My Response to Michael Moore , on buying the 9-11 dvd

[ecoalex]

I got an email from MM today asking me to buy his books and the 9-11 dvd. I wrote him back; here's what I said:

Dear Michael, I think your selling of the dvd of F-911 is a shame.It smacks of profiteering. Didn't you , and all those involved make enough $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ on the movie? it surpassed all expectations, so why the push to sell dvds now, when IFC should be showing it daily at different times until the election, and beyond ? It pains me to see the movie, become a cash cow, on the backs of the dead in Iraq.With the importance of this election, for so many reasons, squeezing more profit out of 9-11 instead of having it shown as I said at IFC and any other outlets broadcasted to the public for free would be a symbol of giving for the greater good.Instead , you are hawaking the dvd . I would release the dvd, and allow IFC and others to start showing it today. Your quest for mo money , leaves me with a sour taste , and less admiration for you.Too bad Mike, you did champion the truth,and we all thank you , but now you trample free disemination of it, for $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$....Too Bad

[Vickers]

Yeah man, FUCK HIM and his attempts to make money!

:eyes:

[LaPera]

53. So fucking what, Nothing wrong with making money, Moore also OWES it

to his distributors, who no doubt can't get enough money.

However, BECAUSE the money keeps rolling in, Moore's documentary (9/11 Fahrenheit) has opened the doors, and very wide for films like The Corporation, Outfoxed, etc. for much wider exposure, hence a larger audience and future monies for more liberal projects.

So fucking what if Moore's making a shit-load of money, are you jealous?

No fucking liberal complained when Moore was exposing the "Bush Crime Family" when the film came out...

And by the way who else is doing more, than Michael Moore? While getting media coverage and dialogue out there about fucking BushCo? No one!

(Except the wonderful & fantastic MoveOn.org).

[benburch]

1. Ummm....

He already told people to go ahead and pirate it...

Geeze, what do you want from the guy?

I think you are being quite unreasonable.

[Individualist]

8. Bush cultists are always unreasonable

ecoalex obviously doesn't want anyone to buy or even see the DVD.

[tom_paine]

47. Yep. some Bushevik are quite transparent in their bullshit

They have also learned to contribute to get the star.

Not that I am speaking of anyone specifically or anything...

:freak:

[ben_packard]

9. And don't forget he doesn't own the rights to the film...

its the studios call on distribution

[ET Awful]

2. Yeah! God forbid Moore should circulate the movie by the quickest

means possible and ensure that millions get to see it before the election without him having to personally pay for it.

How dare he rush the release of the DVD to make sure it's readily available to one and all.

The gall of some people.

[bif]

3. So he should give copies away?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Hello and goodbye (nt)

[Owlet]

5. I agree

His $35,000 speaking fee seems to smack of more than a normal case of the greeds.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/10/01/michael.moore.appearance.ap/

The decision came after a Republican state legislator wrote a letter to
university President Alan G. Merten protesting the Fairfax school's
plans to pay the filmmaker $35,000 to speak on October 28.

[NYCGirl]

16. And then Moore volunteered to waive the fee and speak to them gratis.

So what's your point?

[Owlet]

36. He was perfectly willing to charge that fee..

..until he got some bad press on it. Look, I like Michael Moore. I hate to see him shooting himself in the foot by giving the appearance that it's all about the money.

[NYCGirl]

39. And he was perfectly content to waive it.

He's not supposed to make a living? He struggled for a lot of years. No one ever handed him anything; I don't begrudge him any money.

[Kipepeo]

71. Thank You

I am so sick of people trashing him for making a living doing something GOOD for himself and the world.

That speaking fee is average. There's nothing crazy-high about it.

And the fact that he was willing to waive it in that case speaks volumes about where his intentions are: in the right place.

About the original topic: geez louise. Give him a fuckin' break already. The more successful and profitable a movie like this is, the greater chance other liberal/progressive documentaries will have.

I hope his DVD sales are through the roof and this film is flying off the video-store-chains' shelves!

