Mel Gibson‘s new film has sparked protests in Mexico.

The 54-year-old actor has caused controversy over scenes being shot at the Ignacio Allende prison in the eastern state of Veracruz. The project - believed to be How I Spent My Summer Vacation - forced 214 inmates to be sent to at least four other detention centers in the country to accommodate the set.

The prisoners were escorted from the jail - which usually houses 1,000 convicts - by police and soldiers between midnight on Friday until roughly 3:00 am on Saturday morning last weekend. Those transported during the operation have been held on murder, robbery, drug trafficking, kidnapping and other serious charges.

Despite the early hours, the move resulted in furious scenes of protest from friends and relatives, who claimed they would have to travel further to make their regular visitations to their loved ones.

In How I Spent My Summer Vacation, Mel - who also penned the script - portrays a career criminal caught in Mexico and placed in a tough prison, learning to survive after a 9-year-old boy offers him help. The film is due for release in 2011.