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.
The company was incorporated in Virginia. Interestingly, Sara Berg and the law firm she works for are listed as the principles in the incorporation documents. This was discussed in related threads about 2 weeks ago - sorry I don't have the links since it went well down in the stack since then.....
What is MM web address? I just went to michaelmoore.com and it's nothing but a domain selling site.
Looks like a set up to me ... Nicky Berg was indeed a naive man. God rest his soul....
Thanks! There's nothing but some pictures from Cannes Awards. Is that what his entire website is ALWAYS?? How BORING!!
Does MM know others in Berg's circle such as Sara Berg, Michael Berg, others in his family, or, by way of extreme conjecture, Dylan Wrynn?
I believe that more than Nick himself, those around him merit deep investigation. His father, his sister Sara, and Dylan Wrynn, who, while not assured to be in his circle, would likely have known him as well.
Incorporated in VA....
Bump.
"The more we learn, the less we know."
~George Harrison, "The Inner Light" (1968)
Henry Lee II
"Leftists are crazed and violent people,
With the blood of millions on their hands.”
I am intrigued by possible links between Sara Berg and: ANSWER, Wrynn, Aziz, Moore, other persons of interest. Also, the firm she works at - ties to radio, media, film cos, etc. It's not Nick Berg himself but those who surround him who appear, IMHO, to have the oddest circumstances.
"The subversive, activist Left has made common cause with the radical Islamists for no other reason than the old truism:the enemy of my enemy is my friend...Although their reasons are different, both want to destroy the United States and Western civilization..."
Words of profound wisdom. If we are looking for a motive for Berg's doings, that's where the answer lies. His activities were not commercial, they were idealogical.
The apparent connection between Aziz and Wrynn is a significant finding if true.
It is notable that among the players in the newly free polity of Iraq are none other than the Iraqi Communist Party. It is possible, not knowing better at this time, that Aziz was / is actually a Communist.
Perhaps Mukhabarat moles within the "Free Iraqi" movement?
According to Mullen et al's web site, they / their president may have had a role in that conference. I know they were involved in at least one major such conference. Also, I believe they are involved in some major clients who are doing work over there.
Now how likely is that by sheer coincidence?..... Hmmmmm.
It would also surprise me greatly if Dylan Wrynn had not at some point met Nick and it would surprise me even more if he had not met either Sara, Michael or both.
I think you might be interested in the info from Snapple and the dialogue that follows.
Yes, I do believe Berg's motives were ideological. Everything that's become public about him and his Iraqi adventure leads to that conclusion, despite the fact that it ended so tragically.
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