GET OUR YOUR SWORDS!!! Disney Forbidding "Fahrenheit 911"

[newsguyatl]

they want a fight? they're gonna get a fight.

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 executives said that Disney had forbidden Miramax to distribute the film, "Fahrenheit 911," which 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 before an arbitration panel, though neither side is said to want to travel that route.

much much more....

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/05/national/05DISN.html?ei=5006&en=89982416bdce50c0&ex=1084334400&partner=ALTAVISTA1&pagewanted=print&position=

[newsguyatl]

1. interestingly enough

i remember last year when word of this film was getting out and when we found out miramax was involved, a very WISE DU'er mentioned that exactly THIS might happen, and that it could be an evil trap.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I think suing is in order. And maybe we'll get lucky and pirated copies

will get out.

[Eric J in MN]

2. What can we do about this? nt

nt

[NMDemDist2]

7. no action necessary, just buy your ticket to the movie

there are plenty of other distribution companies who will jump on it

[DEMVET-USMC]

15. Why not have Moveon.org or Mike Moore himself buy the rights to it.

Or any of a host of wealthy Democrats. It would probably be a good investment. Moore has a good track record in that regard. ...Oscar

[MadashellLynn]

16. boycott Disney

and write them letters and emails and get everyone you know to do the same

[Grins]

29. Laugh your keister off...

Remember when Franken's book came out? Sales were so-so, but they went through the roof when O'Liely and Fox sued. Same will happen here. Everyone will want to know what's in that movie that's got the high and mighty spooked so much.

Think Eisner is that smart?

[Bleacher Creature]

31. Your logic is correct, but . . .

in response to your question about Eisner . . . no.

[Romberry]

33. Actually, your recollection is faulty

The Franken book actually came out *after* Bill O'Lielly and the morons at Faux announced theri suit. It was rushed to press in response to the free wave of publicity. That's a fact. Heck, after a favor like that Franken shoulda sent O'Lielly a check.

[mstrsplinter326]

4. I am going to freak out...

I love michael moore's books and movies. If I don't get Far. 9-11 before november, the shit's going to hit the fan.

[keithyboy]

5. Are more like Nazi Germany or the former USSR?

Just asking?

[Poiuyt]

6. This sounds like Sinclair Broadcasting

Corporate censorship is just as strong as that of the government.

[Failure]

8. alright....now what? nt

[DAGDA56]

9. I'm not sure Disney needs to necessarily win any lawsuits...

...just as long as they can keep the movie under wraps until after the election...

[mitchum]

32. That's their plan

These lickspittles are so obvious in their machinations

[Faygo Kid]

10. It's just starting. A second Bush term? It's over.

Must be damned good for the BushBots to put that kind of pressure on; like the media group that took Koppel's show off the air on their stations. Anybody want to place a bet as to how bad it gets after January if Bush "wins" a "second term?" Ever hear of the Alien and Sedition Acts? It's coming.

[Khephra]

11. All we have to do is tell the librarians

They saved one of his other books, maybe they can do the same for his films.

[whistle]

12. Who at Disney stopped this?

...Well, it says the following:

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 particular concern that it would anger Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida and endanger tax breaks Disney receives for its theme park, hotels and other ventures there.

"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."

The Neo-Cons are dictating what companies can and can not do. Disney needs to over-ride this and stick with their agreement to release the film. This country needs to know the facts. I for one would purchase the film on DVD if I am unable to view it in the theaters.

[Khephra]

17. Remember also

That after 9/11, when Bush was telling everyone to get back to normal, he suggested us all go to Disney.

I guess we know who is in which person's pockets, don't we?

[seabeyond]

13. and our soldiers die for freedom

if every single bit of the horror we visualize in a hilter society bush is perfectly creating here for even the most stupid to see. a wow. i would find any way even loss of money to get it out thru another company or whatever. this summer. whatever it takes. everyone comtribute to buy it, no one go to disneyland and disney movies this summer. total boycott

[murielm99]

14. They did that with his book, too.

Remember, they were going to pulp it? A bunch of librarians started a letter writing campaign. Librarians HATE censorship.

It will be just like the book: this will backfire, too, and make it more popular than ever.

