Braveheart cast members visit Trim to celebrate movie's 30th anniversary
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Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Extra.ie
Mel Gibson fulfils Braveheart superfan's 25-year dream with unforgettable meeting
A Mel Gibson and Braveheart superfan capped off a 25-year quest and bagged a unique memento when he met the man who brought William Wallace to life. Gibson was in Trim, Co. Meath, where much of Braveheart was filmed, to celebrate the Oscar-winning picture's 30th anniversary. The event was part of the town's King John Summer Prom festival. Maxim Deasy (right) with Mel Gibson at Trim's meet and greet. Pic: Michael Chester The superstar actor, director and producer signed posters and posed for selfies with a few hundred fans, who had secured their meet-and-greet in advance by purchasing special posters. And the day was the cherry on top of a decades-long mission for one superfan Scotsman, whose Wallace-like rebelliousness scored him an extra special keepsake. Along with the pre-bought poster, Paul Wilson from Irvine brought along a widescreen print of himself standing atop Aonach Eagach mountain ridge in the Scottish Highlands, wearing a kilt and with his back to the camera. Paul Wilson, from Scotland, takes a selfie with Mel Gibson. Pic: Michael Chester The pose is a recreation of a scene from Braveheart filmed on the same mountaintop. 'It took me 25 years to find this location,' Mr Wilson told Paul Wilson with his recreation of a Braveheart scene. Pic: Michael Chester 'After years of hiking in the Highlands, I was sitting watching Braveheart for the umpteenth time and thought 'I recognise that – I've been there', and roughly decoded it and eventually found it about five years ago.' as him,' Mr Wilson ' Fans were sternly warned that only pre-bought posters would be signed, but €300 compared Mr Wilson said Gibson day's meet and was 'very nice about been foiled by it' when it came time tions. to ask. The superfan, 'I just placed it and Scotland right in front of Ireland especially him and told him said it took me 25 a nation' years, and out, then he told a me it was the wrong spot,' he laughed. 'Then he said it was spot on. 'I did ask him if it was really him that stood up there or a stunt double. He wouldn't tell me. I'll take it as him,' Mr Wilson said. The Braveheart star strikes a pose with Rian Egan from Gorey. Pic: Michael Chester A previous effort to get the print signed by Gibson – which cost him €300 compared to €55 for yesterday's meet and greet cost – had been foiled by pandemic restrictions. The superfan, dressed in a kilt and Scotland jersey and visiting Ireland especially for the event, said Braveheart 'inspired a nation' when it came out, 'because it gave us a voice again'. Trim's 12th-century castle doubles up as York in the 1995 blockbuster, and locals still warmly recall the summer Hollywood came to town – and gave parts to half the residents. Ross Englishby from Trim was around 12 when the shoot happened. Maxim Deasy (right) with Mel Gibson at Trim's meet and greet. Pic: Michael Chester He told 'I didn't make the cut unfortunately, but because the cast was so centrally located and the town had loads of viewing points, we pretty much saw everything that went on the whole summer. 'It was great craic for the three or four months they were here.' The castle, which is largely in ruins, was 'rebuilt' for the shoot, Mr Englishby recalled. 'Pretty much every local was in it at some stage,' he said. 'The scene at the end when he's on the cross, that's all done in Trim, so they're all local people – all the kids at the front throwing vegetables. You can see them clearly. We often look at it and laugh.' Tom King, who attended dressed as a medieval warrior. Pic: Michael Chester Tom King, who attended dressed as a medieval warrior, told he had 'come to pick a fight'. Mr King, from nearby Bohermeen, wears ancient costumes for a living, operating immersive history experiences nearby as a traditional smith and craftsman. 'It's so wonderful to see what Braveheart has done for our tourism industry and our local economy,' he said. 'That seed was planted 30-odd years ago, and look what has grown since. It has just flourished. And everybody's morale and everybody's mood, everybody's excitement…' The poster sales made €10,000 for Irish Equity, a union for actors.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
Mel Gibson says he can identify with ‘mad Irish culture' as he visits Meath for Braveheart 30th anniversary
