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Disney refuses distribution of new Micheal Moore movie critical of Bush

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dexter:
Fuck Republican Bastards

Woodrow:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=518901

Moore accused of publicity stunt over Disney 'ban'
By Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles
07 May 2004


Less than 24 hours after accusing the Walt Disney Company of pulling the plug on his latest documentary in a blatant attempt at political censorship, the rabble-rousing film-maker Michael Moore has admitted he knew a year ago that Disney had no intention of distributing it.

The admission, during an interview with CNN, undermined Moore's claim that Disney was trying to sabotage the US release of Fahrenheit 911 just days before its world premiere at the Cannes film festival.

Instead, it lent credence to a growing suspicion that Moore was manufacturing a controversy to help publicise the film, a full-bore attack on the Bush administration and its handling of national security since the attacks of 11 September 2001.

In an indignant letter to his supporters, Moore said he had learnt only on Monday that Disney had put the kibosh on distributing the film, which has been financed by the semi-independent Disney subsidiary Miramax.

But in the CNN interview he said: "Almost a year ago, after we'd started making the film, the chairman of Disney, Michael Eisner, told my agent he was upset Miramax had made the film and he will not distribute it."

Nobody in Hollywood doubts Fahrenheit 911 will find a US distributor. His last documentary, Bowling for Columbine , made for $3m (£1.7m), pulled in $22m at the US box office.

But Moore's publicity stunt, if that is what is, appears to be working. A front-page news piece in The New York Times was followed yesterday by an editorial denouncing Disney for censorship and denial of Moore's right to free expression.

Moore told CNN that Disney had "signed a contract to distribute this [film]" but got cold feet. But Disney executives insists there was never any contract. And a source close to Miramax said that the only deal there was for financing, not for distribution.

Rain:
i dont see the fact that Moore waited to tell the world that disney didnt want to distribute his film until a week before its first screening at cannes.

anyone and everyone in film pulls publicity stunts, its one of the most effective advertising stratagies. and its stupid to say Moore was accussed of it in the headline and they say in the story he admitted to it.

and if moore's publicity stunt worked that well i guess that just pretty much proves he aint as dumb as many of you would like to believe.

Don Rizzle:
Miramax buys Moore movie rights
 
 
Moore's work was feted at Cannes film festival
Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 has moved a step closer to being released in US cinemas after the rights were bought by studio Miramax.
The company's founders, Harvey and Bob Weinstein, personally bought back the rights from parent company Disney, which had refused to distribute it.

The film alleges connections between US President George W Bush and top Saudi families, including the Bin Ladens.

Miramax had funded Moore's film, which won this year's Palme D'Or at Cannes.

The Weinsteins have said they will arrange for cinema and home video distribution of the film, which could be on screen by mid-summer.

Unflattering

Talks are said to be already under way between the Weinsteins and third-party distributors.

Some commentators say the film could influence the November presidential election because of its unflattering portrait of Mr Bush.

It criticises his stance on Iraq and his actions before and after the 11 September attacks.

Moore had accused Disney of bowing to political pressure from the White House in its decision to block the film.

Disney denied the accusation and in turn accused Moore of engineering a dispute about the film's release to gain maximum publicity for it.

Disney said it could still profit if the film did well, but it would donate any proceeds to charity.
 

Sikotic™:
It's okay. The film will come out no matter what. Bowling For Columbine was an awesome documentary and I look forward to what Moore's views on 9/11 are as well.

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