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Forums - The lounge
Subject: speaking of Michael Moore.....
Original Message Date: 05-May-04 @ 04:50 AM - speaking of Michael Moore.....
May 5, 2004
Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush
By JIM RUTENBERG
ASHINGTON, May 4 — The Walt Disney Company is blocking its Miramax division from distributing a new documentary by Michael Moore that harshly criticizes President Bush, executives at both Disney and Miramax said Tuesday.
The film, "Fahrenheit 911," links Mr. Bush and prominent Saudis — including the family of Osama bin Laden — and criticizes Mr. Bush's actions before and after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Disney, which bought Miramax more than a decade ago, has a contractual agreement with the Miramax principals, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, allowing it to prevent the company from distributing films under certain circumstances, like an excessive budget or an NC-17 rating.
Executives at Miramax, who became principal investors in Mr. Moore's project last spring, do not believe that this is one of those cases, people involved in the production of the film said. If a compromise is not reached, these people said, the matter could go to mediation, though neither side is said to want to travel that route.
In a statement, Matthew Hiltzik, a spokesman for Miramax, said: "We're discussing the issue with Disney. We're looking at all of our options and look forward to resolving this amicably."
But Disney executives indicated that they would not budge from their position forbidding Miramax to be the distributor of the film in North America. Overseas rights have been sold to a number of companies.
"We advised both the agent and Miramax in May of 2003 that the film would not be distributed by Miramax," said Zenia Mucha, a company spokeswoman, referring to Mr. Moore's agent. "That decision stands."
Disney came under heavy criticism from conservatives last May after the disclosure that Miramax had agreed to finance the film when Icon Productions, Mel Gibson's studio, backed out.
Mr. Moore's agent, Ari Emanuel, said that Michael D. Eisner, Disney's chief executive, asked him last spring to pull out of the deal with Miramax. Mr. Emanuel said Mr. Eisner expressed concern that it would endanger tax breaks Disney receives for its theme park, hotels and other ventures in Florida, where Mr. Bush's brother, Jeb, is governor.
"Michael Eisner asked me not to sell this movie to Harvey Weinstein; that doesn't mean I listened to him," Mr. Emanuel said. "He definitely indicated there were tax incentives he was getting for the Disney corporation and that's why he didn't want me to sell it to Miramax. He didn't want a Disney company involved."
Disney executives deny that accusation, though they said their displeasure over the deal was made clear to Miramax and Mr. Emanuel.
A senior Disney executive elaborated that the company has the right to quash Miramax's distribution of films if it deems their distribution to be against the interests of the company. Mr. Moore's film, the executive said, is deemed to be against Disney's interests not because of the company's business dealings with the government but because Disney caters to families of all political stripes and believes Mr. Moore's film could alienate many.
"It's not in the interest of any major corporation to be dragged into a highly charged partisan political battle," this executive said.
Miramax is free to seek another distributor in North America, although such a deal would force it to share profits and be a blow to Harvey Weinstein, a big donor to Democrats.
Mr. Moore, who will present the film at the Cannes film festival this month, criticized Disney's decision in an interview on Tuesday, saying, "At some point the question has to be asked, `Should this be happening in a free and open society where the monied interests essentially call the shots regarding the information that the public is allowed to see?' "
Mr. Moore's films, like "Roger and Me" and "Bowling for Columbine," are often a political lightning rod, as he sets out to skewer what he says are the misguided priorities of conservatives and big business. They have also often performed well at the box office. His most recent movie, "Bowling for Columbine," took in about $22 million in North America for United Artists. His books, like "Stupid White Men," a jeremiad against the Bush administration that has sold more than a million copies, have also been lucrative.
Mr. Moore does not disagree that "Fahrenheit 911" is highly charged, but he took issue with the description of it as partisan. "If this is partisan in any way it is partisan on the side of the poor and working people in this country who provide fodder for this war machine," he said.
Mr. Moore said the film describes financial connections between the Bush family and its associates and prominent Saudi Arabian families that go back three decades. He said it closely explores the government's decision to help members of the bin Laden family leave the United States immediately after the 2001 attacks. The film includes comments from American soldiers on the ground in Iraq expressing disillusionment with the war, he said.
Mr. Moore initially planned on producing the film with Mr. Gibson's company, but last May it pulled out.
"The project wasn't right for Icon," said Alan Nierob, a spokesman for Icon, adding that the decision had nothing to do with politics.
Miramax stepped in immediately. The company had previously produced one of Mr. Moore's films, 1997's "The Big One." In return for providing most of the new film's $6 million budget, Miramax was positioned to distribute the film.