The Hollywood actor and director (69) paid tribute to those involved in the filming of the historical epic in Ireland. And with many of his ancestors from Ireland and his mother from Co Longford, he said that he 'understands and can identify' with the 'mad Irish culture'. Gibson, who directed, produced and starred in the 1995 film was speaking in Trim, Co Meath, as he celebrated the anniversary at the King John Summer Prom. Hundreds of people turned out to catch a glimpse of the movie star, who signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans. Despite its Scottish storyline, Braveheart was primarily filmed in counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, with the well-known execution scene filmed at Trim Castle. During his visit to Trim on Saturday, Gibson said he feels a 'connection' to the Irish. 'There is this DNA thing that goes way back probably to the fourth century. Some people think they are reincarnated, I just get hints of something old. There's different parts that make us,' he said. 'So I came from Ireland somehow. It's not even that explicable, but it's just a feeling.' Gibson said that the Irish hospitality during the filming of Braveheart was 'amazing' and he thanked the people of Ireland and hundreds of movie extras for the role they played. He also thanked then Arts Minister Michael D Higgins. 'Michael D Higgins welcomed us with open arms at the time. He said you can come here and we'll help you as much as we can,' Gibson said. Gibson had been shooting Braveheart in Scotland originally, but said the ground was not suitable for horses during battle scenes, compared to the Curragh in Co Kildare. The US-Australian actor spent his visit in Trim meeting local people who had been extras in the award-winning film. Gibson had made the request prior to his arrival to meet with two extras from Ireland privately before the event started. Vinny McConnell and Gary Downes both joined the cast when they were 16 as one of their first jobs. Vinny explained how the pair were members of the FCA based at Cathal Brugha Barracks and the opportunity had arisen to be involved in the film shooting at the Curragh. 'At the end of our filming we ended up getting photos, dating back 30 years ago now, and we have reunited with Mel Gibson and he signed them for us,' Vinny said. Life got in the way for Vinny and Gary to continue pursuing their love for film, but as Gary said: 'It's never too late, we're 47 and we're hot to trot.' One of the film extras, Gerry Gormley, also had the opportunity to work on set for three days during filming at Trim Castle, and he chatted to Gibson one on one about how the pair are actually related – Gibson's mother and Gerry's grandmother were cousins. 'It was embarrassing really. It was the end of the day filming and I had to shout from the crowd trying to talk to him: 'I'm actually related to you',' he said. 'I remember all the lads of set were sniggering, but he [Gibson] actually put his arm around me. He was interested in his Irish history so of course he wanted to know. 'I looked back and the lads and they were in shock so I was fairly smug then.' A total of 200 'Braveheart' posters were brought to be signed by Gibson, with proceeds raised from their sale to be donated to the charity 'Irish Equity', which represents professionals in the live performance and theatre sector in the Republic of Ireland. Gibson attended the King John Summer Prom Festival, joined by his son Lars (8) and daughter Lucia (15) and his partner Rosalind Ross. As part of the festival, Gibson and his family joined people in a red and white tent on the outskirts of Trim on Saturday to listen to the Irish Philharmonic Orchestra play themes from famous movies, conducted by Niall O'Sullivan. Irish actor Patrick Bergin introduced the music from Sleeping With The Enemy, in which he starred opposite Julia Roberts. He told a story about how, after auditioning for the role, he tried to leave the room and walked into a broom closet. 'As I came out of the closet [director] Joe Ruben said 'it was the look in your eye that got you the part'.' Actor Kate O'Toole told the story of how her father was away for two years to film Lawrence Of Arabia, before introducing the theme from the film played by the orchestra. 'One of the weird things about it that still stays with me is that scene with the quicksand, I really thought when I was a child that going to the beach was dangerous,' she told the crowd. Singer Leah Barniville performed Ennio Morricone's Ecstasy Of Gold from the Good, The Bad And The Ugly, as well as the Titanic Suite.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- RTÉ News
