Mark
10-24-2003, 10:27 AM
Lightning strikes Gibson's Christ
Friday, October 24, 2003 Posted: 12:04 PM EDT (1604 GMT)
Mel Gibson, right, directs Jim Caviezel, playing Jesus, in "The Passion."
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Some Jewish and Roman Catholic groups are concerned Mel Gibson's new film 'The Passion' could fuel anti-Semitism (August 13)
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ROME, Italy -- Actor Jim Caviezel, who plays the son of God in Mel Gibson's controversial film "The Passion of Christ" has been struck by lightning during shooting.
Caviezel was uninjured, but a producer described how he saw smoke coming from the actor's ear.
An assistant director on the film, Jan Michelini, was also hit -- for the second time in a few months.
The first time, a lightning fork struck his umbrella during filming on top of a hill near Matera in Italy, causing light burns to the tips of his fingers, VLife, a supplement to Variety publications said in its October issue.
A few months later the second strike happened, a few hours from Rome.
Michelini was again carrying an umbrella, and standing next to Caviezel on top of a hill, the magazine said.
Both were hit, with the main bolt striking Caviezel while one of its forks hit Michelini's umbrella. Neither were hurt.
The film, which is spoken in Latin and Aramaic, has come in for criticism from some religious leaders. It portrays the last hours of Christ, but some Jewish and Roman Catholic groups are concerned the film will fuel anti-Semitism.
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Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
Friday, October 24, 2003 Posted: 12:04 PM EDT (1604 GMT)
Mel Gibson, right, directs Jim Caviezel, playing Jesus, in "The Passion."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Story Tools
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIDEO
Some Jewish and Roman Catholic groups are concerned Mel Gibson's new film 'The Passion' could fuel anti-Semitism (August 13)
PLAY VIDEO
RELATED
• Icon Productions
• The Movie Box: 'The Passion' trailer
• Beliefnet.com: The real problem with 'Passion'
ROME, Italy -- Actor Jim Caviezel, who plays the son of God in Mel Gibson's controversial film "The Passion of Christ" has been struck by lightning during shooting.
Caviezel was uninjured, but a producer described how he saw smoke coming from the actor's ear.
An assistant director on the film, Jan Michelini, was also hit -- for the second time in a few months.
The first time, a lightning fork struck his umbrella during filming on top of a hill near Matera in Italy, causing light burns to the tips of his fingers, VLife, a supplement to Variety publications said in its October issue.
A few months later the second strike happened, a few hours from Rome.
Michelini was again carrying an umbrella, and standing next to Caviezel on top of a hill, the magazine said.
Both were hit, with the main bolt striking Caviezel while one of its forks hit Michelini's umbrella. Neither were hurt.
The film, which is spoken in Latin and Aramaic, has come in for criticism from some religious leaders. It portrays the last hours of Christ, but some Jewish and Roman Catholic groups are concerned the film will fuel anti-Semitism.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.