While Disney's objections were made clear early on, one executive who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Miramax leadership hoped it would be able to prevail upon Disney to sign off on distribution -— which would ideally hoping happen this summer, before the election and when political interest is high.
Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush
By JIM RUTENBERG
ASHINGTON, May 4 — The Walt Disney Company is blocking its Miramax division from distributing a new documentary by Michael Moore that harshly criticizes President Bush, executives at both Disney and Miramax said Tuesday.
The film, "Fahrenheit 911," links Mr. Bush and prominent Saudis — including the family of Osama bin Laden — and criticizes Mr. Bush's actions before and after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Disney, which bought Miramax more than a decade ago, has a contractual agreement with the Miramax principals, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, allowing it to prevent the company from distributing films under certain circumstances, like an excessive budget or an NC-17 rating.
Executives at Miramax, who became principal investors in Mr. Moore's project last spring, do not believe that this is one of those cases, people involved in the production of the film said. If a compromise is not reached, these people said, the matter could go to mediation, though neither side is said to want to travel that route.
In a statement, Matthew Hiltzik, a spokesman for Miramax, said: "We're discussing the issue with Disney. We're looking at all of our options and look forward to resolving this amicably."
But Disney executives indicated that they would not budge from their position forbidding Miramax to be the distributor of the film in North America. Overseas rights have been sold to a number of companies.
"We advised both the agent and Miramax in May of 2003 that the film would not be distributed by Miramax," said Zenia Mucha, a company spokeswoman, referring to Mr. Moore's agent. "That decision stands."
Disney came under heavy criticism from conservatives last May after the disclosure that Miramax had agreed to finance the film when Icon Productions, Mel Gibson's studio, backed out.
Mr. Moore's agent, Ari Emanuel, said that Michael D. Eisner, Disney's chief executive, asked him last spring to pull out of the deal with Miramax. Mr. Emanuel said Mr. Eisner expressed concern that it would endanger tax breaks Disney receives for its theme park, hotels and other ventures in Florida, where Mr. Bush's brother, Jeb, is governor.
"Michael Eisner asked me not to sell this movie to Harvey Weinstein; that doesn't mean I listened to him," Mr. Emanuel said. "He definitely indicated there were tax incentives he was getting for the Disney corporation and that's why he didn't want me to sell it to Miramax. He didn't want a Disney company involved."
Disney executives deny that accusation, though they said their displeasure over the deal was made clear to Miramax and Mr. Emanuel.
A senior Disney executive elaborated that the company has the right to quash Miramax's distribution of films if it deems their distribution to be against the interests of the company. Mr. Moore's film, the executive said, is deemed to be against Disney's interests not because of the company's business dealings with the government but because Disney caters to families of all political stripes and believes Mr. Moore's film could alienate many.
"It's not in the interest of any major corporation to be dragged into a highly charged partisan political battle," this executive said.
Miramax is free to seek another distributor in North America, although such a deal would force it to share profits and be a blow to Harvey Weinstein, a big donor to Democrats.
Mr. Moore, who will present the film at the Cannes film festival this month, criticized Disney's decision in an interview on Tuesday, saying, "At some point the question has to be asked, `Should this be happening in a free and open society where the monied interests essentially call the shots regarding the information that the public is allowed to see?' "
Mr. Moore's films, like "Roger and Me" and "Bowling for Columbine," are often a political lightning rod, as he sets out to skewer what he says are the misguided priorities of conservatives and big business. They have also often performed well at the box office. His most recent movie, "Bowling for Columbine," took in about $22 million in North America for United Artists. His books, like "Stupid White Men," a jeremiad against the Bush administration that has sold more than a million copies, have also been lucrative.
Mr. Moore does not disagree that "Fahrenheit 911" is highly charged, but he took issue with the description of it as partisan. "If this is partisan in any way it is partisan on the side of the poor and working people in this country who provide fodder for this war machine," he said.
Mr. Moore said the film describes financial connections between the Bush family and its associates and prominent Saudi Arabian families that go back three decades. He said it closely explores the government's decision to help members of the bin Laden family leave the United States immediately after the 2001 attacks. The film includes comments from American soldiers on the ground in Iraq expressing disillusionment with the war, he said.
Mr. Moore initially planned on producing the film with Mr. Gibson's company, but last May it pulled out.
"The project wasn't right for Icon," said Alan Nierob, a spokesman for Icon, adding that the decision had nothing to do with politics.
Miramax stepped in immediately. The company had previously produced one of Mr. Moore's films, 1997's "The Big One." In return for providing most of the new film's $6 million budget, Miramax was positioned to distribute the film.
