Religion Writers Unhappy With Late 'Passion' Screening

By: Joe Strupp After denying religion writers a chance to see the controversial Mel Gibson film, "The Passion of the Christ," while inviting thousands of churchgoers and other interested viewers to special screenings over recent months, the film's publicists decided to include the reporters in media screenings set for Monday -- just two days before the film's opening.

"This is for the working media, which includes religion writers," said Blaise Noto, a publicist for the film, who said writers were denied access to previous screenings because the final version had yet to be cut. "It is out of respect and regard for a filmmaker to wait and show the final print."

When asked why so many audiences could view the rough cut, but the media could not, A. Larry Ross, a media representative for Icon Productions, which is distributing the film, said they were utilized for input into the film. "That is a standard part of the process," he said.

Religion writers, including many who openly criticized the distributors for failing to allow press screenings at a time when the movie was generating news, said a screening two days before the premiere is almost too little too late.

"It would have worked to their advantage to let us see it," said Larry Stammer, religion writer for the Los Angles Times (Click for QuikCap). "I am really frustrated over this." Don Lattin, a longtime religion writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, agreed. "I would have rather seen it before I wrote about it."

Alan Cooperman, one of three religion writers at The Washington Post, said a lot of stories have already been written, making this late screening less useful. "Two days in advance is not much time to do a story," he added.

Debra L. Mason, executive director of the Religion Newswriters Association, which represents 240 writers, said such late screenings do not compensate for writers who needed to view the film months ago. "I don't think it makes up for it," she said. "We would have liked to have seen the film weeks or months ago."

Mason knew of only three writers, from the Associated Press, The Washington Times and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who had seen the film through the private showings. She also complained that the press screenings would be limited to the 50 largest markets, shutting out writers at smaller papers. "Some people have to drive more than four hours to these places," she added.

Slated to open on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, the movie initially made news when Jewish leaders criticized it for promoting anti-Semitism, even before the production was completed. Then, when the producers began holding private screenings for Christian groups and churches, including one in Orlando, Fla., that Jewish leaders reportedly snuck in to, newspapers had another angle to approach. More recently, newspapers have been writing about the frenzy by numerous churches to buy up tickets -- reportedly thousands at a time in some cases -- for parishioners, while also promoting the movie in their services and lobbies.