Mark Wahlberg explains how Mel Gibson inspired him to spend 'millions and millions' of his own money on 'Father Stu'

My dear boy, you don't need to gain "30 pounds to play Long at the end of his life."

Why don't you just try acting?

--Sir Larry Olivier, from the Great Beyond

Wahlberg said Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' was what inspired him to self-finance 'Father Stu'

[quote] You have been producing for a very long time, and you know the rule to never break is to put in your own money.

Yes.

[quote] So how did it get to that point where you decided to self-finance the movie?

Well, I'm always willing to bet on myself.

[quote] But was there a scenario where, if you didn't come with money, it wasn't getting made?

I slipped the script to a couple of people that I thought maybe would get it, and they didn't. And obviously, it's subjective. You have your own feeling of what the material is. Some people thought it was depressing because he's sick at the end. They didn't see the heart and the emotion and, ultimately, how inspiring it is.

So I felt Mel had done it with "The Passion," maybe I try it.

And if I did find someone to finance, then that's a whole other conversation because typically the person cutting the check also has notes and wants to be involved in the process.

So I felt, you know what, I think it's better if I just step up and have complete control.

[quote] How much did you have to put in? Are we talking half the budget? More?

Let's just say I put millions and millions of dollars into the film — and then incurring other costs because we went over schedule in production, and there are clearances for the music.

But I also had one friend come in who is not in the film business but believed in the project. And I had another friend who is in the film business who came in for a small portion.

[quote] The film is written and directed by first-time filmmaker Rosalind Ross, but before that choice did it ever get to a point where you would have directed the movie if it meant getting it off the ground?

Yeah. That was definitely a conversation. But for me to carve out 18 months of my life, and then put on hold all the other stuff I was doing, it just wouldn't work.

I had a feeling that Rosalind would do great behind the camera. I wanted to give her that shot. To have a first-time director and get these results, it makes me look a little smarter than I am.

However, I cannot take credit for the movie's success because this is God choosing me to make the film. He knows finally I get to utilize all the talents and gifts that have been bestowed upon me for his greater good and to serve my part in his big picture. I mean, I prayed every day about getting this film made.

[quote] Mel Gibson introduced you to Rosalind, and along with also costarring in the movie you leaned on him for advice through this experience. How much of an effect did "The Passion of the Christ" have on you?

I remember seeing it on opening day. I was like, "Wow."

I was really impressed with the quality of the film and him taking a chance and financing the film himself. That was something I always appreciated. It's his love letter to his faith in God, and it inspired me to do this.

[quote] Did you ever think of him directing the movie?

No. Rosalind really just put herself in that position. Her script really blew me away. And Mel also felt the same, that she was more than capable. He knew that I was at a place in my career where I knew what I wanted to do with this and do it the way I saw fit.

[quote] Wahlberg saw similarities between his life and Long's with 'trying to find your purpose in life'

[quote] So all this started because a priest from your parish pitched you a Stuart Long biopic. That has to be one of the most unique pitches you've ever gotten.

I mean, I would literally move around from church to church because I would get pitched a lot.

[quote] Really?

Yeah. I'm not at church looking to find material. I'm trying to find some peace and quiet to be able to worship. So he was the least likely person I'd expect to be pitching me, but he told me the story a couple of times and, finally, it registered for me.

I realized, "Wow, I have been looking for something like this." It's a fantastic role, a powerful and inspiring story. It felt different and original to get people's attention.

[quote] This is no disrespect to the work that you have been doing recently, but there is just an energy from you in this movie that's different.

Listen, these kinds of things don't come around that often. Sometimes, you have to really go out and seek things that will challenge you. It's a blessing.

[quote] When you began to learn more about Father Stu's life, did you see a lot of yourself in him?

There are similarities: difficult childhood, lots of problems trying to find your purpose in life, what you're meant to do and meant to serve — all of those things. So absolutely I did.

He had a lot of real life experiences, and I really appreciated the way he was able to communicate to people and speak through his own experience to the things that people might have been going through.

[quote] That is a major point in this movie: Father Stu wasn't just talking about it. He had walked it.

Exactly.

[quote] You spent six years trying to get this movie made. Before having to put in your own money, was there ever a point where you were ready to shoot and the money fell out?

That never happened, thankfully. That happened three or four times with "The Fighter." We would have a start date, and then something would happen. With this, David O. Russell and I were trying to develop it. We met with some writers, and a few took a crack at it, but we never liked what we got.

So I decided I was going to go off on my own and work on it. I had a sense of urgency in wanting to get the movie made, so I wanted to find the right people as quickly as possible. But that took a while.

