LOS ANGELES (AP) - Mel Gibson, who's being sued by a writer over payment for the "The Passion of the Christ" screenplay, wants to keep financial information about the blockbuster movie out of the public eye.
Benedict Fitzgerald claimed in his February lawsuit that Gibson misled him into accepting a small payment for writing the script by saying the movie would cost between $4 million and $7 million.
Fitzgerald, who shared screenwriting credits with Gibson, claimed he agreed to "a salary substantially less than what he would have taken had he known the true budget for the film," which the lawsuit claimed was $25 million to $50 million. The lawsuit claims fraud, breach of contract and unjust enrichment, and seeks unspecified damages.
In court filings Tuesday, attorneys for Gibson and his production company asked the court to seal the movie's financial records and only allow Fitzgerald's lawyers access to them. The information details the movie's domestic and foreign box office receipts, production costs and distribution expenses.
The defense is also seeking to dismiss some of Fitzgerald's claims, including fraud, which if proven would allow Fitzgerald to seek punitive damages.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments
Taj,
Yes, I read this comment earlier; I did not understand why you were speaking of Israel?
Online,
Read mission123 comment
Taj,
"Actions for or against either Israel or the Catholic Church."
This article & those who are posting have said nothing of actions against Israel or the Catholic Church. I think you are confusing those here with perhaps your thoughts on an other article?
Sorry Online didn't mean to confuse you. Actions for or against either Israel or the Catholic Church.
"The person was just merely pointing out that the Jews and the Catholics look to actions being taken against Israel or the Catholic Church."
Huh? What actions?
I don't think the person was boasting I think the person was just pointing out the obvious. The Jewish people regardless of liberal, orthodox etc. has a special connection with Israel just like Catholics have with the Vatican. The person was just merely pointing out that the Jews and the Catholics look to actions being taken against Israel or the Catholic Church.
The real difference is the "gospel"; one preaches salvation by works and the other preaches – salvation in Christ alone!
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him – Romans 5:9.
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law – Romans 3:24-28.
I think Gibson once again show the divide between protestants and Catholics. Protestants are interested in the words/message while Catholics are interested in the actions. Protestants focus on the scriptural accuracies of the movie while Catholics focus on the actions. Gibson built a Catholic Church and put a lot of money into different Church activities, so Catholics are happy and Gibson went and talked a lot at different protestant churches so protestants are happy. It's like Ronald Reagan, a lot of protestants like him for his message- a great communicator while Catholics like the fact that he established diplomatic ties with the Vatican and gave them an official residence in Washington DC. It's just a different focus - words/messages vs. actions.
I just can't help but feel sick over these kinds of lawsuits; people suing each other for millions when the homeless still roam the streets, single mothers are left to fend for themselves, and people are falling into deeper financial holes.. I don't even know what I would do with $4 million, let alone 5 times that.. Shame on you Fitz and Mel.
We hope these people would finalize a financial settlement soon and reconcile once and for all. Their harvest seems to go on and on and on –every year Easter weekends since the movie debuted in 2004.
The Passion of the Christ earned $25 million per day in its first five days of release and in short order became the highest-grossing R-rated film ever made.
The movie grossed a little above $610,000,000 worldwide and is currently the thirty-sixth highest-grossing film and the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.
In Indonesia it was a very big success along with several Muslim majority nations.
Taj,
You are right; the article is speaking of “"a salary substantially less than what he would have taken had he known the true budget for the film," which the lawsuit claimed was $25 million to $50 million.”
However, I was speaking of what others have posted here along with their questions. Why do you continue to use the word hate? Yes, this movie has touched many lives; praise God for that; all some have said here, is that it could have been better if it had stuck to the original storyline of scripture. That could be said of all movies trying to depict the life of Christ.
Returning to an earlier comment and question…
Protestants and Catholics alike –
Does if not concern you that according to Mr. Gibson himself, this movie was inspired by, and all of the extra-biblical images were supplied by, the 'visions' of Anne Emmerich – an 18th century false prophetess?
truthandjustice1
Re:What are the serious issues being discussed in this article again?
It is all about Mel Gibson's love of meney and his writer, Benedict Fitzgerald's love of money.
1 Timothy 6:10
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
Bring all your hate. The people involved in this movie tried to bring glory to our Lord and Savior and all you want to do is tear them down. What are the serious issues being discussed in this article again?
Truthandjustice,
You seem to have a lot of hate in your heart, why? Bring it? Bring what?