[Eloriel]

58. Only the most partisan RW hacks could even THINK Moore is

doing this "all for the money."

I mean, really. He's taken the most UNviable political position imaginable in America these days (except for us other Libs, of course), set himself up for unbelievable harrassment by the Bush Crime Family and their allies and friends. Not like he's sucking up to where the money is -- corporations and political bosses.

Further, I think he gets NO money from F911. His money came in the $6 million advance from Disney, which also covered expenses of filming, etc.

We've got to get past being baited by the RW on the issue of making money. Nobody on the right complains and groans when their side makes bundles, but they sure can set US up for conflict and strife by daring to mention it. Another wedge issue. Get over it.

[0rganism]

66. Compared to the speaking fees charged by fuckers like O'Reilly...

Moore is dirt cheap, and ready to bargain. Ready to speak for FREE. Yessirree, the man will come and talk to thousands of potential activists at your campus, paying his own way 100%. Even a visiting prof giving a seminar gets paid, but not Michael Moore.

You Moore-haters must believe in the goddam Easter Bunny and Santa Claus, too.

[KoKo]

6. hmmmm what is IFC and how do you know they would show it daily?

Why do you think Moore cares what you think and why would you waste time to write such a nasty letter to Moore? Why do you think he should give away his movie? He isn't a charitable institution.

[Connie_Corleone]

13. IFC= Independent Film Channel

[Bridget Burke]

23. IFC is a premium cable channel.

So, you need to (1) get cable & (2) order IFC, on top of it.

Instead of just renting the DVD or adding it to your Netflix queue.

[bleedingheart]

7. Funny how we love and both hate capitalism...

Ann Coulter can write drivel and make a profit but yet Moore can't???

[PROGRESSIVE1]

10. Some Duer's have this absurd hostility towards the Free Market and...

I'll never know why. I don't believe in socialism.

[K-W]

21. Economy isnt a matter of beliefs.

Socialism exists whether you believe in it or not.

[InfoMinister]

11. Would Any Mainstream Networks Even Play It?

It would be interesting if he could get it on television.

[K-W]

22. No, definately not.

Not in a million years.

[DrWeird]

12. I'm sure bad punctuation and bad spelling really impresses MM.

In fact, I bet Michael Moore hardly ever gets irrationally angry, poorly thought out e-mails with bad spelling, bad punctuation, and excessive improper font use.

[GiovanniC]

69. LOL!

Nice.

[charlie]

14. "I would release the dvd..."

No, you wouldn't. You mean you'd find some way to compel Columbia-Tristar to pay for a free release. Good luck with that.

[ibegurpard]

24. Yeah, that would be a neat trick.

eom

[Mandate My Ass]

15. He took it out of Oscar consideration just so it could be shown

on TV prior to the election. He's donating thousands of copies to dem organizations in swing states. He's forgoing any profits from the sale of his new book and donating the proceeds to veterans' groups and legal aid to soldiers who refuse to return to Iraq.

Nobody but Bushco is profiteering on the backs of the dead in Iraq. :eyes:

[K-W]

17. You are totally out of line.

Michael Moore does not own distribution companies. There is only one way to get his DVD is every best buy and blockbuster in the country and that is to use a distribution company.

This isnt an underground documentary, it was a major motion picture and that is the main reason it recieved so much public attention. The distribution companies have contracts to distribute the movie. Michael Moore has no choice but to let them distribute the dvd. Perhaps you havent noticed, but Moore's financial success has led to a large number of other liberal films being produced and distributed.

It amazes me how some people can turn a negative into a positive and so rapidly turn on someone who has done so much good.

[InfoMinister]

18. Moore Actually Said You Could Distribute The Film Over the Web

Anymore remember Moore saying that the movie could be distributed? His company said they were going to go after them but then they decided not to after Moore said that.

[DemonFighterLives]

19. How can you say that

When dubby and the gang are still profitting hand over fist on the 9/11 tragedy and the war without end

Michael Rocks! I got my copy today, but haven't had the time to view it.