When I finally met Rosalind and she handed me a script, I couldn't believe how on point it was. I felt if she could put it on the page, she could put it on the screen. The movie is much better being told from her point of view.

[quote] By the end of the movie, Long doesn't just change spiritually but also physically due to his condition. You had to put on 30 pounds for the role. Would you ever go through that again?

The weight gain was bad. It isn't something I would want to jump at doing again.

But this was so much more important than just doing the actor "Raging Bull" thing. Everything about Stu was predicated on his physicality. To see him lose that but to gain the strength of a thousand men spiritually, it was unbelievable. I wanted the audience to see that and understand it.

[quote] Watching this, I thought about Sylvester Stallone gaining weight for "Cop Land." Like you, here's a star known for his physique completely changing his body. He has talked about how, mentally, it was hard to gain the weight. Can you relate? Mentally, how was it for you to have your body change like that?

I can definitely understand that. You have to force yourself to eat even after you're full. I tried to go the route that was supposed to be healthy.

[quote] So not constantly eating burgers and milkshakes?

No. I went to the doctor and tried to do it healthily. The first two weeks was a 7,000-calorie-a-day diet plan. And then the last four weeks was 11,000 calories a day.

[quote] Hold on. How is that healthy?

It's not but more healthy than the other way.

[quote] What did you eat?

A dozen eggs, dozen pieces of bacon, two bowls of white rice, a cup of olive oil to start the morning. More eggs, a porterhouse steak. That's seven to eight meals a day of this.

[quote] What?!

Then, towards the end, it's a lot of starches and sodium on top of the protein to get that bloated look.

[quote] I would think by the end, you never wanted to eat a meal again in your life.

I didn't love it.

[quote] Wahlberg has created a production company to make more faith-based projects

So this will be labeled as a faith-based movie. But it's very top shelf in that genre with its high-end production design and, obviously, the talent involved.

We wanted to create the highest quality of cinema.

[quote] And this high-quality filmmaking mixed with spiritual storytelling, is that something you want to do more of now?

Absolutely. I'm hoping lots more will come to me now, not just stories that I can star in but also can help others get their works off the ground. I want to do more of this in the future, and there's a huge audience for it.

[quote] Are you thinking of going as far as starting a production company that's focused on faith-based stories?

We are already in the works: film, television, across the board, but putting the emphasis on quality.

The hope is I can intrigue other high-caliber talent to come and do what I did with "Father Stu": bet on themselves, take a chance. It's not always about the paycheck.

I cannot stand people like Mark Wahlberg.

They live a life of crime when they're young, then turn around and become 100% religious fundie freaks.

That's when they start becoming judgmental, and it makes me want to strike them.

r5 I guess, in a way, it's similar to how former fat kids tend to be the most crazed health nuts as adults and are quick to judge others for daring to commit the unforgivable sin of enjoying a cheeseburger.

Probably some kind of pyramid scheme.

That article was torture to get through complete with this nonsense: “This is no disrespect to the work that you have been doing recently, but there is just an energy from you in this movie that's different.”

And hearing what someone ate? Maybe he’ll discuss his stool next.

I doubt if this movie will make any money.

It might. This seems like the sort of thing that faus and straight men who want "feeling" - without it being too sappy or "weak" - would be into. Father Stu is a bro - he swears, he drinks - and he's improved himself and is trying to help others be better bros.

I think the fundies will go see it, R9.

However, it's not a WASPY christian movie. It's about a Catholic priest.

So their reception to the movie might be 50/50.

I don't believe for a second that he can pull off playing a genuinely good person.

I'd rather see a movie about Father Mike.

Only if it's Magic Father Mike XXL.

Am I the only one who thinks Mark Wahlberg has a fey gay sounding voice? No one ever mentions it but it's right there!

Well at least he didn't pour his money into "The Hapenning II "

Oops. Happening II. Before the spelling trolls come for me.

R5- Just like Will Smith!

[quote]So this will be labeled as a [bold]faith-based[/bold] movie.

I don't know if casting someone like Cody Fern in a faith-based film is "good for business" for the target audience of this genre. And he's playing a priest, too?

I just hope the devouts going to see this don't find out what kind of person he actually is, they'd probably take him playing a priest as sacrilegious.

Seriously, why would Wahlberg cast Fern as a priest in a film that's supposed to be faith-based? Could he find no actual Catholic or non-denominational Christian actors? Cody Fern is not religious and has an "antichrist spirit."

An insane mess all the way around. A self-congratulatory masturbatory exercise. This Christian pandering is so gross. Insufferable. If Jesus came back, Marky would blow him off for Christ's sake.

