Disney Blocks Michael Moore's Film

[Loomis]

I'm on Michael Moore's automated mailing list, and this just got email around.

Disney Has Blocked the Distribution of My New Film... by Michael Moore

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

As an obvious Disney fan, I'm a little disgusted by their actions here. Say what you want about Michael Moore (and I'm a HUGE fan), but this is not the first time Disney have tried to block distribution of things.

Look at the Dogma DVD - and that was even after Disney had dropped it and handed it off to Lion's Gate/Columbia.

Pfft!

[MickeyMouseboy]

I Hate when Disney does this! What can Jeb Bush do? he's only a governor. Disney needs to stop this BS! other studios are not scare to release their stuff why should DIsney? it's no like it has the Disney name over it! This is why Song of the South will never come out on DVD as long as the ignorants running the place are there! OUTS MICHAEL EISNER AND HIS ARROGANT STAFF!

[karlsen]

I am also a fan of Michael Moore's movies but to be honest I have had my doubts about this one.

His first films were great, and the show that he had on TV was almost always fantastic.

Then he made Bowling for Colombine and if possible that must be his greatest film yet.

But then I have read and heard disturbing things that he has sead, and to me it looks like he is a fanatic in hating Bush. You can say a lot about Bush, but the hat that Moore shows are disturbing because he does not look critical upon all the facts that he use against him.

I will see his latest film if it comes to Norway, but I am afraid that the storry are a little to week, and that his consperacy teories about Bush and Bin Laden is way of the real world.

[Invader ZIM]

I would like to believe this guy but his documentaries are dubious. If he told the truth in his films, maybe I would buy this accusation.

[bean:therio]

I don't like Moore: he mixes reality and fiction a bit too easy for my taste and he also has an ego that seems to be the main focus of most of his productions. However: I HATE censorship and I think it is a disgrace that a documentary is forbidden to be shown this way. Even though I think that Moore's production is going to (again) feature a lot of biased propaganda I think that everybody should be able to see it. Even though someone doesn't agree with someone else's work doesn't mean that that work should be restricted.

[karlsen]

Nobody are making the movie forbidden, its just Disney that just don't want to release it.

I would think that Moore own the rights to it, and that he will take this one to another studio (just like he did with Bowling for Colombine).

But I don't think that he has a big ego, he is just one of those that loves to tell the world what they think is right. I guess he just want to make it a better world.

[buffalobill]

Another sign that free speech (along with many other civil liberties) don't have a place in this administration. Disney is covering their a__ as far as protecting government tax cuts. You can't blame the Democrats for them since they control NOTHING. Yes, MMBoy Jeb is only the Florida governor but he has a slightly more famous brother you may have heard of. I watched Crossfire this afternoon and Bob Novak aka the Prince of Darkness applauded the move by Disney as he doesn't think much of Moore's opinions. I guess in the current political climate you are only free to speak if you agree with the government (& what country doesn't allow that?).

[catNC]

As much as I despise Michael Moore, I think what Disney is doing is wrong. He's not telling any more lies or half-truths than anyone else in the media and the political arena. I think they are all full of crap, and they should all be full of crap with the same rights!

[Maerj]

I really don't disagree with what Disney is doing here. They did the same with Dogma. They aren't blocking its release, they are simply saying they don't want to release it. Michael Moore can take his film to any company he wants and have it distributed.

[Leonia]

For shame, Disney!

[Ballzo]

Michael Moore is a Nazi. His films are straight up propaganda. It would be one thing if he showed both sides instead of his opinions and fabricating the rest.

[STASHONE]

They ultimately have the right as an entertainment firm, to not release a product they've financed. It begins and ends with the corporation's discretion.

I doubt that we're missing much in Moore's new film. Frankly, we need to give Greg Palast more publicity.

[STASHONE]

Also... keep an eye out for the forthcoming feature, Walt & Me, where Moore engages in hilarious antics and acts of boorishness and poor taste in pursuit of speaking to some rich people who are so stupid!

[Loomis]

Michael Moore is a Nazi. His films are straight up propaganda. It would be one thing if he showed both sides instead of his opinions and fabricating the rest.

