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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.
My first thought too.
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There were two headless bodies. The photo that appeared here was of the body of an Iranian professor who had been kidnapped and beheaded a few days before the Berg video came out. I don't know if his head was found or if any group ever claimed "credit" for the deed.
Berg was found tied and dangling from an overpass, with his head placed at his feet, IIRC. He was identified through DNA, in addition to visual identification.
Inaccurate. Berg was encouraged to leave and given opportunities to leave which he repeatedly declined. Shame on Salon (again) for trying to skew the facts.
You are correct Howlin, something was posted about Moore bragging about a spy.
Prairie
Moore also bemoaned the lack of freedom of expression in the US and said the art of documentary film making was under threat.
What a horses patootie!
>>If Berg was a Bush supporter, why would Moore interview him at all?
Good Point! I don't recall Berg ever being claimed to be
a Bush supporter OTHER than from his war-protester father.
I never did believe it was just a harmless 'coincidence' that
Berg shared his email account and password with Al Qaeda
in Oklahoma!
Or why Berg felt so comfortable roaming Iraq alone, but
so uncomfortable with the offer of a U.S. escort out of
Iraq.
This thread sure does seem to connect the dots to a lot of
Nick Berg 'mysteries'.
Berg supposedly affected a somewhat military look, and in some pictures appears to be wearing a kind of dog tag. He was also, supposedly, a religious Jew who had grown up in a secular household but rediscovered Judaism, and had a prayer shawl and tefillim (the small box containing a scroll from Deuteronomy that Orthodox Jews wear on their heads or arms when praying).
However, I have also seen Middle Eastern jewelry consisting of a little box (about the size of the object in the picture) containing verses from the Koran.
Or it could be a tiny padlock. Just another mystery about Nick Berg.
ping
Take a look at this thread when you have time.
I think Nick Berg, was of the same political persuasion as is father. The source for the belief that Nick was pro-war is the father, who is not to be believed.
Curiouser and curiouser. A 20 minute interview a "unknown" telecom worker? Why? Who introduced these two? Didn't the Iraqis suspect Berg of being a "spy" ? Perhaps they were on to something. If Moore was behind sending Berg to Iraq, he should never hear the end of it.
When the link to Moussoui came out, I had the distinct impression that the media was quickly spoon-feeding an explanation.
Wonder how they will explain a Moore connection?
Prairie
My first thought: PR move.
place marking thread
Did Berg sacrifice himself for the antiwar, anti-Bush crowd?
I just hate it when I miss a good thread because I went to bed! This one especially galls me, because I was on the earlier thread yesterday afternoon!
On the other hand, what if Berg admitted on film he was over there as an ANSWER plant?
That's a pretty safe assumption.
It is very perplexing. You would think that Moore would have disclosed that he interviewed Nick Berg right after his murder, but it seems this was leaked by someone.
FWIW, The Toronto Star states that the phone was unanswered yesterday at the Berg residence.
No one answered Berg's parents' phone yesterday in West Chester, Pa.
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