Apocalypse how to create a masterpiece. Mel Gibson's rules (13 photos)
Mel Gibson is in many ways a unique representative of the world of cinema. In the sense that Mel was everywhere. And everywhere he was successful: as a versatile and talented actor, studio owner, seasoned producer, author of good ideas, screenwriter and director 
Although Gibson the director never looked for easy ways. And if it is necessary to go to the ends of the earth to achieve maximum immersion in the era shown in the film, he will do it, exchanging the comfortable studio pavilions for the unpredictable thickets of the jungles of Mexico and Guatemala, where, in addition to all other difficulties, the weather also made its own adjustments. Due to a powerful hurricane, followed by heavy rains and floods, filming was forced to be postponed, which is why the premiere of the film had to be moved from August to December. 
Gibson's main rule is seasoned professionals in his team, where everyone is in their place and knows exactly and fulfills Gibson's requirements. As they say jokingly in Hollywood, even Mel's coffee delivery man is his own man. Or maybe it's not a joke at all. After all, trusted people allow Gibson to implement his boldest and seemingly incredible ideas. In creating unique sets and costumes. Gibson invited makeup artists, those with whom he had previously worked in the films "Braveheart", "The Patriot" and "The Passion of the Christ". They worked tirelessly, creating the right version of the Mayans. Hundreds of costumes were sewn, each of which fully corresponded to the era, and some were individually tailored to the actor's dimensions, all the extras were brand new. 
Gibson decided to work with the descendants of the Mayans, but many of them had nothing to do with the acting profession. They were recruited on the Yucatan Peninsula, in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Many of them did not speak English, were camera shy and felt out of place. But Gibson managed to captivate them, for this he showed them every movement of his hand in the frame, every look and turn of the head. If the episode required anger, Mel clearly demonstrated the anger of the proud Mayans during the rehearsal of the fragment. And although Gibson, as an actor, did not take part in the film. Behind the scenes, he was very accepting, because during rehearsals he played out and showed fans many situations and emotions needed by the character, so that it would be enough for a dozen films, the actor who played the main role. 
Separately, we should highlight the film's cameraman Dean Semler, who very well learned the rules of Gisbon and did the seemingly impossible, organized studio conditions in the impenetrable jungle. For which they used universal lifts and camera dollies, with the laying of rails right through the thickets of the Mexican wilderness. Semler's work with the angle is impressive and adds atmospheric thrill to the film. This includes shooting with the camera approaching the object, close-ups with piercing glances of the warlike Mayans, episodes filmed in long takes, such as during a boar hunt. 
Having recruited local aborigines, Gibson could use only the Yucatec language as spoken language in the film. Yes, citizen translators were in great demand during the filming of the film. Although not for everyone, Gibson managed to communicate with them in a universal sign language, where the newly-minted actors understood everything perfectly. Gibson himself also mastered Yucatec quite well during the filming, so it was possible to pass the language exam and stay in Yucatan to film a couple more films. 
Gibson decided to humanize the Mayans and dilute their life with a funny incident in the family life of one insolvent Mayan, who can’t provide his restless mother-in-law with offspring in the form of grandchildren. And although what was happening was more reminiscent of a scene from a comedy sitcom, the bet on an unusual situation with an anecdotal story fully justified itself. They also picked a nickname to match the “abilities” of the unfortunate spouse - Dumb End. 
During editing, they wanted to significantly shorten the attack on the village of Jaguar Paws, cutting out particularly violent scenes. But after the Supreme Commission of Assessors assigned the film an R rating, that is, 18+, there was no need to cut. Gibson, with the boss's imperious instigation, leaves all the brutality in the frame, and so we got an adrenaline-pumping episode, where the bestial cruelty of man was presented in all its "beauty". 
Gibson's rule is: shoot without cuts and if the episode requires it, show everything as it is, be it a bloody sacrifice or a wild hunt for tired captives. There will be a lot of blood, even if it is fake, but the episode will have a magnetic effect and will attract and repel in its natural cruelty. Gibson's rule is: do not sleep if the episode requires it and shoot at night, when the enchanted viewer will closely watch the lights approaching in the darkness. Considering that the shooting took place on location in the treacherous jungle, it is very difficult to achieve the desired effect, try to set up equipment at night and catch the right angle of the waxing moon in time. 
Shooting in such conditions is certainly not without its unpleasantness in the form of injuries, becoming a real test for the entire film crew. Someone was bitten by local aggressive insects, someone sprained their leg, someone got sunstroke. Well, the most extreme and dangerous was crossing the river. The actors were tied with a rope on both sides of the turbulent river. In close-ups, the cameraman in the boat, together with the omnipresent Mel, was in the splashes of water and filmed the emotions of really tired men, for whom Gibson arranged endurance competitions. And Mel himself, like an unsinkable icebreaker, paved their way to the shore. So Gibson also swam more than the other members of the film crew in the rapid current of the Mexican river. 
Gibson's rule is: if you want to inspire an actor to a feat, start with yourself and jump from a great height without fear or reproach. Although with insurance, Gibson was the first to jump from the roof of a 15-story building in Veracruz, this is how they filmed the scene of jumping from a giant waterfall. Rudy Youngblood, who played Jaguar Paw, jumped ten times. He was so impressed by old Gibson. In fact, Mel made Rudy jump so often until his jump in the frame seemed right to the director. 
Gibson demanded maximum dedication from the actors in everything, including physical training, because they had to run a lot, especially in the finale of the film. So the descendants of the Mayans worked hard with an instructor, running circles around the village with scenery, alternating endurance runs with sprints for speed. History is silent on whether the omnipresent Mel ran with them, but what is certain and without a doubt, Mel rewound his time on the set so much that many long-distance runners could not even dream of. 
Gibson changed the events of the film and could have done it at the end of the film, where Jaguar Paw's wife and child died. And the restless, swift-footed father himself went to the Mayan forefathers, having learned that his loved ones had left this world. At the same time, the Spanish conquistadors invariably moored to the shore, where they were met by the surprised and unprepared Mayans. But Mel decided to save the life of Jaguar Paw's family, at least until the valiant colonizers got to them. 
Gibson is no stranger to harsh criticism of his work. Although this time there were many who agreed with Gibson's work, there were still those film critics who scolded the director, we throw at him: excessive cruelty shown in the frame, too simple and chaotic plot, well, and the eternal nitpicking for the genre - much of what was shown in the film is unhistorical. Gibson, as usual, did not justify himself and did not respond, there was no need. After all, there were those grumbling experts who believed that Gibson conveyed the spirit of the era as accurately as possible. And the main thing is that the audience believed him, those for whom the film is made, first they flocked to the cinemas, then they watched and re-watched the film, were imbued and impressed, with complete immersion in the history shown, the distant Mayan civilization, whose fate was predetermined.