[marlakay]

20. The difference is-what does Moore do with his $$$

He uses them all over the US to fight big business, help the little guy, stop the war, gee that kinda sounds like a guy we should respect!

[Kanary]

37. You left out one thing on that list..... LAWYERS to oversee voting!

Moore has promised to not only be in Florida on Nov 2, but also to have lawyers and camera operators to record the proceedings.

That costs a few pennies.

What I'm very cynical about is distributing it to "Dem groups". If that is state organizations, those copies won't make it into the hands of either poor people or fencesitters. They will go to people who can very well afford to buy them their own selves.

Kanary

[NYCGirl]

25. Interesting how Republicans have no problem with other Repubs making money

but scream like crazy when a Democrat makes money.

[TrustingDog]

26. if it were only him... but a lot of people involved in the film...

have to pay their bills like all of us other schmoes.
So you are realy asking MM to pay those wages and costs as well as give the film out free...?

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bridget Burke]

28. I'm sure Michael Moore will give your message....

Due consideration.

[sweetheart]

29. oh dear, you should write a book and make some...

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ yourself. Quan, can be handy in a capitalist
society, especially when the right wing has institutional thugs
looking to lynch you for speaking out.

Michael moore's sort of journalism is emotive and sloppy, IMO, but
that sells well to a poorly educated public; so more power to him.

When you take the heat that he does, or that greg palast does, then
you've earned the right to be such an indignant puritan. Instead,
it all sounds a bit small... that email... right up there with
the million freeper emails he gets every day and deletes... wow.

Mr. Moore, i respect that you're a left spin doctor, and there are
not enough of them. Good luck to you with your career in fictional
film making. We need more of your sort to be successful so that a
body of public mind can reflect on liberalism and its wisdom.
Keep up the good work, and make lotsa cash.

regards,
-s

P.S. Some more truthful journalism, would be much appreciated.

[LibertyorDeath]

30. He is giving it away! wait let me say that again for you

HE IS GIVING IT AWAY!! On the Slacker Uprising Tour to anyone 25 or over that registers to vote. He wants you to copy it To share it!

He is working his fucking ass off to get the illegally installed piece of shit in the Whitehouse out.

Now I gotta go search all your fucking posts.

He has given Major $ to great Liberal causes

I think your post is Shit Wait let me say that again for you I THINK YOUR POST IS SHIT. EOM

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/blog/


http://www.michaelmoore.com/

[coalition_unwilling]

45. Giving it away . . . ( a good suggestion for all)

I'm buying it and, after watching it once, will pass along my copy to someone who hasn't yet seen it\bought it. I'll then ask them to pass it along, once they've watched it. (I'm depending on people's integrity to pull this off.)

I've done the same with David Ray Griffin's The New Pearl Harbor and will do so with Hersh's Chain of Command (once I finish it by this weekend).

We really need to develop a 'samizdat' (spelling?) to counter Fox News and corporate media.

[mitchtv]

31. How DARE ... IFC charge to watch it

They should be free to all sattelite/cable customers. For that matter How dare Viacom asking us to pay for cable.I should get it for free, like the poster.

[in_cog_ni_to]

32. Hell Yeah! Let's eat our own!

Damn this hacks me off! Michael Moore almost SINGLE HANDEDLY motivated people to vote, to be activists, and turned repukes away from the chimp to vote for Kerry. He travels the country speaking on OUR behalf, went to both conventions, he will be in Florida with his cameras to make sure the repukes don't cheat. GEEZUSKRIST. Give the guy a BREAK! He is AWESOME and WE are lucky to have him on our side. Shit.

AND!!!!! The man has told people who cannot afford to buy his movie they are free to download a copy of it! Sheesh.

You should email him back and apologize!

[malachibk]

33. I'm happy to buy it

I hear his next film is about the healthcare industry. As a mental health researcher, I'm happy to help him make that next doc.

[marlakay]

35. didn't mention earlier one of my errands today BUY F9-11

I know I am giving money to people who feel like I do, even the movie people who weren't afraid to go up against the administration like Disney.

[Blue_Tires]

34. i think ecoalex is just cheap...lol

if you don't want to buy you own, just bum a copy off of a friend....

