Together with his Icon partners/producers Bruce Davey and Steve McEveety, the team began the enormous task of bringing Gibson's 10-year "labor of love" to reality. Gibson wrote his script with Ben Fitzgerald ("Wise Blood") using scripture taken directly from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, or as Gibson likes to refer to them, "four obscure writers." He also used research from an old book in his library, "The Dolorous Passion," by Anne Catherine Emmerich. It was a book he never knew he had until he reached for another book, and it literally fell into his hands. After years of writing, reworking the script and waiting for the right timing, Gibson was ready to make his ode to Christ.

"The Passion" stars Jim Caviezel ("The Count of Monte Cristo", "Frequency") as Jesus, Romanian actress Maia Morgenstern ("Procust's Bed") as his mother Mary, and Italian beauty Monica Bellucci ("Matrix Reloaded", "Tears of the Sun") as Mary Magdalene. For obvious reasons Gibson had to look outside the Holy Land for a location and found what he was looking for in Italy. "I chose Italy because so many people love it, and it's a great country to work in. It's also a big melting pot and has a huge and diverse talent pool." The crucifixion scenes were filmed in a beautiful city in southern Italy called Matera, in which Pier Paolo Pasolini used the outskirts of the city to film his movie, "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" (1964). "Certain sections of the city are 2,000 years old: the architecture, the blocks of stone and the surrounding areas and rocky terrain added a vista and backdrop that we actually borrowed to create the backdrops for our lavish sets of Jerusalem. We relied heavily on the look that was there. In fact, the first time I saw it, I just went crazy because it was so perfect."

On the outskirts of Rome, past the ancient ruins of the Roman Baths of Caracalla and the Catacombs, are the legendary Cinecitta studios. On the back lot, directly across from the decaying wooden sidewalks and faded storefront facades of Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York," sits the city of Jerusalem -- or at least a 2 ½ acre scaled-down replication of it. Gibson has created a massive set, complete with a temple, courtyard, a Praetorium, Pilate's Palace and various smaller sets. It is a breathtaking spectacle of biblical proportions: giant columns, flights of stone steps, massive wooden doors, weathered Roman emblems, vendor's canopies and pottery, replicating the architecture of an ancient world.

Inside the temple walls smoke fills the air, as a hue of gold washes the room where a cast and crew of hundreds wait for direction, as if posing for a painting. The handcrafted costumes are designed by the award-winning Maurizio Millenotti who paints the crowd like a detailed backdrop in various shades of beige, brown and black. Every beard, hairpiece and braid looks real because a team of expert makeup and hair artists have custom fit each person. The massive sets are intricately designed by Production Designer Francesco Frigeri and Decorator Carlo Gervasi. And the special effects (SPFX) makeup and hair department were flown in from Los Angeles because of their unique ability to create what Gibson needed for the flagellation and crucifixion scenes. Many others contribute their talents to create Gibson's biblical world. Gibson has spared no expense in bringing this visual masterpiece to the big screen and it shows.

Click here to read Part 2.