in production, planned as a two-part film directed by Mel Gibson, with release dates scheduled for 2027.
Part One is slated for Good Friday, March 26, 2027, and Part Two is set for Ascension Day, May 6, 2027.
Expected to be filmed in Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin, production is slated to take place in Cinecitta Studios in Rome.