[ecoalex]

38. The Greater Good

For me, I think MM made enough, as did his financiers, they just want to make mo $$$$$. There's too much at stake in this election, unless $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ comes FIRST .

[in_cog_ni_to]

40. Noooooooooooooooooooo. What he's trying to do IS

get as many people as possible to see the film BEFORE the Nov. 2 election! The more people who see this movie, the more votes John Kerry gets! Don't you want Kerry to win? Michael Moore should be applauded for what he's done, not derided. What a shame.

He's going to try to get it on Pay Per View too so people can see it at home for $3.99. He wants EVERYONE in this country to see it. It's not for the money. Michael is a TRUE Patriot! :grr:

What?? You think he wants more money so he can buy more baseball caps??? Does he LOOK like he cares about MONEY?? Get real, would you?

[charlie]

43. No, because the release was dual-tracked

Moore gave his blessings to P2P trading and Lion's Gate and the Weinsteins wisely regarded it with a benign eye. You've been able to snag a free copy through bittorrent or Kazaa or somesuch for months. And it was A-OK to burn it to VCD or tape and give to whomever you like. You can still do it without corporate lawyers sniffing about. Offering a premium version for money in no way impedes the films availablity for those who won't or can't pay for it.

If you're mad because they're not offering the bonus footage, jewelbox casing, or nifty foldouts for free, that's another story.

[Wind Dancer]

41. I don't understand what you are so angry about.

I swear I am living in The Twilight Zone.

[OneTwentyoNine]

42. So he makes money by telling the truth about Government,so WHAT??

I hope he makes another dozen films,I'll see them all and then decide whether or not to buy the DVD.

F9/11 grossed over 100 million,I don't know what Moore's take was,I could care less because he deserves every fucking penny of it for taking on the Bushes and their Nazi Regime. Hell,its a wonder he's still alive.

Why are we having this discussion?????

David

[knowbody0]

44. mike

is a true amerikan hero

[A Simple Game]

63. Why are we having this discussion?????

Because apparently it is immoral to make money from telling the truth but OK to make money telling lies like Rush and Ann!

[mmonk]

46. Give Moore his due

unless you have done better.

[truthbetold]

48. Oh come ON!

Yes, I'm sure it's easy as hell for him to just declare to everyone who deserves money for being/working on the film, to his production companies, and all laws about distribution rights, that it will be given out for FREE.
Bullshit. That would be nearly impossible Michael has done SO MUCH for Liberals and Democrats alike and all people like you can do is whine about it. How ungrateful are you?

[Generator]

49. Here's something for you to consider

Since this is a $$$ driven society, $$$$$ is the THING that gets attention, and RESPECT. Ah, that it weren't so.

But there is plenty of fine, fine, anti-Bush, very truthful eye opening documentries/commentaries on local cable access, and available on the web.

But it's not mainstream. It's mostly preaching to the (already well informed) choir.

The fact that it costs$$$$ makes it worth something in our $$$ driven society.

Also, if ONE damn vote is changed by MM's movie, and that one damn vote wins us the election, I would hope you aren't begruding MM his $$$$$.

[Tuttle]

74. Good points: further...

I would like to see some news network ASK Mike for his opinion at the end of some debate - I think he brings a lot to the table and I would be very interested in hearing from him about certain current events.

Tut-tut

[genius]

50. MIke probably only gets about one dollar from each sold.

We need to spread the word.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

51. moore has sold out to an extent

i'm a longtime fan and i'll admit that. his speaking fee for universities has went from $15,000 in 2000 to over $30,000 today---some populist

i know his demand is high, but $30,000 for student groups to pay for an hour of talking (which he just recycles from his other dates, as mosst speakers do) id ridiculous

still, i love his work, but he needs to come back to earth

[0rganism]

68. How much do you think a Cannes'-winning film director should charge?

Knowing full well that Moore was willing to waive his speaking fee entirely, and that he donates immense amounts of time speaking gratis to numerous assemblies, I suppose you think he should go for a song?

