Mel Gibson Pledges To Ease, Hollywoodise Suffering Of Native Costa Ricans

Mel Gibson’s ongoing love affair with the indigenous peoples of Central America – whose untold histories are ripe for adaptation into factually iffy, hyperviolent big-screen adventures – continues. Not only has the Apocalypto director extended the borders of his Malibu empire to include a home on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, but he recently sat with the country’s President to pledge his financial support for their native Indians:

“He wants to help the indigenous population here and wants to know how to channel the funds,” President Oscar Arias told reporters outside his home, where he met with the 51-year-old actor-director for about an hour Monday.

Arias said Gibson, who directed last year’s Mayan epic “Apocalypto,” would return to Costa Rica next month to arrange details of his donation. [...]

He acknowledged buying a house in Guanacaste on the Central American nation’s Pacific coast and jokingly asked reporters if they wanted the address.

As with a dinner with Panamanian tourism officials, we imagine Gibson’s new Costa Rican neighbors will be eager to pitch projects to the high-profile resident and benefactor. Still, aspiring local screenwriters may be disappointed to learn, upon ringing his Guanacaste doorbell to deliver a basket filled with local produce and a copy of their script, that the last thing Gibson is interested in exploring is “a native Costa Rican take on What Women Want,” having his heart set instead on a 9-page treatment outlining a 90-minute, real-time flaying to death of a single Indian by Spanish Conquistadors.

• Mel Gibson meets with Costa Rican leader [Yahoo/AP]