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Mel Gibson is a man of integrity and class, devoted to his family and faith. He's also a very shy man who hates to be interviewed. If you saw his recent appearance on ABC's Primetime with Diane Sawyer, you could see his nervous fidgeting.

Mel doesn't act like a star. He cracks corny jokes and makes strangers feel comfortable, with his wonderful sense of humor and friendly demeanor.

He's so "normal," it's easy to forget he's a big-time actor and director. But his passion for his work and the art of fine filmmaking is crystal clear. For me, that became especially evident when I visited the Italian set of The Passion in December of 2002.

Holly in Rome

I was in awe as I drove through the historic sites of Rome, past the ancient ruins of the baths of Caracalla, past the infamous Christian catacombs and through the Italian countryside to the legendary Cinecitta studios. I was moved by the irony of a movie about the Crucifixion being filmed in Rome, the hub of the Roman Empire which occupied Palestine when those events took place 2000 years ago.

I marveled at what I saw as I passed through the gates of the studio and drove to the back of the lot. Standing next to the leftover decaying sets of Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York was Gibson's Jerusalem. A breathtaking 2½-acre spectacle of biblical proportions, the life-sized city included giant columns, flights of stoned steps, massive wooden temple doors and Pilate's palace—where Jesus would be judged and beaten.

One of the detailed sets for The Passion

My first night on the set, the massive Jewish temple was bathed in golden lights with the evening stars overhead. Mel, standing in the temple courtyard, was wearing a red rubber clown nose while smoking a cigarette and discussing directions with his crew. I laughed as he took off the nose and came over to greet me. That's Mel Gibson the director.

He creates a relaxed atmosphere by telling jokes, talking with the crew, wearing his red clown nose and occasionally making burping noises through his bullhorn. At 48, Gibson has more energy than many teens, almost to the point of being hyperactive. But it's just indicative of his enthusiasm for his work.

One cold night between scenes, Mel and a couple of guys had producer Steve McEveety drop a tamed rat (a runaway from the set of Gangs of New York) into the pocket of Aramaic coach Evelina Meghangi. The poor woman screamed as she pulled the rat out of her pocket and dropped what she thought was a rubber mouse onto the ground. We all had a big laugh at her expense.

For several weeks, I watched Gibson create his biblical masterpiece, pouring all of his heart into each and every scene. He's a brilliant director, combining instincts as an actor with his knowledge behind the camera. It's almost like watching Rembrandt paint his canvas.

Tomorrow: Why Mel didn't cast himself in the lead role … and why he loves his hand-picked cast.

For more on Holly McClure, click here.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

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