DISNEY FORBIDS DISTRIBUTION OF MICHAEL MOORE FILM THAT CRITICIZES BUSH

The Drudge Report ^ | 5.4.04 | Matt Drudge

[mhking]

DISNEY FORBIDS DISTRIBUTION OF MICHAEL MOORE FILM THAT CRITICIZES BUSH

Headline only on board now; story just breaking --

Details to follow.

[mhking]

Looks like Michael Moore's flick won't get the wide distrobution that he's begging for...

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[July 4th]

I'm sure Michael Moore is crushed. Along with the chair he just sat down on.

[aft_lizard]

awesome. but does disney own outright the distribution rights? Or will Mikael Mooreshy just go to a secondary distributor?

[CzarNicky]

He'll console himself with an endless plate of ding dongs.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Who's the leader of the dummies that's made for you and me?
M-I-C, H-A-E...

[Jalapeno]

No Not Awesome. Now the Left has their "Mel Gibson" ....it's all hype.

[Petronski]

I wonder exactly what drudge means by 'forbids' distribution. Does Disney have the power to sh!tcan distribution in the US, or would they just be declining to be involved.

No doubt SOMEONE will distribute it, if Disney doesn't have it all locked up.

I'm probably being too literal with drudge's headline writing skills.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Oh no...here comes the "The Bush Administration Put Pressure On Disney To Quash My First Amendment Rights blubbering tirade."

[MJY1288]

The title should say "LIES ABOUT BUSH" not "CRITICIZES BUSH"

[mylife]

Very intersting!

[Petronski]

NYTIMES:



Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush
By JIM RUTENBERG

Published: May 5, 2004

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.

In a statement, Matthew Hiltzik, a spokesman for Miramax, said: "We're discussing the issue with Disney. We're looking at all of our options and look forward to resolving this amicably."

But Disney executives indicated that they would not budge from their position forbidding Miramax to be the distributor, which would require the use of Buena Vista, Disney's distribution arm.

"We advised both the agent and Miramax in May of 2003 that the film would not be distributed by Miramax," said Zenia Mucha, a company spokeswoman, referring to Mr. Moore's agent. "That decision stands."

Disney came under heavy criticism from conservatives last May after the disclosure that Miramax had agreed to finance the film when Icon Productions, Mel Gibson's studio, backed out.

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."

Disney executives deny that accusation, though they said their displeasure over the deal was made clear to Miramax and Mr. Emanuel.

A senior Disney executive elaborated that the company has the right to quash Miramax's distribution of films if it deems their distribution to be against the interests of the company. Mr. Moore's film, the executive said, is deemed to be against Disney's interests not because of Disney's business dealings with the government but because Disney caters to families of all political stripes and believes Mr. Moore's film to be overtly partisan against Mr. Bush.

"It's not in the interest of any major corporation to be dragged into a highly charged partisan political battle," this executive said.

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?' "

Mr. Moore's films, like "Roger and Me" and "Bowling for Columbine," are often a political lightning rod, as he sets out to skewer what he says are the misguided priorities of conservatives and big business. They have also often performed well at the box office. His most recent movie, "Bowling for Columbine," took in about $22 million in North America for United Artists. His books, like "Stupid White Men," a jeremiad against the Bush administration that has sold more than a million copies, have also been lucrative.

Mr. Moore does not disagree that "Fahrenheit 911" is highly charged, but he took issue with the description of it as partisan. "If this is partisan in any way it is partisan on the side of the poor and working people in this country who provide fodder for this war machine," he said.

Mr. Moore said the film describes financial connections between the Bush family and its associates and prominent Saudi Arabian families that go back three decades. He said it closely explores the government's decision to help members of the bin Laden family leave the United States immediately after the 2001 attacks.

[Imal]

Just what we need:

The Passion of the Mike

[Mo1]

LOL !!

[Howlin]

LOL!

[Destro]

Looks like Michael Moore's flick won't get the wide distrobution that he's begging for...

Look how such actions squashed Mel Gibson's controversial movie.

[Petronski]

Well, let's not compare this trash with a film about GOD.

[Future Useless Eater]

If Michael Moore's film is NOT an election SMEAR,
it will do just as well in the theaters two weeks AFTER the election,
as it will do BEFORE the election.


If his film IS an election SMEAR, it will cause $millions
in damage to Disney, as well as violating election law.

[vaudine]

Never heard MM is homosexual. Interesting, but not surprising.

vaudine

[NeoCaveman]

The Passion of the Mike

A movie about donuts?