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October 11, 2005
Gibson may film "Apocalypto" at Edzna Mayan site
(ACN) Yesterday film Director/Producer Mel
Gibson met with the governor of the State of Campeche,
Jorge Carlos Hurtado Valdez, to discuss the filming of
his upcoming film "Apocalypto" at the well preserved
Mayan ruins at Edzna. The ancient Mayan city of Edzna
is approximately 32 miles southeast of Campeche, the
state capital, and within the larger Mayan
archeological region that includes better known Mayan
structures and pyramids like those at Uxmal and
Chichen-Itza located in the bordering state of Yucatan. Edzna
has many magnificent Mayan structures and it may be
ideal for filming since it does not, at present,
attract large number of tourists.
Mel Gibson commented to Governor Valdez that he intends to reconstruct replicas of some of the Mayan structures in order to minimize damage to the actual site. Some filming, however, will be done with the actual structures as background. Mel Gibson will be visiting other Mayan sites in Yucatan and Veracruz but he made it known to those attending the dinner meeting with Governor Valdez that he was much impressed with the "majesty" of Edzna.
"Apocalypto" will be filmed utilizing the Mayan language and local Indigenous Mayan actors. More than 1,200 people signed up for the auditions. Among the requirements for appearing in the film are having Mayan Indian features and speaking the Mayan language, Mel Gibson is presently interviewing potential actors on location and plans to release the film in the Summer of 2006.
Related La Voz de Aztlan articles:
"APOCALYPTO": Gibson's next film and the Mayan year 2012