[DEMVET-USMC]

19. I think you are right. The more the GOP tries to squash it the better

it sells. There is so much stuff coming out showing or telling of how corrupt and what a miserable failure this Admin. is and has been it really is hard to keep up with. ...Oscar

[DemoTex]

18. The mouse is dead.

Very dead. The carrion stinks. Call Tom Delay to remove the carcass. Please. Quick.

[walldude]

20. I agree, this is actually a blessing

in disguise. This blatent act of censorship for financial gain can only backfire on Disney and the people Eisner is trying to protect. Gonna head over to MM's website and see what he has to say...

[mouse7]

23. This mouse is dead.

This mouse is pissed.

[DemoTex]

26. Sorry mouse.

Most mice live

[DoYouEverWonder]

39. Actually down here in Florida

we call Disney, the great big rat that ate Orlando.

They sure are showing off their inner rat today. Screw them, I already avoid Disney Properties anyway.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

21. Dump all Disney stock. EOM

[Bread and Circus]

22. Well this says it all:

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?' "


end snip
--------


And if that isn't a sign of the times and the reason why we
have the chimp in the WH, then I don't know what is.

[troublemaker]

24. ...and this says the rest

>>>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 particular concern that it would anger Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida and endanger tax breaks Disney receives for its theme park, hotels and other ventures there.>>>>

[bpilgrim]

25. good more FREE publicity for the FILM ;-)

and GFP's got a NEW DVD Documentary comming out SOON as well!

it is definately 'UNDERGROUND' and it deals with the STOLEN ELECTION, 911 and IRAQ.

enough of personal stuff...

this WILL be EXCELLANT PUBLICITY for MM's new FILM :bounce:

psst... pass the word :bounce:

peace

[jeanmarc]

27. Exactly

This film will be out and it will rock.

[Bleacher Creature]

28. As angry as this makes me, this is good. . .

The more attention this movie gets and the more controversy that surrounds it, the more people will want to see it.

I mean, haven't we just seen this. Who in their right mind would have believed that a movie about Jesus and completely in Aramaic would gross almost $400 million in domestic box office?? People on our side spent so much time taking offense to Mel Gibson, his dad, etc., that the pre-release buzz was out of control. Remember all of the primetime interviews, magazine stories, etc?? The more the wingnuts rant and rave and use their corporate might to fight it, the more buzz it will create.

When it comes to things like movies, there's no such thing as bad press. And there's NO WAY that some studio is not going to distribut this movie--so everyone relax.

[mitchum]

30. Fuck those mouse pimps!

[OneBlueSky]

34. anyone else think this was a setup from the get-go? . . .

I mean, why on earth would Disney and Miramax agree to be involved with this film, knowing what the content involved? . . . my guess is to kill it, right from the start . . . methinks Michael Moore got snookered . . .

[symbolman]

35. TWO WORDS

"NUKY MAUS" :)

I knew they were gonna do this.. I wondered what the hell Moore was thinking, DISNEY and BIN LADEN/BUSH?

[gandalf]

36. I guess that will ultimately hurt Disney

because their partisanship is so obvious.

see the article for this piece:

Mr. Moore's agent, Ari Emanuel, said 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 particular 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.

[LittleApple81]

37. Why doesn't anybody point to the real problem? IT IS JEB IN FLORIDA.

He and his repug administration are the ones trying to control the message to the rest of America; they stole the election in 2000 and will do it again in 2004 if we let them. BOYCOTT FLORIDA.

[althecat]

38. The NY Times have this on their Front Page... Jeb & Disney Are Helping

.... This will only generate so much free pre-publicity for the film that when it does screen it will be a blockbuster. The same thing happened with The Passion Of The Christ...

What would have been review pieces on page 25 out of cannes will be Front Page exposes.

So three cheers to the morons at Disney.... and crooked Jeb. They are both doing us a favour...

:)

[althecat]

40. Here's Mike... (I'm assuming this is a dupe)

He is heavily promoing the censorship... I reckon he is probably pretty stoked about all this.


http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php

Wednesday, May 5th, 2004
Disney Has Blocked the Distribution of My New Film... by Michael Moore

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 9/11." 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.