Mickey Mouse tries to scupper Michael Moore's film Fahrenheitt911

[Worldlife]

ON BBC Radio 4 "Today" ,and also BBC1 News, it was stated that Disney, the studio that owns Miramax, has officially decided to prohibit , Miramax, from distributing Micahel Moore's new film, "Fahrenheit 9/11."

The reason? According to the New York Times, it might "endanger" millions of dollars of tax breaks Disney receives from the state of Florida because the film will "anger" the Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush. The story is on page one of the Times ....

Disney Forbid Distribution of Film that Criticises Bush

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.

To deprive Americans of the opportunity to see this film that has been selected for the Cannes Film Festival amounts to political censorship and seems to endorse Michael Moore's previous books that illustrate the politically corruptive influence of Bush business and political interests.

See also Michael Moore's version of events

[Dave Smith]

I think that it will be seen by everyone but the american public, Worldlife, once it is shown at Cannes. The land of free has never been as free as it says it is. The average american will probably not want to see it anyhow. Michael Moore is hated by the right wingers. Mickey Mouse is far more to their liking!

regards

[Deimos Anomaly]

Eh, Moore's films are a pile of shite anyway.

The greatest insult being of course that he tries to pass them off as "documentaries".

Last I checked documentaries were supposed to be about facts.

[billytee]

Who broke the Michael Moore link?

[Worldlife]

Originally posted by billytee
Who broke the Michael Moore link?

The link is working for me right now.

Deimos... most people would describe films that win Cannes Festival Awards as films of merit and previous productions of Michael Moore have achieved such status.

I agree that the humorous or satirical way he presents the factual evidence may not appeal to everyone taste and some would perhaps prefer a traditional documentary. However the issues Michael Moore raises are extremely well researched and the information he provides is essential to bridge the gaps left by the right wing media.

"Don't shoot the messenger" comes to mind.

[seaviewuk]

http://www.moorewatch.com/

publicity stunt.

[stopthegrays]

Originally posted by seaviewuk
http://www.moorewatch.com/

publicity stunt.

Ditto.

Moore Admits Disney "Ban" was a stunt.

[Worldlife]

STG What the "New Zealand Herald" states is........

But Moore's publicity stunt, if that is what is, appears to be working.

Note the extreme caution .... "if that is what is was"

Seaview's link seems to be to a group that might be politically biased against Michael Moore

I'll take on trust that the "New Zealand Herald" is as reliable source of information as "The New York Times".

The main facts of the case seem to be clear that Disney, for political reasons, did not want to be associated with a film backed by Miramar, a company in which they had an interest and the original story in "The New York Times" still seems to hold.

...but if Michael Moore has misled me that the developments came to him only recently then

OTH he has achieved the target of getting the film made and so now it's just the question of distribution .

....and the time of his disclosure of the jiggery pokery behind the scenes comes at a good time to ensure excellent publicity

[Dave Smith]

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, or in this case the release of the film.

Regards

[seaviewuk]

He is the kind of wnaker that invited relatives of Columbine victims to his "film" Bowling for Columbine and charged them for admission once they had arrived.

Moronic prat springs to mind.

[seaviewuk]

Also Moore himself has admitted to CNN it was a publicity stunt.

[Worldlife]

Is this an urban myth concerning this alleged CNN interview?

I cannot find reference to it in the New York Times or the CNN Website.

[stopthegrays]

Transcript from CNN

Gorani: What was your communication with Disney?

Moore: Almost a year ago after we'd started making the film, the chairman of Disney, Michael Eisner, told my agent that he was upset that Miramax had made the film -- Disney owns Miramax -- and he will not distribute this film.

He knew a year ago that Disney was not going to distribute the film, meaning he had a year to find a company to distribute the film. So he either did not or could not find anyone who wanted to.

[seaviewuk]

Originally posted by Worldlife
Is this an urban myth concerning this alleged CNN interview?

I cannot find reference to it in the New York Times or the CNN Website.

Tut Tut!

Are you casting doubts on my ability to relay accurate information?

Thanks STG

Makes moore look an even bigger dickhead

[stopthegrays]

Originally posted by seaviewuk
Tut Tut!

Are you casting doubts on my ability to relay accurate information?

Thanks STG

Makes moore look an even bigger dickhead

Cool thing is that happens every time Moore opens his mouth.

[Worldlife]

Thanks for your info and link STG.

