Australian newspaper reveals a couple more facts about Apocalypto

In addition to that nice photo from the movie set (credit: Andrew Cooper), the Australian Daily Telegraph newspaper reveals a couple more details about Apocalypto: It's an enigmatic move from the Oscar-winning director but the massive success of The Passion not only emboldened him, it ensured he now has the financial means to produce whatever he wants with his own money. Gibson said the film's budget was less than $US50 million. He self-distributed The Passion when Hollywood shunned its uncompromising and polarising version of Jesus' crucifixion – it earned more than $US600 million at the box office globally and more than $15 million in Australia. The virulent criticism of that movie has steeled him for doubts about his tale of the collapse of South American's Mayan civilisation 800 years ago due to environmental degradation and corruption. "After what I experienced with The Passion, I frankly don't give a flying f . . . about much of what those critics think," the 50-year-old Gibson told Time magazine last week. He hopes to mix historical profundity – the Mayan invented the concept of zero and designed and built incredible buildings – with a rejuvenation of the stale action genre. Apocalypto will feature jungle chases, battles and even a gruesome mauling of a native, all shot by fellow Aussie, Dances With Wolves Oscar winner Dean Semler. Apocalypto will open in Australia on August 10. So, it looks like the Aussies will be able to watch Apocalypto a bit before the Brits, and Dean Semler is our director of photography.