[quote]Cody Fern is not religious and has an "antichrist spirit."

Just like Mark.

No, r21. Mark Wahlberg actually is a practicing Catholic who returned to the church. It happens.

Cody Fern has blatantly stated he's not religious. I'm also not sure why someone who claims to not be religious would even choose to take a role in a faith-based film. Seems odd.

Marky Mark is about to loose a lot of money.

He's still hawt and dreamy.

Exactly R23 . Which is probably why he's selling that resort he lives in in CA.

He should have done gay porn while he was young and hot.

Mel is into Christo-masochism. He loves to play roles where he is the destroyed beaten and bloodied human for his faith. The Christo-fascists eat this up like candy. It seems Marky with a heavy heart about what he did when he was a kid, thug-eye stabber-Hollywood whore model now has found that Mel is the perfect muse to his internal fuckery that only a Harvard shrink could untangle after weekly sessions for years.

Wahlberg is a POS right from the get-go and he can be limped into the insane Catholic nut fucks that Mel has pickled his drug-soaked brain with.

^ the Vietnamese guy was already blind. No eye sticking occurred.

R28, Everyone should get stabbed in the eye, even blind ones, so no harm, no foul.

[quote]I doubt if this movie will make any money.

Depends on how much it cost to make. Gibson's The Passion of the Christ grossed over $600 million and made Gibson one of the wealthiest actors of all time . It's not going to approach anything like that but I bet it will be quite profitable for Wahlberg if it approaches the $70 million range – which is what Son of God, a 2014 film I don't recall at all, did. There is an appetite for this kind of stuff.

He works hard, that's for sure. I mean, he's a success despite his height and below average looks.

Is he still going to bed early and waking up and at like 4am to work out or something?

Fuck Gibson and Wahlberg. Sick of them both.

Attending church doesn't make you a real Christian or a good person, r22. My atheist dad attended required church services when I was in Lutheran school for a year. He's still a sociopathic asshole.

The ads look like an SNL parody

You faggots are going to love this film.

Pound for pound, this is real Oscar bait.

Catholic guilt is truly something…Mel Gibson, Jimmy Savile, this Southie choad.

R30, “The Passion of The Christ” was a Christian film that happened to be done by a Roman Catholic. There wasn’t a denomination attached to the film, which made it perfect for the Pentecostals that would treat the film as required viewing.

Marky Mark seems to be nearing his dotage by Hollywood standards if he pumped in millions of his own money into a movie based on a RC priest. If he’s looking to make that (wasted) money back, he needs the non-denominational crowd and most are quick to say that Catholics are not Christian but idol worshippers.

How did he go from feeling “Good Vibrations” in his Calvins to saying he’d have fought off the hijackers during 9/11 to making a movie about a priest with his personal funds? His family needs to get him checked out.

R27 that’s about right. So nauseating. I respect people like Tim Tebow (a little) more who were always just religious nuts. The reformed ones are the worst.

R10 has it right though I bet it will make bank appealing to just that demo/mindset.

It's nature's joke that this fucker has millions and millions to spend on vanity projects despite having no talent nor redeeming qualities.

He's sell-by date is long past - discard.

R39 I respect Tebow - or I did until I took his virginity and he cried like a girl.

R36 If the weight gain is legit, I must admit some respect for it - particularly given by someone who owes so much to having a nice torso. Of course, MW presumably is experienced enough with getting in shape that the prospect of coming back from it doesn't trouble him.

He is just not handsome anymore.

My Jewish-agnostic husband cried.

Were Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson fucking each other?

This was written and directed by Mel’s girlfriend who is 35 years his junior. They started dating when she was 24 and he was 59.

.......

Damn...I'm so over these self-righteous, White, middle-aged, Christian loonies who are given these massive platforms to spread their judgmental and hateful dogma...

Mel Gibson Mark Wahlberg Chris Pratt Tim Allen John Schneider Jim Caviezel

...the list goes on and on. Such weak-minded simpletons so wrapped up in their own sanctimonious self-importance.

I really wish I could just travel to the future when humanity has divested organized religion and its practices. It has held us back from progressing as a species for far too long. Over it.

hope it fails

hate him

Good ol’ Marky has been a source of major seed spillage for myself and many others through the decades. Far be it from me to probe into his religious beliefs or politics . Whatever has inspired enough to keep up that body so well, I would never feel the need to question.

Now the fishhook 🎣 victim was already blind? There’s a sucker born every minute.

It’s on Netflix and doesn’t look even remotely watchable; hard pass.