How many here think Michael Moore made the documentary "SICKO" for money?

[Toots]

I think Moore is a true American Patriot and is trying to do everything in his power to make America a decent country. Of course people need to make a living and Moore is no exception but I personally do not feel he will be too upset over his movie being downloaded for free. In fact I think he loves the free publicity and the word of mouth it is getting. From what I have heard it is extremely well done and strikes at the heart of the American Health Care Industry. I think if right wingers are thinking they are hurting Moore through his wallet they are being badly deceived because unlike them Moore actually cares about America more than he does about money. I know that thought is impossible to grasp for a wing nut but IMO it is the truth. I could be wrong I guess, but basing my opinion upon all the movies he has made not one has been for the money..They all have been to bring attention to an American fault or problem. Moore is an Agitator of the very best sort..

[Totally Committed]

1. I think if money is ever his concern, and let's face it...

to get his voice heard, his films have to make money... it's is WAY down on his list of priorities. I agree he is mostly an agitator for the little guy.

TC

[Deja Q]

21. So was Ralph Nader.

Though Ralph's best known actions for the little guy were done ~35 years ago...


Edit: Addendum: This doesn't mean, in the slightest, I am comparing the two men. Anybody can change.

[babylonsister]

2. Moore tries always to right the wrongs; I guarantee he'll make lots

of money on this documentary, but I don't think that's why he does what he does.

[Bjorn Against]

3. I think you are right

Moore actually encouraged people to download Fahrenheit 9/11, and to be honest I would not be surprised if he was personally responsible for leaking Sicko onto the internet. I think it is much more important to him that people see his movie than it is that he gets paid for every person who sees the movie.

[I Have A Dream]

4. Absolutely not. I think that he cares about the United States and its citizens. n/t

[Richard Steele]

5. I think if he was all about money, he could have stopped making "documentaries".

He's certainly successful doing what he's doing now,
but he could be making lots more $$$ doing other things.

I think he likes stirring up shit, exposing hypocrisies,
and generally standing up against what he sees as WRONG.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Moore's actions in The Awful Truth segment

that is here on DU shows that he is interested in helping others. I would encourage everyone to watch that video. And I agree that more people will watch Sicko because of the pirated version who won't go to theaters. And the importance is getting out the message. But Moore was within his rights to bar youtube from posting parts of the film, which was done the other day. Are the pirates getting money from offering it via the internet? I don't see how they could, but if they are, let me know.

[Selatius]

7. If he were in the game to make money, he would've sold out decades ago.

[monktonman]

8. How many here think Thomas Edison invented the light bulb for money?

Who cares?

He needs the money for all the Lawyers he has to hire to defend himself from the republics.
They hate lawyers and lawsuits yet they're a lawyers dream come true

[Toots]

11. Why bother to post

I do believe Moore is a topic of conversation on both the left and the right. If you don't care why read the post and then respond to it. Maybe just building up post count....The number of posts one has doesn't necessarily make them credible..

[monktonman]

14. oh you got me

touche'

[Cruzan]

9. That thought might only cross my mind if I thought the work was poorly done.

Quality stands on its own and I welcome it being compensated if it encourages the production of more quality.

[alfredo]

10. Making movies is what he does for a living. Sure beats working a

production line.

He could have settled for making the usual tripe out of Hollywood, or make movies that make a difference. He chose to make a difference.

[blm]

12. That exact same bogus charge is directed at Robert Parry, too. Doesn't matter

that Parry put his entire career on the line to investigate and expose IranContra and keep close tabs on BushInc, some people here at DU smear him regularly because he just happened to note that BushInc benefitted greatly from Clinton's tenure at the WH.

So, those who EXPOSE the Bushes earned the scorn of some DUers who LIKE the idea of secrecy and privilege, while those who protected the Bushes the most get their support.

[rodeodance]

13. of course he would like a great return------to make his NEXT documentary!

[gollygee]

15. He's found a way to make money doing something important to him

I don't think money is a concern for him at this point, but if you have to make money, how better than promoting something that is important to you? But I think he loves his job and I don't think money is his reason for making movies at this point in his career.

