Editing Monty Python's Life of Brian (section)

===Filming===
[[File:TUNISIE MONASTIR RIBAT 02.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ribat of Monastir]], Tunisia. According to Michael Palin, the first scene filmed was the stoning scene along the outside wall.]]
Terry Jones was solely responsible for directing, having amicably agreed with Gilliam (who co-directed ''Holy Grail'') to do so, with Gilliam concentrating on the look of the film.<ref>{{cite news |title=How we made Monty Python's Life of Brian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/apr/16/how-we-made-monty-python-life-of-brian-michael-palin-terry-gilliam |access-date=25 August 2019 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> ''Holy Grail''{{'}}s production had often been stilted by their differences behind the camera. Gilliam again contributed two animated sequences (one being the opening credits) and took charge of [[set design]]. However, this did not put an absolute end to their feuding. On the DVD commentary, Gilliam expresses pride in one set in particular, the main hall of [[Antonia Fortress|Pilate's fortress]], which had been designed so that it looked like an ancient synagogue that the Romans had converted by dumping [[Roman architecture|their structural artefacts]] (such as marble floors and columns) on top. He reveals his consternation at Jones for not paying enough attention to it in the [[cinematography]]. Gilliam also worked on the [[Matte (filmmaking)|matte]] paintings, useful in particular for the very first shot of the three wise men against a star-scape and in giving the illusion of the whole of the outside of the fortress being covered in graffiti. Perhaps the most significant contribution from Gilliam was the scene in which Brian accidentally leaps off a high building and lands inside a starship about to engage in an interstellar war. This was done "in camera" using a hand-built model starship and miniature pyrotechnics. Gilliam recounted in an interview: "Well, we didn't know what to do with Brian. He got himself to the top of the tower and we had to rescue him somehow, so I said, 'OK, spaceship for that.' That was purely it. It was funny, because this was at the time when ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' had just come out."<ref>{{cite news |title=Terry Gilliam on making 'Don Quixote,' defending Johnny Depp and making fun of Donald Trump |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/terry-gilliam-on-making-don-quixote-defending-johnny-depp-and-making-fun-of-donald-trump-192028341.html |access-date=10 December 2021 |agency=Yahoo}}</ref>

The film was shot on location in [[Monastir, Tunisia|Monastir]], [[Tunisia]], which allowed the production to reuse sets from [[Franco Zeffirelli]]'s ''[[Jesus of Nazareth (film)|Jesus of Nazareth]]'' (1977).<ref>{{cite news |author=Ebert, Roger|date=18 June 2004 |title=Monty Python's Life of Brian|publisher=Digital Chicago |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/monty-pythons-life-of-brian-2004 |access-date=6 November 2006}}</ref> The Tunisian shoot was documented by [[Iain Johnstone]] for his BBC film ''[[The Pythons (film)|The Pythons]]''. Many locals were employed as extras on ''Life of Brian''. Director Jones noted, "They were all very knowing because they'd all worked for Franco Zeffirelli on ''Jesus of Nazareth'', so I had these elderly Tunisians telling me, 'Well, Mr Zeffirelli wouldn't have done it like that, you know.'"<ref name="Welease Bwian" /> Further location shooting also took place in Tunisia, at [[Sousse]] (Jerusalem outer walls and gateway), [[Carthage]] ([[Roman theatre (structure)|Roman theatre]]) and [[Matmata, Tunisia|Matmata]] ([[Sermon on the Mount]] and [[Crucifixion]]).<ref name="autogenerated1969">Palin, Michael. ''Diaries: The Python Years, 1969–1979''.</ref>

Graham Chapman, suffering from [[alcoholism]], was so determined to play the lead role&mdash;at one point coveted by Cleese&mdash;that he sobered up in time for filming, so much so that he also acted as the on-set doctor.<ref name="Channel 4">[[Channel 4]] (1 January 2007). ''The Secret Life of Brian''.</ref>