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.
CORRECTION: "Hey go to Iraq and STIR up dirt"
I think we can safely say Moore is a liar. Or at least completely deluded-but I think he's just a liar for fun and profit.
"I'm just seeing your #60 and see Moore says two crews sent on the website, but is quoted at Cannes saying he sent three."
IIRC, that facet came from someone who was staying in the same hotel as Nick Berg in Baghdad after he was released and they were at the bar and that is where the "made some money and sailing in Turkey" quote came from.
"I'm just seeing your #60 and see Moore says two crews sent on the website, but is quoted at Cannes saying he sent three."
He better get his story straight.
Any news media picking up on this story yet?? We need to start bombarding FOX.
Having been "interviewed" by many "reporters" and not recognizing what said "reporter" reported my crucial points in the interview to be... These "reporters/writers" can either hear stuff in people's answers that simply aren't there, or heavily edit answers all by themselves!!!
Does anyone know the writer of the article in #337? Or know that person's leanings???
Thanks for the info. Where did the $70K in my mind come from tho? It's stuck there. Need hypnosis! LOL
This is one of the most bizarre items I've read in a long time. Michael Moore and Larry Flint have about the same amount of credibility and values. Were they twins seperated at birth?
I know!!!
I almost called you because I knew you had a lot of information........I was slow on the uptake of this story yesterday. Heck, at first I thought Moore had gotten a hold of some of the beheading video!
It occurs to me that if someone wants contracts for working in a country currently occupied by U.S. forces, it might be helpful to be thought of as a supporter of the President and the war effort.
Thanks for your listing of the so called incidences.
Please ping me when you add something, and I will ping you when I find something.
FE, did you read what roughrider posted on this reply.
It doesn't add up.
I just read Michael Moore's web site.
The words "Nick Berg" do not appear there.
No problem. The 70K figure just doesn't stick in my memory. Just the quote by the guy saying that Nick Berg saying that he made a good amount of money when they were at the bar at a Baghdad hotel, both were staying at.
More interesting is the question of whether Moore released or referenced in IRAQ relative to Bergs "pre Iraq" interview in order to get his "film crews" leverage in Iraq that essentially signed his death warrant.
"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!"
Actually, I'm very glad that I missed this thread last night. If I had seen it, I would have been one of FR's sleepless ones last night.
On April 5th Berg's parents filed a federal lawsuit in PA district court demanding his release in Iraq, citing several constitutional amendments. Illegally detained by US forces was the jist of their argument. He was released the next day.
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