Posted on 05/27/2004 9:26:51 PM PDT by Rennes Templar
May 27, 2004 | Filmmaker Michael Moore filmed an interview with American Nicholas Berg in the course of producing his documentary film "Fahrenheit 9/11" before Berg left for Iraq, where he was taken hostage and killed, Moore confirmed to Salon in a statement Thursday. The 20 minutes of footage does not appear in the final version of "Fahrenheit 911," according to the statement.
Word of the footage reached Salon through a source unaffiliated with Moore or his film "Fahrenheit 9/11," which is reported to feature stark images of U.S. civilians and soldiers grappling with conditions in war-torn Iraq, as well as examining the relationship between President George W. Bush and the bin Laden family. It received the Palme d'Or, the Cannes Film Festival's highest honor, on Saturday.
In a statement widely circulated by Moore's people after an initial request for comment by Salon, Moore said, "We have an interview with Nick Berg. It was approximately 20 minutes long. We are not releasing it to the media. It is not in the film. We are dealing privately with the family." Moore's camp declined to comment further on any aspect of the interview. Because the footage is not in the film, a spokeswoman for Miramax Films, the production company behind "Fahrenheit 9/11," said the company had no comment.
It was not clear from Moore's statement whether footage from the interview with Berg had ever been included in early cuts of "Fahrenheit 9/11." Reports about a film industry controversy surrounding distribution of the film first hit the news on May 5, a week before Berg's death. The film officially screened for the public and the press for the first time during the Cannes festival on May 17.
The news that Moore spoke to Berg while he was still in the United States only adds to the mystery surrounding the young man's presence in Iraq and tragic death. The interview was shot before the 26-year-old Berg left for Iraq late last year as a private contractor in the hopes of helping to rebuild the ravaged country. Though it was unclear what Berg spoke about in his interview with Moore, or how the two men met, unrelated reports following his death indicate that he headed for the Middle East with plans to work to improve the country's technological infrastructure and communication abilities. He ran his own company, Prometheus Methods Tower Service, in a suburb of Philadelphia.
Berg did not find employment in Iraq, and when he attempted to return to the United States he was detained by Iraqi police and questioned by American forces. He was released after his family complained. But shortly after, he is believed to have been kidnapped by Islamic terrorists. Video of his beheading was released on an Islamist Web site on May 11. Salon was unable to reach the Berg family for comment before publication.
Moore's film chronicles the United States' military, political and business involvement in the Middle East in the years before and after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. His previous politically charged films, including "Roger & Me" and "Bowling for Columbine," have created controversy and won him praise (including an Oscar, for "Columbine"). "Fahrenheit 9/11" has already sparked a media storm; in early May, Miramax's parent company, Disney, announced that it would not allow Miramax to distribute the film, which is highly critical of Bush and his administration.
Miramax has yet to make a deal with a distributor, though the film's warm reception at Cannes and the publicity surrounding the film have made it a hot property that is generating a lot of interest in Hollywood. "Bowling for Columbine" grossed $21 million, making it the highest-grossing non-IMAX documentary of all time.
A source close to "Fahrenheit 9/11" said that a new distributor will be announced shortly, and that the film is expected to be released in theaters during the first week of July, as originally planned.
Well,it DID get a "mention" on Salon and WE know about it. :-)
LOL! That was quick. I'm glad you're on it. This one has legs somewhere underneath all these coincidences.
My thoughts exactly.
I won't go to sleep if you don't. This story is going to take off.
One more thing....
We know one thing, Moore is an opportunist. His furry, retarded face has been all over the media over this "documentary"...ahemmm...days after Berg's execution.
If we are to believe this interview "just happened" innocently and Berg "just happened" to mention support for Bush, etc. he would have been howling like the stuck pig he is, "Look what this war and this president have caused!! I interviewed this sweet young man and now he's dead because of the neocons!!"
That you can take to the bank.
Good night.
Thanks, Dane. I plan to spend the weekend (it's Saturday in Australia tomorrow) researching. I smell a huge RAT all the way from here...btw, whoever said Moore looked SCARED, I agree. He's going to go down the gurgler hehehe
Excellent, excellent point.
Very good point.
I just hope this doesn't get buried after a few days of discussion.
Sorry, back to sleep I must go. Maybe I'll wake up to this news on Fox & Friends. :-)
"...Michael Moore filmed an interview with American Nicholas Berg..."
Wow!
91B and beckett...I have pinged you because of our discussions yesterday afternoon. beckett, on this thread there are some discussions of why this is NOT Michael Moore looking for more PR. 91B, I thought you should see that we aren't the only people who think this is too much of a coincidence, and there is some new information on this thread.
Berg not only found employment in Iraq, but he was part of a company in Iraq called "Babylon Towers," meaning communication towers. His alleged partner in this Iraqi company was Aziz K. Aziz, an Iraqi who spent much of the 1980s in Philadelphia, which is a short drive from Berg's native West Chester.
Aziz K. Aziz was convicted in the United States for marketing CRACK VIALS along with a group of Russian emigrees, which probably means Russian mafia. He has an extensive record of criminal charges and allegations. Aziz was part of a State Department sponsored group called the Iraqi/American Council, another group like the Iraqi National Congress. Aziz was interviewed by Fox News during the run up to the invasion advocating military action against Saddam Hussein.
Aziz alleged that he was the last man to see Nicholas Berg alive.
For more information, access the Web site of THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS for the articles by William Bunch about the backgrounds of Nicholas Berg and Aziz K. Aziz.
Howlin, what is that around Berg's neck....looks like a little lock on a chain. Just curious (and eyes haven't awoken yet!).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
