Is Mel Gibson planning to donate his profit from "The Passion" to charity?

[truizm]

?

[Frodo]

1. First he has to MAKE a profit.

Or is that prophet??

Plenty of movies are big "hits" in the theater but don't turn a profit.

[Champion Jack]

3. I heard he put in 25 mil of his own

Usually promotional costs are double what it took to produce the film.

[truizm]

13. So profit off this movie is unlikely?

That surprises me, especially with all the other merchandise they're selling.

[afraid_of_the_dark]

22. Merchandising?

I hadn't heard about this one. What are they gonna do - sell Jesus action figures? Virgin Mary coffee mugs? Mary Magdelene t-shirts?

:eyes:

[Bridget Burke]

2. I was wondering about that myself.

He's spoken quite movingly about how much the movie means to him. Surely he would not be so crass as to expect monetary profit.

[forgethell]

4. Why should he? n/t

[Superfly]

6. Good question, to which I also await the answer

[DrWeird]

7. Because rich people go to hell.

At least according to Jesus.

[forgethell]

14. No, you are wrong there.

I believe the verse you are referencing is Matthew 19:24, "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Also see Mark 10:25 & Luke 18:25).

But it does NOT say it is impossible, other verses describe how ANY man can "enter the kingdom of God", and, of course, the main thing is not having the money, but loving it more than God.

Here's the entire context:

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.


Note the word 'hardly' in verse 23, and especially the entire passage of verse 26.

[DrWeird]

15. Hardly, like a camel passing through the eye of a needle.

Which might sound hard to you, sounds impossible to me. So yes, a rich man can enter the kingdom of heaven, if he spends all his money doing good deeds. Which would mean he's no longer rich.

[forgethell]

17. With God, all things are possible.

I don't know if it is true, or not, but i once read that the Needle was an exceptionally narrow gate in Jerusalem, and that it was this gate to which Jesus was referring. Sorry, no lin, or reference here.

Anyway, Jesus spoke often in metaphors and parables, so don't be so literal minded. Take the context into consideration.

[trogdor]

5. Haven't heard squat.

I plan to watch my DVD of Monty Python's Life of Brian on 2/25. Who's with me?

[Kamika]

8. Not sure there will be profit

Mel is paying for the whole movie.. I read it was over 200 million dollars..

[agingdem]

9. May I suggest...

the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC.

[Kamika]

12. Oor some ppl that really needs it

heh.

Rather it would go to some homeless people then a museum

[Westegg]

10. Not sure, but Mel IS planning a sequel...

"Passion 2: Satan's Revenge!"

"They nailed him to a cross---but you can't keep a GOD MAN down! SEE Jesus travel to Hollywood and kick the moneychangers out of the Temple of Smut! WATCH IN AWE as Jesus smotes the heathen homosexuals who DARE to get a marriage licence on the streets of San Francisco! GASP---AND THEN CHEER---as Jesus confronts SATAN HIMSELF at the Democratic Convention in Boston! BE THERE for the Ultimate Cage-Match. Only one can leave the cage alive!"

(Coming soon to a theater near you. No passes are accepted.)

[Kamika]

11. nonono

Max Max 4: The Road Passion

Mad Max encounters a man in the Australian outback that claims to be the long lost Messiah

[afraid_of_the_dark]

23. Sequel: Lethal Weapon 5 - Resurrection

Starring Rene Russo as Mary Magdelene...
Danny Glover as Peter...
Joe Pesci as John, the one whom Jesus loved.

[supernova]

16. It would be the decent thing to do

if the film does somehow turn a profit.

[forgethell]

18. Why, especially?

Who else is being asked to turn over the entire profits from their investments to charity? It would be decent for me to turn over my entire paycheck to charity, too. I know several that could put it to good use. Don't hold your breath, though, my wife thinks she can use it better.

[supernova]

19. Because I don't think the story of Jesus

should be used to turn a profit. It goes against everything He taught. On a purely human and humane level, it's creepy to me to profit off someone eles's intense suffering.

If it were any other story I wouldn't mind if Mel wanted the big $$ or not.

[forgethell]

21. Luke 10:7

jesus says, 'for the labourer is worthy of his hire.' Check it out.

In any event, it has been used to turn a profit before many times. Should Martin Scorcese donate his profits to charity. As for profiting off someones else's intense suffering, well, we could do without any historical docudramas. War, you know. Love stories would have to go the way of the dodo. What about that fat slob, Michael Moore? Can you say that he has not profited off the sufferings of others.

And, of course, Mel is entitled to get his money back, if he can. this is the very least he is entitled to.

[supernova]

24. We'll just have to agree to disagree

:hi:

[JasonDeter]

20. What do I care what he does with HIS money?