Mel Gibson hints at potential new Ireland-filmed project: 'It's pretty cool'
Oscar-winning Braveheart director and star Mel Gibson has hinted that he would like to shoot another film in Ireland in the future, saying he has the "perfect" project but that it hasn't yet "gotten legs under it". Mr Gibson, who directed, produced and starred in the iconic 1995 film which was primarily shot in Ireland, was speaking in Trim on Saturday as part of a series of events to mark the 30th anniversary of the making of the movie. In an interview with RTÉ News' North East Correspondent Marc O'Driscoll, the Hollywood star said he "absolutely" had plans to come back to Ireland. "I came back here, I did scouts for another film I was thinking of doing here that never happened, but that doesn't mean it's not going to, because it's still in here," he said, pointing to his head. "There's a perfect one for it, it's pretty cool, but at the moment it hasn't gotten legs under it. But it will." When asked for any more details, he kept his cards close to his chest. "The last time I spoke about this everybody started copying [the idea], they did all sorts of stuff on TV that was kind of like it, so I'm loathe to spit out too much about what I'm up to," he said. "But thanks for asking. Keep the mystery bubbling!" Mr Gibson, who portrayed the character of Scottish warrior William Wallace in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England in Braveheart, said the film was his proudest career moment to date. "I really love Braveheart. I was [in] way over my head. I was young, it was my second outing as a director, but I think I fine-tuned my abilities directing," he said. The Hollywood star also opened up about working with the Irish Reserve Defence Forces on the film. "It was fantastic, they were punctual, they were organised, because they were platoons of guys and they all had commanding officers and we broke it down in a military way," he said, adding that they putting on "peat moss on their faces and slapping on dodgy wigs and putting on the dress" before filming scenes. [There were] a lot of locals - there was a sea of interesting faces and people - some of them we featured," he continued. "I don't know where that little kid went at the execution [scene] but there's a big old close-up of this kid, he was beautiful. They were all really into it too. "You have a culture of natural performers here." The 69-year-old filmmaker elaborated about the intense physicality needed to make a movie like Braveheart. "I was a much younger fellow then, not that young I was close to 40, but being in front and behind the camera, you had to master a lot of skills," he said. "It was the first time I ever pulled a hamstring, groin muscle injuries from jumping off horses and all that kind of stuff. It had its pitfalls, physically. "You had to do it again and again, running up hills and clubbing people with blunt objects - missing them of course - still the effort required for that, or falling over, I fell off horses - all types of stuff." Careful safety protocols were necessary while making the Hollywood blockbuster. "It's very precise, you do it with a huge margin for safety, or a narrow margin for error, let's call it that," Mr Gibson said. "I remember, before all the battle scenes, and all the guys out there are having fun, they've got swords and you can still get hurt with these things, wooden objects and so forth. "I'd yell on the bull-horn 'What's the 'S' word?' and they'd go 'Safety!' I said, if anybody hurts anybody else I'll kill 'em. And they were like, ok. "So, very few injuries and I've heard these horror stories about when people have gotten hurt, or even die, on film sets, so I was determined that that wouldn't happen. Everybody was taught, all the reserve army guys, were taught how to miss and how to make it look good for the camera." Mr Gibson, who has also directed The Man Without a Face (1993), The Passion of the Christ (2004), Apocalypto (2006) and Hacksaw Ridge (2016), spoke about his enduring love of being behind the lens. "By the time I was in my late 40s I was like, 'I don't think I can stand in front of a camera anymore'. But something made me pursue being the storyteller and trying to see it through my eyes. That's my big love right now," he said. "I haven't made that many films, five, six, I don't even know anymore, and I'm proud of all of them, they're all of a reasonable quality. "Whatever you do and whatever you make, you leave your mark on it, whether you know it or not, you leave yourself in there. Hopefully I can continue doing that, and hopefully people will still dig it."
