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.
Well, his website says, "Berg Sister 'Very Skeptical' of Michael Moore video..."
Not that I've ever heard.
The April 9th date sticks in my mind because it's a birthday in my family, so I've always remembered that one. And the other dates you have in your timeline up there (771) are correct.
I'm about 150 replies behind on this fast-moving thread. Has anyone suggested a separate, new thread yet?
Good find! That sure appears to be the guy. Anyone have a transcript of what he said?
Thanks for noticing!
That would certainly explain his inexplicable lashing out at Bush for "killing his son." If senior Berg is involved in all this, his guilt and self-rage must be unbearable. SO unbearable, in fact, that he would have to project it or displace it onto someone else just to survive this horror.
Thanks for the ping, Kim!
And, "pass the foil when you're finished with it," Howlin!!!
I agree. His Moslem-shaped beard has always been rather strange to me and that would explain it.
If Moore thought Berg was a Bush supporter before the interview, he would not have bothered to interview Berg.
If Berg talked like a Bush supporter, Moore would not have bothered continuing the interview, and there would not be 20 minutes of footage.
Moore went to the trouble of interviewing Berg, and accumulated 20 minutes of footage. Therefore there is somethingg more here than meets the eye
Yes. He's the same man as mentioned in the articles. We met Aziz in October 2002 when we had the rally that was shown on C-SPAN. He went to Iraq in late summer of 2003.
Does he have a problem with freedom in Iraq, without it he wouldn't be able to receive his Fed Ex pkgs. As for that passport/immigration garbage, the old Iraqi government ceased to exist just over a year ago. The new Iraqi government will be in place on June 30th. So, right now its just us mean old, liberating Americans in charge. It is highly unlikely that we'd allow people to come and go at will in a war zone, operating under a Coalition Provsional Government no matter if they hold American passports or not.
It is interesting that he accidently concedes that Iraq is free, that his "free lancers" hold American pasports and speak English.
That is my question as well. Before his beheading, Berg was supposedly just another Joe Blow. If so, then what the hell would Moore be interviewing him about?
It's long past time for the Feds to suponea
this repulsive glob of anti-Americanism and get some answers.
Was Berg working for Moore? Tell us more Moore. We will all be happy to turn our heads while the truth is beaten out of your big fat pampered ass!!!!
I asked about that beard last night!
Drudge is reporting about how Moore's movie is being sold and bought. If Moore really did interview Nick Berg for his movie and then decided NOT to include it, that's really interesting.
How are you, little Sis? Say, how far is Ventura from you? We've got a Ladies Handgun Seminar coming up on July 31st in Ventura. It sure would be great to see you again.
Check your FReepmail, kiddo.
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