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.
I've never seen the touristguy and Nick Berg together in one place. Coincidence?
The tinfoil is stopping the blood flow to my brain.DRAT!
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...I need to remove this hat!
Ah good! I'm glad you're here!!!
Observant Jews NEVER name a child for a living person.
Nick Berg's connections are beyond coincidence. Way beyond.
Here's another picture of a guy who looks an awful lot like Nick Berg:
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.
Uncanny resemblence!
Actually, I'm feeling a bit more "OUTER LIMITS"
He doesn't even know how many he sent........LOL.
"We will now return ......" creaking door sound effect.
http://www.timstvshowcase.com/outlimit.html
Click on "control voice". It'll take you back!
CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE..it's one of my favorite websites for military graphics etc.. The guy is a great gif maker. We can't link directly to the pics, but you can download them to your website. Check out the pic he has of michael moore at the bottom of the page..see who else is on the banner along with moore.
http://www.geckocountry.com/milgraphics19.htm
God Bless Doc for his fantastic pics..
Maybe michael moore will demand it in a profusely demanding way.
Moore interviewed Nick Berg stateside before he (Nick) went to Iraq. It was 20 minutes of conversation. Subsequent to the interview Moore cast off the footage for whatever reason.
Here's the questions:
How did Moore come to find Nick Berg as a subject?
What questions did Moore ask Nick, and why didn't the answers rate inclusion in the final product?
Given the revelation of Nick's decapitation who revealed the connection, and why?
Who on Moore's team saw the connection, and the news, and decided to go public and force Moore to go public? Was it a cameraman? An editor? Someone in the office?
And why leak it to Salon? Not exactly a pro-war outlet.
So many questions...
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