Disney block distribution of Michael Moores new movie

hahaha... Free Country indeed...

Published on May 6, 2004 By Muggaz In Politics

May 5, 2004

Friends,

I would have hoped by now that I would be able to put my work out to the public without having to experience the profound censorship obstacles I often seem to encounter.

Yesterday I was told that Disney, the studio that owns Miramax, has officially decided to prohibit our producer, Miramax, from distributing my new film, "Fahrenheit 911." The reason? According to today's (May 5) 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 and you can read it here (Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush).

The whole story behind this (and other attempts) to kill our movie will be told in more detail as the days and weeks go on. For nearly a year, this struggle has been a lesson in just how difficult it is in this country to create a piece of art that might upset those in charge (well, OK, sorry -- it WILL upset them...big time. Did I mention it's a comedy?). All I can say is, thank God for Harvey Weinstein and Miramax who have stood by me during the entire production of this movie.

There is much more to tell, but right now I am in the lab working on the print to take to the Cannes Film Festival next week (we have been chosen as one of the 18 films in competition). I will tell you this: Some people may be afraid of this movie because of what it will show. But there's nothing they can do about it now because it's done, it's awesome, and if I have anything to say about it, you'll see it this summer -- because, after all, it is a free country.

Yours,

Michael Moore
mmflint@aol.com
www.michaelmoore.com

Comments (Page 1)

Muggaz

on May 06, 2004

Me thinks people are afraid of the general public seeing the other side of the coin...left wing kook or not, the public need to see events from another perspective.

BAM!!!

BlueDev

on May 06, 2004

Looking at it from a business standpoint I can see where Disney is coming from. As a company that likes to try to be family friendly and straddle as many fences as possible to maximize profits, Moore just isn't really the kind of guy you want hanging around.

But the simple fact of the matter is Michael Moore will continue to whore himself out to the media, putting on the victim face he wears so well, denouncing those who attempt to censor him, and garnering as much publicity as possible. He is a pro at it, and this little setback only adds to his already rather healthy victim mindset. At least he had the sense to not refer to this new work as a "documentary" in this article. I think even the most dim of us can see through that farce.

Muggaz

on May 06, 2004

Farcical or not, I beleive some of what he has to say is valid... I know most Republicans think he is a crackpot or whatever, and they are valid to their opinion, just as he is valid to have his.

It's unfortunate the general public have to rely on mass media to learn anything... and I guess I have respect for what MM is trying to do, even if i dont agree with some of his methods.

BAM!!!

vincible

on May 06, 2004

I don't like Moore one bit. But, *if* this is true, it's rather disturbing.

One of the fundamental things necessary for democracy to work is a free media. If Disney is censoring itself because it thinks that a government official might not like what it's saying, that's very dangerous.

Of course there's a decent chance that it's just Michael Moore inventing a paranoid conspiracy theory. But I will be following this story...

Mr_Frog

on May 06, 2004

Hah, Mirimax Films isn't exactly the pinnacle of family values entertainment, whether they're owned by Disney or not.

I say he should release his film over the Internet. It's going to end up there anyway.

-- B

BlueDev

on May 06, 2004

Bah, we don't live in a democracy, and we never have. We live in a republic based on democratic principles. And we have always lived in a world of censored and tightly controlled media and will continue to do so. It is our responsibility to see through that by looking at what the media gives us from different angles, from different sources, with a healthy dose of common sense and intelligence. While the desire for a free media is admirable, the belief that such a thing could exist seems to me to be wholly unrealistic and dangerously naive. Disney is doing what every media corporation does. It is looking out for number one by whatever means it deems necessary.

And Michael Moore is latching onto that as the true social parasite he is.

Muggaz, I don't doubt he has some valid things to say. Even the most pernicious liar will be sure to sprinkle a healthy dose of truth in whatever he/she may say. It is the only way to sound credible and gain an audience. But when he tries to sell his farce as fact I simply cannot respect that (ala calling "Bowling for Columbine" a documentary-a term that was defined in the dictionary I used as "Presenting facts objectively without editorializing or inserting fictional matter, as in a book or film"). And it makes it really hard to take him seriously.

This is just another PR game he will twist to his advantage. That is why he is so good.

Draginol

on May 06, 2004

Not all opinions are "valid". Moore IS a crackpot. Why should his nutjob movie get distributed when there are so many other crackpots more deserving?

messybuu

on May 06, 2004

Besides, it's not as if he can't distribute the movie. He'll just have to find another way besides Miramax.

Muggaz

on May 06, 2004

Moore IS a crackpot

Show me your Phd in psychology and you can call him a crack pot.