How much do you think unaccomplished wacks like Bill O'Reilly get for a speaking engagement? $15,000? HA! $25,000? Nope. Try $60,000-$70,000 per.

Moore's publicists put his nominal (and negotiable) fee at half that much, and you think it's too much. "Some populist", eh?

[yankeedem]

72. Insantity asks $100,000

friggin SPENCER CHRISTIAN gets $25k.
http://www.premierespeakers.com/search_topic.cfm?subcat=9
His time is valuable, and he has the same right as everyone else to charge what he wants.

BTW, what have YOU done to support the cause? When you do as much as Michael Moore, get back to me, ok?

[redpepper]

52. How dare he make money.

Mans got to make a living, lets face it, he ain't got looks so he better have money.

[Jane Austin]

54. I can't believe any of us picked up this obvious bait!

n/t

[n2mark]

55. Today

I just returned from the store after buying F9/11. I am proud that I bought it, and my daughter will have this copy as a part of history.
I don't care if MM makes money on this because without his film we may be further down in the polls. This film woke many people up. As for the cost of his speaking engagements, his charges are in line with most speakers, remember he needs to pay for his airfare, hotel, food etc. He still is making less then our over paid athletes!

Maybe MM has blown his career for his beliefs today. If Shrub wins this may be the end of MM.

My satisfaction is that my daughter and her family has something that is part of history.

[Sabriel]

56. And yet another successful troll thread

This one has lasted quite a while.

[Mandate My Ass]

57. No responses from the OP

I wonder what that means....:hurts:

[RetroLounge]

59. Stupid. F*cking. Post.

Now go away...

RL

[IdaBriggs]

60. And then you wonder why no one wants to stand up and do the right thing?

Boy, why not SPIT on him, too? Heaven forbid the world figure out that TELLING THE TRUTH CAN BE PROFITABLE! Out of curiosity, while this guy was risking his life and professional reputation fighting an impossible battle to get the movie made and distributed, what were you doing? How much of your life and fortune did you DONATE to the common good during the last four years?

I bought THREE copies of his movie. Just like I support our military people, I will HAPPILY support his efforts to get out the truth to as many people as possible. I also appreciate his efforts in the independent film world, too, and look forward to his next opus on HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA.

[hiphopnation]

61. Looks to be thread of the

"cut-and-run" variety.

Anyway, wasn't the idea to get the DVD out be4 the election so as to spread the message even further and to keep it on the publics' collective conscious? M'eh!

[cheshire]

62. I think talk is cheap, you say you would but how can we know that. Don't

try to step into anothers shoes. Sorry you look like a freeper.

[0rganism]

64. WTF??? IFC? You *must* be smoking crack

Do you think the people who can't afford to rent a fuckin' DVD are going to be paying for a PREMIUM CABLE CHANNEL? That any of the big networks (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX) would DARE to televise that movie within a month of the election? You're so freakin' out of touch it's not even funny.

Did you actually read the man's open letter? He's BEGGING people to copy his movie, donate it to libraries, loan it to friends. Sweet Jesus, I've never seen a filmmaker so eager to have his work pirated.

Frankly I find your entire post offensive as a pound of sewage on my doorstep. Simply tell me you were being sarcastic as hell, and all is foregiven.

[ProfessorGAC]

65. Unbrilliant

Getting enough money for another expose, would of course, be of no value. OF COURSE IT WOULD!

Hence the title of my post, as it applies to your original.
The Professor

[Nlighten1]

67. A sesquipedalian amount of hot air from an acephalate doofus

Mike did the right thing in making this movie. It is his movie. He gets to sell it any way he wants.

[yankeedem]

70. Why do you hate America?

Don't you believe in Capitalism?

If you want to find a "cash cow, on the backs of the dead in Iraq", you need look no farther than here:

http://www.halliburton.com

Really now, go somewhere where this argument is taken seriously, please.

[NoPasaran]

73. How Dare MM Try To Make A Living?!?!?!?!?!?

He'd be a lot more effective if he was a homeless guy standing on a street corner.