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.
Berg may have lost weight from the diet change. He looks like he carries a lot of excess fluid in his tissues from lots of American burgers and beers, face round and full, and when one suddenly stop that intake the weight can come off quickly, face narrow and squared. How long was he in Iraq? 6 weeks...he could have lost 20 pounds in that time, going onto a chiapatti and bean diet. Still I also think it does not look like the same person, and the beard makes it harder to discern.
Our church has a LPFM system. It's range is about 5 miles. Sounds real good in range.
Calling all freeper mythologists!
About Prometheus The Prometheus Radio Project draws its name from the mythological Greek character who stole fire from the gods in order to share it with humans. We are a not-for-profit association dedicated to the democratization of the airwaves through the proliferation of non-commercial, community based, micropower radio stations. It is our belief that access to communications for all citizens is at the heart of a democratic society. By the way, the gods were not exactly pleased with Prometheus so they chained him to the side of a mountain and then conspired with an eagle to ensure that the bird would visit Prometheus every day and rip out his liver. The liver would regenerate over night because of Prometheus' immortality
More than 30 years behind, where I am. Suits me. Sydney might have caught up by now, but at a terrible price.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/726673/posts
Read #1216
What they mean is..."access to liberal communications". They're probably out to counter the success of conservative talk radio with a clandestine "end-run" LPFM project. The libs can't generate any success with mainstream radio. Theyre desperate, so this is a clever next step.
However, it could have been someone connected with the filming of it (cameraman, editor, etc) that tipped off Salon.
BTW, why Salon? That's like tipping off the "Penny Saver", "Carrier Pigeon" or "Coupon Bonanza" papers that litter the foyer of your supermarket. In fact, more people READ the "Penny Saver", "Carrier Pigeon" or "Coupon Bonanza" papers that litter the foyer of your supermarket.
What was that motto on his site?
MAN IS MORE THAN BY FIRE TAMED?
Prometheus stole fire from the gods in order to share it with humans?
Yeah...Prometheus Towers steals the airwaves to share communications with The World (of islam?)
My brain is starting to burst!
Ahah! There you are.........the one that started this never ending thread at 9 pm the other night.....(thumping fingers)
:<)
THANK YOU!!! He's a photographer??? Man oh man....the plot thickens.
Maybe both saddam AND Berg "bugged". 'm still thinking that Nick Berg was not the person that he has been reported to be.
....steal info from the powers and give to the humans (the ones on THEIR side).....I still think he was Bugging.
Wow. That's a lot of information. Thanks.
You and me both. I'm still looking for an article I read somewhere where it was reported that when the tower near the prison was examined, all that was found was a bunch of fine silver wires. Not being able to find it again is driving me crazy. I have it in my head that a method of communication that could not be traced was being used and it's not a huge leap to imagine who by. It will be a eureka moment when I find that story again, let me assure you.
I get a strange feeling there are several forces, including the government that don't particularly want something about this incident/associations to come out. And the government may have valid reasons why. Do you expect Michael Burg to come on strong with the interviews, criticisms when he returns from vacation? Given his reputation as an activist why would he do otherwise? It'll be interesting to see. And a lawyer daughter.......whose keeping quiet......and Michael Moore is quiet.....
I'm not staying up all night tonight.........sleep well, ya'll!
Still on the same track. Saddam did the bugging, yes. But I think our little friend was SENDING. Now where did that laptop computer end up?
Meanwhile, if Moore's site is still down, he must be scrambling for cover. Poor piggy, he is so big he can't run and he can't hide.
The CJR is a joke when it comes to accuracy.
I was outside the NY Times "Open Kimono" meeting where Howell Raines met the "newsroom" in a theater across the street from the NYT offices. I'm dressed as "Baghdad Bob". I've even got glasses (which Saddam didn't wear) and a BIG, I mean BIG, NEON GREEN "Hello, my name is...BAGHDAD BOB" nametag on. Yet the CJR chick (a blonde) had me as "Saddam Hussein". CJR is a joke.
Please note I did not find and post it. I was responding to and highlighting what another freeper had found. Whatever the merits of the source, it is indeed interesting that Tridish is quoted as saying he has someone over in Baghdad.
BTW, the Berg interview was supposedly done by one of Moore's crew (not Moore himself) at an Iraqi Business Conference on December 4, 2003. Since Salon said they were tipped off by someone not affiliated with Moore or his movie, and I highly doubt Berg's family would be the source, I'm guessing another attendee or a friend of Berg's is the one who tipped them off.
I have no idea why you felt the need to chastise me for that source, but whatever...
And Saddam did wear glasses occasionally.
Not defending the chick, just being accurate.
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