THE DEBUT

The film director

"Flying blind. You kind of know where you want it to go but youīre not sure the direction to take that will get you there. But if you work with enough great directos, guys like Dick Donner, you learn from them. Iīm like Mr. Sponge Boy - I absorb everything."


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Icon Productions

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"My movie is about looking past appearances to test the real worth of people."


      Since around 1990 Gibsonīs interest had been piqued by the idea of directing a motion picture, and the staff at Icon Productions had been searching for just such a project.
      An adaptation of a 1972 novel, The Man Without a Face, was considered to be the perfect directorial debut since it fit Gibsonīs requirements.
      Gibson took the part of former teacher Justin McLeod, a recluse horribly disfigured in an accident, who develops a special bond with a fatherless boy (Nick Stahl) to the suspicion of the boyīs family and the townspeople, who think the manīs motive may be less than fatherly.


      Mel had tried to find another actor to play the lead role, to allow him to concentrate on directing. But, after three stars had turned him down, he reluctantly agreed to act as well as helm the picture.A very hard task.
      The Man Without a Face was filmed with an approximate budget of $12 million in the towns of Camden and Bayside, Maine.
      The movie opened in August 1993. The critics were positive about Gibsonīs presentation both behind and in front of the camera.
      "Los Angeles Times" called The Man Without a Face "a quality, intelligent production - a moving and substantial achievement."



"It was more difficult than I thought it would be. Itīs a lot more involved, especially if you are directing yourself. If I was going to direct another film I would not be in it. it drove me crazy because it was too much to do. I had to wear too many hats."


ANECDOTES

"The Man without a Face" was adapted from a novel written twenty years ago by Isabelle Holand. Mel' s part was originally supposed to be a gay character, but this was changed on Melīs instructions.






"I guess I was naive because I didnīt think it would be a problem, which it was. If The Man without a face had cost a lot of money, they would have said no."



THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE

  • Director: Mel Gibson
  • Producer: Bruce Davey
  • Screenplay: Malcolm MacRury
  • Editor: Tony Gibbs
  • Photography: Donald M. McAlpine
  • Music: James Horner
  • Released by Warner Brothers
  • Cast: Mel Gibson, Nick Stahl, Margaret Whitton, Fay Masterson





      After the success of his directorial debut, he was eager to helm another motion picture. In the spring of 1994, the six-month-long Braveheart production began in Scotland. The production later moved to Ireland, where scores of army reservists served as extras, to film several battle scenes.
      The conditions during the six-month shoot in Scotland and Ireland were nightmarish for any kind of film, let alone a movie epic. The war sequences were a major concern to the second-time director, but he managed to make everyone feel as though they were part of the team. He also was able to draw capable performances from the international cast, which included Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan and Catherine McCormack. By the time he finished shooting, Mel was completely exhausted. He reckoned that the project had proved more costly to his health than filming three Lethal Weapons back to back.







      Gibson worked with a budget estimated between $40 and $70 million.
      The nearly three-hour film was released in May 1995, too early for it to stay fresh in the minds of the Academy of Motion Picturesīvoters, who would be deciding that yearīs Oscars. However Braveheart took off of his own and achieved something virtually unheard of in Hollywood movie history. American critics, viewing it with low expectations, bestowed begrudging praise on Braveheart. Audiences responded favourably and the movie remained in Americaīs cinemas all summer.
      Paramount relaunched the movie in September 1995 and spent a fortune on marketing.
      The following winter Braveheart was nominated for several Golden Globes Awards, and Gibson collected a statuette as Best Director.
      When nominations for the Academy Awards were announced in February 1996, Braveheart received ten nods. Braveheart won five Oscars: Best Director, Best Picture of the Year and three Technical Oscars.

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BRAVEHEART

  • Director: Mel Gibson
  • Producers: Bruce Davey, Mel Gibson and Alan Ladd Jr.
  • Screenplay: Randall Wallace
  • Editor: Steven Rosenblum
  • Photography: John Toll
  • Music: James Horner
  • Cast: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patricl McGoohan, Catherine McCormack






"So I went from everything I saw and then tried to make it my own way."


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