While Disney's objections were made clear early on, one executive who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Miramax leadership hoped it would be able to prevail upon Disney to sign off on distribution -— which would ideally hoping happen this summer, before the election and when political interest is high.
Message 61/69 20-May-04 @ 03:13 AM - RE: speaking of Michael Moore.....
i was a full-time janitor for 3 years plus.
i think eventually we might see a world where people address people's needs
and not those of just a powerful elite.
i think when people act to save themselves as a whole....they will eventually be redeemed.
but to seek to do it on a soul by soul basis seems to deny the fact that
we all are one.
it's just the paradox of man.
we are both individual and of a collective.
make the best of it i say.
i think eventually we might see a world where people address people's needs
and not those of just a powerful elite.
i think when people act to save themselves as a whole....they will eventually be redeemed.
but to seek to do it on a soul by soul basis seems to deny the fact that
we all are one.
it's just the paradox of man.
we are both individual and of a collective.
make the best of it i say.
Message 62/69 20-May-04 @ 05:54 PM - RE: speaking of Michael Moore.....
i was a janitor as well, but you've never borne the title "professional ass wiper" have you :p
that world where people address concrete needs is there.. it always has been there.. in the 'indigenous villages' of thailand where no one fucks with them because they have nothing of strategic value and have what they need and thus are not to be swayed, you'll find straightforward respect for the fact of life.
i'll be jiggered.. harmony out of a simple, straightforward relationship with nature.
that world where people address concrete needs is there.. it always has been there.. in the 'indigenous villages' of thailand where no one fucks with them because they have nothing of strategic value and have what they need and thus are not to be swayed, you'll find straightforward respect for the fact of life.
i'll be jiggered.. harmony out of a simple, straightforward relationship with nature.
Message 63/69 21-May-04 @ 03:15 AM - RE: speaking of Michael Moore.....
....no rush...nature will always have a warm place you i'm sure.
: )
: )
Message 64/69 21-May-04 @ 03:31 AM - RE: speaking of Michael Moore.....
hey O/D....buzz-flash is selling the robert macnamara documentary-movie on dvd.
phillip glass did the music.....wow>
i'm imagining that would be pretty tingling.
that war shaped me....i lost my dad then.
needless to say...i'm AGAINST>
web-link
phillip glass did the music.....wow>
i'm imagining that would be pretty tingling.
that war shaped me....i lost my dad then.
needless to say...i'm AGAINST>
web-link
Message 65/69 24-May-04 @ 04:21 PM - RE: speaking of Michael Moore.....
[image file]
Fahrenheit 911 has won the Palm d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, making it the first documentary since 1956 to take top honors. During his acceptance speech, Michael Moore said he hoped that the award would help the film find a distributor in North America. You may recall that Disney blocked distribution of the film, deeming it too political.
moron.org
Message 66/69 24-May-04 @ 06:10 PM - RE: speaking of Michael Moore.....
oh, it'll get played... before the election, too. There are plenty of like-minded individuals of influence in Hollywood and the cannes award will be all they need to justify greenlighting distribution for this film.
God bless that fat windbag... America needs to see this movie.
God bless that fat windbag... America needs to see this movie.
Message 67/69 24-May-04 @ 06:22 PM - RE: speaking of Michael Moore.....
out of sheer curiosity, was his "palme d'or" news ? was it even mentionned ?
Message 68/69 24-May-04 @ 06:30 PM - RE: speaking of Michael Moore.....
i've seen it mentioned on several forums at least. Of course, these are often the people who care about such things.
But yeah, if one follow entertainment news at least, I think one has heard about it.
But yeah, if one follow entertainment news at least, I think one has heard about it.
Message 69/69 26-May-04 @ 12:57 AM - RE: speaking of Michael Moore.....
oddly enough....this is what one finds when going to moore's website:
Not Found
The requested URL /mustread/index.php was not found on this server.
not only his site but same for dog eat dog...the company which runs his productions.
either 1) he's decided to go to another handler of his site....it was rumoured a month or so ago that he was considering a candian web-site company.....
or 2) the right-wing machine has managed to make his viewpoint
less available to the public....somehow.
i'm guessing it's the first option.....hoping at least.
it's been over 2 days now with no announcement of any move.
Not Found
The requested URL /mustread/index.php was not found on this server.
not only his site but same for dog eat dog...the company which runs his productions.
either 1) he's decided to go to another handler of his site....it was rumoured a month or so ago that he was considering a candian web-site company.....
or 2) the right-wing machine has managed to make his viewpoint
less available to the public....somehow.
i'm guessing it's the first option.....hoping at least.
it's been over 2 days now with no announcement of any move.
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