Moore interviewed Berg for "Fahrenheit" [index to thread at reply #1859]

Salon.com ^ | May 27, 2004 | Rebecca Traister

[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.

[Trinity_Tx]

Absense of evidence is not evidence of absence.

I'm just trying to stick to things that have been reported and avoid making guesses.

The FBI reported that they had evidence that many other student e-mail accounts had been stolen at the time. If no one you know remembers anything about it, then I can see why you'd question it. Tower professionals reported that your area is a good source of towers that need repaired, but if you haven't noticed them, I don't blame you for wondering about that either.

He didn't go into his own business til after he got back to PA. And it took a few days for us to find evidence of even his current and recent customers. I have no idea if he was working or in what capacity he was woking towers in OK & Texas.

Regarding your "None of the professors can remember this hotshot kid either -- not one. None of the people in class can either"

Here's this:

From the OU daily News
Professors remember Nick Berg
His OU instructors recall him as a unique and intelligent person.
Cole Bridges - Daily Staff Writer
May 19, 2004

Nick Berg, former Lloyd Noble Center employee and OU student during 1999-2000, has received intellectual praise from his former professors.

While at OU, Berg worked toward developing a "paper brick," said William McManus, associate professor of construction science. McManus said Berg had various interests and began developing the paper brick during undergraduate independent study.

The paper brick was compressed paper in the form of a brick and was intended for use as a building material, said Richard Ryan, associate professor of construction science. Berg took a survey class under Ryan, but Ryan said he knew little about Berg other than his classroom performance.

Ryan said Berg's desires to help others were likely what led to Berg's paper-brick project. "[Berg] was really interested in third-world countries and taking this kind of effort and trying to apply it in places where they didn't have building products," Ryan said. "I really think he did what he was doing with the brick because he had aspirations of helping people. He was a real nice fellow."

John Fagan, electrical and computer engineering professor, said Berg was an excellent man with a creative spirit and referred to Berg's murder as an "awful loss."

Berg was a tremendous human being with lots of promise, Fagan said.

Danny Akins, Berg's former co-worker at Lloyd Noble Center, said Berg was very intelligent. "He was brilliant," Akins said. "He was always coming up with stuff."

Akins said Berg mentioned going to Africa because he thought of an irrigation system that
would bring water long distances. Akins said he never saw any of Berg's inventions but said Berg would show his co-workers sketches of his innovations.

Akins said Berg constantly spoke about traveling the world and worked multiple jobs. "While riding his bike down the street, he would see somebody that needed some help and help them out.and [Berg worked] for a couple of temporary services," Akins said. "He's one of the nicest guys I've ever met."

Berg often lacked a home because of OU housing problems, Akins said.
Berg would sometimes sleep in Lloyd Noble Center, and he had been caught sleeping in Oklahoma Memorial Union by the OU Department of Public Safety, Akins said. Berg was listed for trespassing in the union on April 12, 2000, according to police reports in the April 13, 2000, edition of The Oklahoma Daily.

McManus said despite Berg's short stay at OU, he is remembered by his professors.
"We all remember him because he was a unique guy," he said.

For more information about Berg, visit www.oudaily.com

[TheSpottedOwl]

Just maybe, since we're all decked out in tinfoil, someone has a conscience on the Moore team.

[Trinity_Tx]

The housing shortage is mentioned in the OK University school paper. It's in post 1121 above.

[Trinity_Tx]

Thank you! lol

I'm behind on peicing and coding together this timeline thing... I'll keep on it tho if you'll keep praying. lol

And I'm with you - I'd love nothing more than to blow Michael Moore wide open once and for all!

[Dane]

The NYT is using a Reuters copy for this story.

Filmmaker to Show Interview to Berg Family
By REUTERS

Published: May 29, 2004

PHILADELPHIA, May 28 — The filmmaker Michael Moore interviewed Nicholas E. Berg, the American contractor beheaded in Iraq, for his latest movie and has offered to show Mr. Berg's family film of the interview, a family spokesman said Friday.

Bruce Hauser, the spokesman and the Bergs' neighbor in West Chester, Pa., said Mr. Moore had called him to confirm reports that the film interview existed.

The interview took place during the filming of "Fahrenheit 9/11," Mr. Moore's documentary on the Bush administration and Iraq, which won this year's top prize at the Cannes International Film Festival. The Berg interview was not used in the movie. Mr. Moore's office in New York confirmed it had film of the 20-minute interview but said there were no plans to release it.

"We are not releasing it to the media," read a statement from Mr. Moore's office. "It is not in the film. We are dealing privately with the family." Mr. Moore was not available for comment.

LINK

Bruce Hauser, the spokesman and the Bergs' neighbor in West Chester, Pa., said Mr. Moore had called him to confirm reports that the film interview existed.

Confusing writing on reuter's part, IMO. It reads that Moore called Bruce Hauser first. Of course that may be the truth, who knows with the way this story is going.