Seaview obviously I must check and doubt that which I read on extreme right wing American websites or newspapers

I look forward to seeing the film and evidence from Michael Moore film

Description: Michael Moore's highly anticipated "Fahrenheit 911" will premiere in official competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival - only the second time in the last 48 years that a documentary has been chosen to be in the main competition. Following Moore's documentary "Bowling For Columbine," his new film is just certain to stir up waves, exploring the period before, during, and after 9/11. The film criticizes President Bush's handling of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and connects the Bush family with Osama bin Laden's.
from "About"

[seaviewuk]

I suggest that you learn to use the "search" facilities on news sites.

[Worldlife]

Originally posted by seaviewuk
I suggest that you learn to use the "search" facilities on news sites.

but it makes life easier when people quote reliable sources

[seaviewuk]

Since when has Michael Moore been a reliable source

And as for links to sources you can talk!

[stopthegrays]

A response to Michael Moore's lies about the distribution of his film:

May 10, 2004
Disney and Michael Moore
By MICHAEL D. EISNER

To the Editor:

You accuse the Walt Disney Company of cowardice and censorship because of its decision a year ago not to distribute Michael Moore's film "Fahrenheit 9/11" (editorial, May 6). In fact, the cowardly thing would have been to be intimidated into distributing the film. We did not block its distribution. There are many avenues for Mr. Moore to pursue to get his film distributed.

Your accusations of stifling free expression are misplaced. The First Amendment does not say that The New York Times must print every article presented to it or that the Walt Disney Company must distribute every movie. If a government entity had blocked Mr. Moore's film from being released, that would have violated the First Amendment, and we would have quickly signed up to join any protest.

In the case of "Fahrenheit 9/11," we chose a path that was right for the company and its stakeholders.

The creation of intellectual product rises and falls on similar judgments by creative people and executives across America. We would hope that The Times would recognize that the Walt Disney Company has the same right of freedom of expression that it is advocating for Mr. Moore.

MICHAEL D. EISNER
Chief Exec., Walt Disney Company
Burbank, Calif., May 7, 2004

From a letter sent to the NY Times

I don't care much for Mr. Eisner, as I feel he's run Disney into the ground,, but well said on his part in that letter.

[Worldlife]

Originally posted by Worldlife


...but if Michael Moore has misled me that the developments came to him only recently then

OTH he has achieved the target of getting the film made and so now it's just the question of distribution .

[fabienne]

well, Moore has won the PAlme d'Or at the CAnnes Festival...
There are 4 Americans and only one French in this year's 9 member jury, before someone starts castigating the French for rewarding a docu criticising Bush...

[Worldlife]

Wonderful news fabienne.

The good thing is that the reviewers have stressed the film is anti-Bush and not anti-American.

Voice of America - Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 Wins at Cannes article seems very fair and neutral comment.

[seaviewuk]

Shame the anti-america american beat Shrek 2

[Worldlife]

Just because Michael Moore is anti-Bush doesn't mean to say he is anti-American.

Would 9/ll have happened if Ralph Nadar's advice had been taken up and secure flight deck doors had been fitted to aircraft? American business interests slagged Nadar off on this recommendation and we have seen the result.

Let's hope Michael Moore is more successful in stressing that sometimes in America business interests are regarded as more important than human lives.

[stopthegrays]

Originally posted by Worldlife
Just because Michael Moore is anti-Bush doesn't mean to say he is anti-American.

Would 9/ll have happened if Ralph Nadar's advice had been taken up and secure flight deck doors had been fitted to aircraft? American business interests slagged Nadar off on this recommendation and we have seen the result.

Let's hope Michael Moore is more successful in stressing that sometimes in America business interests are regarded as more important than human lives.

It had more to do with Al Gore dumping the recommendations (by setting no time limit to get them done) that the anti-terrorism commission he was on had made. This happened the same week his political party got some nice big donations from the airline industry. Over the few months after that the dollar amount was over $400,000 in contributions.

I do not think security doors or arming the pilots would have helped either. At the time the standing policy was to comply with the hijackers and try and save as many passengers as possible. No one thought terrorists would be insane enough to kill by using the plane as a guided missle.

A secured door or armed pilots might be more effective now that the policies have changed, really does not help the passengers unless the new policy acts as a deterrent.

[Worldlife]

Some good points there STG - maybe the way, in America, money is sourced to finance expensive electoral campaigns leads to corruption?

Are there limits on electoral spending like we have in the UK or is expenditure unlimited?

Seems that seaview's favourite Shrek 2 didn't receive any other award either.

Perhaps it was the best and only animation and there is no special award in that category.

Festival de Cannes 2004 - Awards