[Uncle Joe]

17. I agree gollygee. n/t

[cgrindley]

16. Of course he did

James Joyce wrote Ulysses for money. Pablo Picasso painted for money. Mozart wrote music for money. Do you have a point?

[mudesi]

18. Considering that the government is trying stop it from being released...

...I would think Mr. Moore has no problems here.

[LibDemAlways]

19. I don't think money is what motivates Michael Moore.

If money was his prime motivator he'd be grinding out sitcoms.

I certainly don't begrudge Michael Moore anything. It takes money to do what he does, and the more successful he is, the longer he can keep doing it.

[Deja Q]

20. Well, 'Sicko' has been pirated all across the internet. Mike will show his true colors soon enough.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/15/the_skinny/main2933538.shtml?source=RSSattr=Politics_2933538

Once Mike states his views on this, and getting in body language and other experts to verify just how honest he is when saying "Let people have it for free, I don't care", we'll know for real his take on piracy. (Note, I'll bet real money he's pissed off about it right now...)

Also, he's made the other movies for money using shock tactics. There's always money to be made in others' suffering, and it's been going on for years and by other people too.

The same can be said for anybody who speaks the opposite of the political spectrum when people of the opposite party are in power. Star Trek TNG's two-part episode "Descent" is said to have mocked President Clinton and his policies.

Why does anybody do anything? MONEY. You need it to survive in our society. It is the impetus and, as the offshorers used to say before they started offshoring, "the incentive".

Besides, our government is ran by the corporate interests. For better or worse.

[ananda]

22. Welll..

It does take money to make a film so there has to be a money angle there in some form.

However, I don't think Moore is absolutely profit motivated.. he has heart. Otherwise, he
wouldn't have said that it's ok to share the film, for free, with others as long as -you- don't
profit from it.

Sue

[Deja Q]

23. But it can be obtained only on P2P sites deemed illegal for sharing copyrighted work...

If Moore wants to share it, let him host it on his own website. For free. Legally. With clear and concise consent. Then I'll truly believe his apparent claim it's okay for people to share it.

[TexasProgresive]

24. My guess is-

that because of contractual obligations he is not in full control of the copyright. It amazes me how people can boil something down into a simple (but wrong) answer. I thought once that that was the forte of the right. It raises it's ugly head more and more often in the Left. How sad.

[Mandate My Ass]

25. True and very sad.

MM doesn't have to prove himself to anybody. It's unbelievable that even some DUers think he owes them something. He deserves to be paid for what he does and making money doesn't do a damned thing to detract from the overall benefit of his films.

Good on you, Mike. Keep up the good work and I'll gladly pony up my own admission and that of as many people I can drag to the theaters with me. :patriot:

[w13rd0]

26. Correct

A decade ago people made for of Prince for legally changing his name as a reaction to being profoundly disturbed by matters of intellectual property. Moore still makes his movies "The old fashioned" way, with The help and financial support of studios and publishing. He has a wider distribution than an independent but it comes at a cost. If be wanted to alsoget eyeballs In the "new media" way be would have to back channel it. oh, and it takes technical expertise to download. It's getting easier, but despite what the MPAA says about it, not everyone is doing it.

[Garbo 2004]

27. I'm sure he can't legally do that given the studio, investors and distributors involved.

It's not simply "his" film to do with as he wishes. Weinstein Company (the Weinstein brothers' company after they broke with Disney and Disney kept Miramax) is the studio that co-produced and has distribution rights.

[rocktivity]

28. Not JUST for money--just to expose something that needs to be exposed

He'd be the first to admit that if the national media really WAS fair and balanced, he would have no reason for being.

:headbang:
rocknation

[blues90]

29. So far Moores docs have been against the grain

And he put himself in the line of fire so to speak . Back when he did Roger and Me or bowling for columbin and F 9/11 he was bashed because there was alot of resistence to these films .

Now he hit on something that really effects both sides . I know he makes money but I feel he is in it to expose what is going on in this country .