[Fred Nerks]

Very interesing article written back in 1994. Certainly helps me to understand the technology involved. So, did Nick have a little spiderweb system of his own?
I'm still looking for the 'silver wires' story. All I have found so far is that silver wires are a conducting medium. Not being an electrical buff\engineer, it's hard to follow to say the least. I have this mental picture of Nick climbing towers at night with a camera, a laptop and a lot of silver wires...the question remains ( if my tinfoil hat fits) what was he trying to achieve?

[Nita Nupress]

I'm not sure what 'silver wires' story you're talking about. What was the gist of it and where did you see it?

BTW, I may not be back to continue this conversation until tomorrow.

[Trinity_Tx]

"Others have failed to find out much about Nick's company, Prometheus whatever. It's not registered in any state."

Actually, it was registered in Virginia. His sister, a lawyer, lives there and filed for him.

See post 1023... and my profile has more details on the whole Prometheus thing if you want to read more.

[cookcounty]

SIT, the school he was associated with in Uganda, is not in Portland, gut in Brattlebro VT. Definitely a left-wing ideological place, http://www.sit.edu/, If Nick was pro-Bush, would he have been with them?

[Trinity_Tx]

"Nick Berg will probably be a mystery forever. His story will be interpreted by all sides, depending on their view of the world. I worked this into my novel, the leaving of false clues etc to feed conspiracy theorists. That's what I think the killers intended with the orange jump suit and white chair. Amateur conspiracy theorists who are only capable of spoon-fed second-level thinking always fall for these false clues. I use that dependable phenomenon all through EFAD."

Well said. With all the (conflicting lol) conspiracy theories and misinformation out there, I doubt most of us will ever trust an objective report no matter what it shows he was up to - or not.

And I'm burned out on it already, so off to other stuff. ; )

[ravingnutter]

Hmmmm...

Why did campus police at the University of Oklahoma - where Berg somehow got entangled with 9/11 terrorism suspects back in 2000 - arrest Berg twice for trespassing?

Lt. Bruce Chan of the university police at the Norman, Okla., campus, said yesterday by phone that Berg had been busted twice for apparently living at the student union center, after he was no longer enrolled there as a student.

Chan said that, after receiving complaints from staffers at the Oklahoma Memorial Union that Berg was camped out there, police issued a warning and then twice arrested him for trespassing, a misdemeanor. He said the arrests were in April and May 2000, but Chan did not have exact dates.

"It appeared he had no other place to sleep," said Chan, adding that Berg was no longer a student when the misdemeanor arrests took place.

Berg arrived at the Norman campus in 1999. A friend told the Oklahoma Daily newspaper yesterday that Berg had not had a place to live "because of OU housing problems."

However, I can't place Moussaoui here in 1999. He was in Afghanistan. The most interesting fact is that it has been reported (know I read it, can anyone help me out here? I am on a different computer tonight with limited search capability) that Berg only attended OSU for only one quarter. How could Moussaui get his password if they weren't there at the same time? We have some conflicting reports here that need to be reconciled. Or maybe I've had too many beers tonight...LOL!

Another interesting story found in my search that I had not seen before, that has many details.

[Travis McGee]

Me too. Nick Berg, rest in peace.

(In pieces.)

[TheSpottedOwl]

Stranger than that: Why would Moore or his crew interview Berg for "Fahrenheit 9/11" for 20 minutes, when Berg's family insists the slain contractor was pro-Bush and supported the American military action in Iraq?

Yup. This smells real bad. We're all going to feel really burned when all of this is swept under the rug.

[Grampa Dave]

[Rennes Templar]

Great tag line. Did you read the first post on this thread?
Great minds think alike.

[TheSpottedOwl]

My guess is that a Clintonite worked in the office where video's and the like are made and got Moore a copy.

Bush's biggest error was not flushing every damn Clinton employee when he took charge.

[Grampa Dave]

I read your first reply to this thread.

Then several freepers brought up the question in my tagline. I just tied all of it together for a timely tagline.

Then, I decided to use it for a while.

I would love to see a thousand or more Freepers use a similiar tag

[TheSpottedOwl]

Here's my question....don't you have to secure work BEFORE you go to Iraq? I mean, can I go over there by myself, with my passport stamped with an Israeli stamp, and make a sign saying, "Will work for $100 an hour? I mean, I know contractors who went to Iraq, but they're all with respectable companies who are RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM. This is just too weird.

On an earlier thread, it was stated that NB travelled from Israel to Turkey, and then from there to Iraq. Now that sure is a legitimate travel itinerary for an American contractor. Wish I knew where to post the thread I saw that on...

[Fred Nerks]

It's catching on. WHAT DID MICHAEL MOORE KNOW ABOUT BERG AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT is now the title of another thread on this topic. Let's keep asking. And asking...I've changed my tagline to suit.

[Howlin]

You cannot simply fire every civil servant in the government, no matter who put them there.