Umm, I hate to break it to you but that is every work.

No one work is going to be completely fair to both sides, because if one doesn't have an opinion it is simply not worth making in the first place. It would then just be a middle of the road piece - a summary, rather than an argument.

I am a big fan of his stuff, but I do agree his methods sometimes leave much to be desired (e.g. it is very easy to pick on the receptionist at K-mart/Charlton Heston when he has Alzheimer's), but I think the important thing he does (IMO) is bring the issues to public attention for debate. And that is really all you can ask for.

If Moore was a Nazi, he would be moving to ban all forms of entertainment that were not his opinion. Rather, he encourages free discourse in the media, and argues that is something that we do not have.

I may not agree with him 100%, nor his methods at times, but I do think his opinion (whether you agree with it or not) has just as much right to be OPEN to public debate as the ones expressed here.

After all, don't you have something called the First Amendment over there?

[Loomis]

And if anyone is interested, here are some more articles on the issue. I've tried to take them from a variety of sources, so we don't just have MM's opinion on the matter:

Disney bans film critical of Bush (Sify Movies)
http://sify.com/movies/hollywood/fullst ... d=13469124

Disney Won't Distribute 'Fahrenheit 9/11' (Chicago Tribune - Might be subscription only)
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/news ... brity_heds

Disney embroiled in row over Moore film (Financial Times)
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServe ... 3180307816

Disney Blocks 9/11 doco (The Australian)
http://entertainment.news.com.au/common ... bv,00.html

Disney 'blocks' Moore documentary (BBC)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainmen ... 685633.stm

IMDB also had a few pieces on it, but were pretty much word for word from MM's own statement.

[2099net]

The UK will screen the film!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainmen ... 689121.stm

[buffalobill]

Disney's ditching of Moore's film could be (& I hope it is) the best thing that could have happened to it. As long as someone picks it up Disney may have done for Fahrenheit 9/11 what Bill O'LIE LEE & FoxNews (fair & balanced LOL) did for Al Frankens book Lies, & The Lying Liars Who Tell Them, which is make 10 times as many people go to see it as would have gone to a documentary in the first place. The day O'Reilly & Fox said that they were going to sue Franken it shot from the bottom of the heap to #1 at Amazon.com & the NY Times bestseller list. THANKS MICHAEL EISNER (I knew he was good for something)! I just hope it has a good run BEFORE election day in November.

[Mr. Toad]

A spokseman from the Republican National Party was just on the radio

"...with any luck the Walt Disney Company will get its way and Cannes will be the last time this picture is shown in North America..."

I know the US is bent on the conquest of the world's people and resources but I dont think they have conquered France yet. I guess the Republican party is already counting on that one though.

[Loomis]

Disney's ditching of Moore's film could be (& I hope it is) the best thing that could have happened to it. As long as someone picks it up Disney may have done for Fahrenheit 9/11 what Bill O'LIE LEE & FoxNews (fair & balanced LOL) did for Al Frankens book Lies, & The Lying Liars Who Tell Them, which is make 10 times as many people go to see it as would have gone to a documentary in the first place. [...]I just hope it has a good run BEFORE election day in November.

Yup, good point BB. In fact, closer to the topic, the same thing happened with MM's own Dude, Where's My Country?. It was pulped on the initial run, a big fuss was made - bestseller for weeks.

Anyways, I really just popped by to post this follow up from the NY Times Editorial section. I think it raises a number of good points, but I'll leave it up here before I start discussing it.

---------------------------------------------------
May 6, 2004 – Editorial, New York Times

Disney's Craven Behavior

Link

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.
---------------------------------------------------------

[Joshua Clinard]

I'm so happy that Disney is refusing to distribute Micheal Moore's new propeganda film. It supposedly links Bush to Al Caida and Bin Laden. Micheal Moore is an absolute Idiot, and can't be expected to get anything even remotely close to accurate. Remember Bowling for Columbine? That was laughable. I hope we can have some serious discourse here, because at HTF, where I regularly post, frowns on this type of discussion.

http://www.bowlingfortruth.com