BAM!!!

Draginol

on May 07, 2004

Having a pulse qualifies someone to judge Moore a crackpot. And even then, not having a pulse doesn't necessarily disqualifying one from validly claiming Moore is a crackpot.

If you want to see some sites dedicated to debunking Moore visit www.moorewatch.com

Muggaz

on May 07, 2004

www.moorewatch.com

didn't work...

You know you have made it in this world when there is a whole website dedicated to undermining you...

BAM!!!

6969jimbo6969

on May 07, 2004

Michael Moore is a pudgy, sort of homely, not at all charismatic fellow with more courage than the rest of the people on JoeUser combined. To do the things he's done requires grade A huevos. He's funny and a LOT more people agree with him than disagree. He's the first documentary film maker to command enough market attention to be a #1 feature at Cannes twice in a row. Here's a proposition to anyone on JoeUser who thinks he might outargue this pudgy, sort of homely, not-at-all charismatic genius. I'll bet we could set something up on a neutral website, a give and take between the "crackpot" and any of our estimable JU right wing fanatics who seem honestly to believe that they constitute a majority in addition to controlling things her on JU. Moore likes having privileged trust-fund kids to demolish intellectually, who think that because they were born on third base they hit a triple. And although he'd sympathize more with honest working class kids with bad attitudes, he'd dispatch them and their nonsense to the trash bin straightaway, along with their silver-spoon-sponsors. What do you say, Muggaz? How about a little public debate---Blue-Dev or Draginol versus Mr. Pudge himself? Mano-y-Mano and devil take the hindmost.

. I'm not sure I could tune in, it would be so lopsided.

Muggaz

on May 07, 2004

Actually Jimbo, I think Draginol vs Fat Man would be a great debate...

I know I would support Moore, thats for sure... I simply beleive him any day over any right winger capatilist who has professed all he is interested in is Capitalism - i.e. making money.

To me, Moore doesn't necesarily represent the truth, but he represents the seeking of truth... and for that, he has my respect. People like Brad can call him a crackpot all they want, I dont know how they validate their claims... as far as i *know* Michael Moore seems to be perfectly sane to me, if not a little aggreived by his government...

BAM!!!

Muggaz

on May 07, 2004

May 6, 2004 – Editorial, New York Times

Disney's Craven Behavior

Give the Walt Disney Company a gold medal for cowardice for blocking its Miramax division from distributing a film that criticizes President Bush and his family. A company that ought to be championing free expression has instead chosen to censor a documentary that clearly falls within the bounds of acceptable political commentary.

The documentary was prepared by Michael Moore, a controversial filmmaker who likes to skewer the rich and powerful. As described by Jim Rutenberg yesterday in The Times, the film, "Fahrenheit 9/11," links the Bush family with prominent Saudis, including the family of Osama bin Laden. It describes financial ties that go back three decades and explores the role of the government in evacuating relatives of Mr. bin Laden from the United States shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The film was financed by Miramax and was expected to be released this summer.

Mr. Moore's agent said that Michael Eisner, Disney's chief executive, had expressed concern that the film might jeopardize tax breaks granted to Disney for its theme park, hotels and other ventures in Florida, where Jeb Bush is governor. If that is the reason for Disney's move, it would underscore the dangers of allowing huge conglomerates to gobble up diverse media companies.

On the other hand, a senior Disney executive says the real reason is that Disney caters to families of all political stripes and that many of them might be alienated by the film. Those families, of course, would not have to watch the documentary.

It is hard to say which rationale for blocking distribution is more depressing. But it is clear that Disney loves its bottom line more than the freedom of political discourse.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/06/opinion/06THU4.html?ex=1084420800&en=dd695e1433b69ff3&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

BlueDev

on May 07, 2004

First off jimbo, get a clue. You neither know me nor my political stances (as I have never commented on them here), so acting as though you do is ludicrous, childish, and just plain stupid of you. That sort of brazen assumption in and of itself invalidates your comments in my eyes. It shows you have a penchant for talking before you really think.

Second, people, Michael Moore himself has said he doesn't really make documentaries, but that he makes parodies (that was what he referred to "Bowling for Columbine" as once someone actually confronted him about the numerous falsehoods in that supposed documentary). Giving him any more credit than that is simply foolish. And it demonstrates an incredible lack of critical thinking ability. As I said before, I am sure there are kernels of truth in what he says, and even some important points. However, the dishonest and sensationalistic manner in which he presents them is a proving ground for hate and vitriol, and most certainly does not encourage any sort of open and meaningful discourse.

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