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.
if Moore smuggled three camera crews into iraq how easy would it be to give a bunch of people in the prison cameras to take photographs? I can't get it out of my mind that the photographs were all taken on the same day. The 'perpetrators' were laughing and posing. Torture is by nature a serious business...unless they were 'playing' a role as actors, hamming it up for the cameras. My tinfoil says Moore was the Director. Every time I see those pictures I think of Mr Moore. Maybe Berg is doing what he said he planned to do...go sailing in Turkey?
And this:
He carried books about Iran and kept a detailed inventory of Iraqi communications towers.
from the NYTimes article that AntiGuv linked.
And why did he have that particular "kind" of beard? Shaped that way?
...and why would Nick B. give an interview to Moore if he were so "pro" Bush, war, Iraq, etc. ?
There's something rotten in The Bergs.
You need to check this thread out!
Somewhere on this board this very night I read that some people are saying that tests prove that the beheading and the prison were filmed with the same video camera.
I did read that, didn't I?
I can't get out of my mind that the sound on the camcorder doesn't match up with the visuals. How can that possibly happen?? Nothing makes sense here. Wouldn't suprise me a bit if Berg is alive......not after this Moore info.
WHAT?????!!!!!
I used to LOVE that show.
Maybe. LOL
CENSORSHIP!!!
Spot on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sure Moore's resources for candidates to interview came from ultra-liberal organizations. The claim that Nick Berg was pro-Bush is a lie, and the footage would prove it. It behooves Mike Berg to claim his son was pro-Bush, so he can then blame Bush for the death.
I didn't see that! Tests that show the same video camera was used to film in the prison and the beheading? That really would be astounding. I will go back and read every comment on both threads...but I can't remember anything like it. Hope you are not 'pulling my leg' ...
For real? I missed that thread. HOLY COW...I need to run out and buy more Reynold's Wrap.
Not necessarily...... while the story is Nick Berg was pro Operation Iraqi Freedom and President Bush there a lot of thing that don’t jibe.
There has been speculation that Nick Berg Jr may have been part of an “Answers” or other leftist wanta be Black-ops”.... wouldn’t be the first time a naïve leftist wanted to help the Revolution and got more that they planed for...Moore has always talk about having plants in Iraqi
So naïve Nick Berg Jr gets recruited by “Answers” and his leftist dad to “Spy” for Moore...they make a cover story he’s pro Operation Iraqi Freedom and President Bush
In Moore's pre interview the big joke is how easy it is to fool stupid Bush and American government and get in to Iraqi and how clever Moore & his minions are or something like that (this would fit Moore style)
Only it doesn’t go as planed and now Moore and or Answers have the problem that there dumb stunt has gotten this kid killed....and killed at that by Moore /Answers revolutionary heroes...showing Moore/Answers/the left as the real fools
Here's something:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Berg_conspiracy_theories
I am NOT vouching for the source, but still looking for what I read.
Nick Berg is starting to look like a real life, and rather creepy, "Zelig."
I think we're gonna need more than Reynolds Wrap.
top, what you write makes too much sense. This is unbelievable.
Let me say it: "You can't make this stuff up"
Forget George Noory, man...Somebody wake up Art Bell!
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