I loved the scene where you paid off the Roman soldiers for the donkey that belonged to Mary’s father.  It was so touching, and so humble.
Right, yeah.  And it’s not like this guy was loaded. 

It was also brave.  There was a risk.  These were armed soldiers who could have just as easily killed you for asking.
Yeah, exactly.

Then again, maybe he just wanted an excuse to talk to Mary!
Yes, but all those things are happening simultaneously.  He does want to just talk to her.  He wants to be in a room with her, even if he doesn’t have anything to say, even if it’s awkward.  But that’s what is really special about “The Nativity Story.”  It treats them as real people, but yet you’re still able to get all the power of the story.

I understand that you actually made the staff that you use in the film.  Why did you decide to do that?
Well, first of all, [Joseph’s] hands were key – physically. After figuring out what he was going through emotionally, I had to figure what he was like.  I had little dainty actor hands, so it was important for me to have the carpenter, first-century, person-of-the-land hands.  So, for a month, with technical advisors, we worked.  I worked with first century tools. And every day I’d go and I’d make something.  I’d do masonry work. So by the time shooting came, those hands were calloused and swollen and scratched.  It gave me something less to think about – to be self-conscious about. 

Do you still have the staff?
(Nods) I take it with me on the subway! (laughs)

Rated PG for some violent content, “The Nativity Story" opens Friday, December 1 in more than 8,000 theaters worldwide.  

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