Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 05-05-2004, 03:14 PM

They did the same thing to Dogma in 1999, but luckily it found a new distributer. Here's the article:

Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush

By Jim Rutenberg
The New York Times

WASHINGTON, May 4 — The Walt Disney Company is blocking its Miramax division from distributing a new documentary by Michael Moore that harshly criticizes President Bush, executives at both Disney and Miramax said Tuesday.

The film, "Fahrenheit 911," links Mr. Bush and prominent Saudis — including the family of Osama bin Laden — and criticizes Mr. Bush's actions before and after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Disney, which bought Miramax more than a decade ago, has a contractual agreement with the Miramax principals, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, allowing it to prevent the company from distributing films under certain circumstances, like an excessive budget or an NC-17 rating.

Executives at Miramax, who became principal investors in Mr. Moore's project last spring, do not believe that this is one of those cases, people involved in the production of the film said. If a compromise is not reached, these people said, the matter could go to mediation, though neither side is said to want to travel that route.

In a statement, Matthew Hiltzik, a spokesman for Miramax, said: "We're discussing the issue with Disney. We're looking at all of our options and look forward to resolving this amicably."

But Disney executives indicated that they would not budge from their position forbidding Miramax to be the distributor of the film in North America. Overseas rights have been sold to a number of companies, executives said.

"We advised both the agent and Miramax in May of 2003 that the film would not be distributed by Miramax," said Zenia Mucha, a company spokeswoman, referring to Mr. Moore's agent. "That decision stands."

Disney came under heavy criticism from conservatives last May after the disclosure that Miramax had agreed to finance the film when Icon Productions, Mel Gibson's company, backed out.

Mr. Moore's agent, Ari Emanuel, said Michael D. Eisner, Disney's chief executive, asked him last spring to pull out of the deal with Miramax. Mr. Emanuel said Mr. Eisner expressed particular concern that it would endanger tax breaks Disney receives for its theme park, hotels and other ventures in Florida, where Mr. Bush's brother, Jeb, is governor.

"Michael Eisner asked me not to sell this movie to Harvey Weinstein; that doesn't mean I listened to him," Mr. Emanuel said. "He definitely indicated there were tax incentives he was getting for the Disney corporation and that's why he didn't want me to sell it to Miramax. He didn't want a Disney company involved."

Disney executives deny that accusation, though they said their displeasure over the deal was made clear to Miramax and Mr. Emanuel.

A senior Disney executive elaborated that the company had the right to quash Miramax's distribution of films if it deemed their distribution to be against the interests of the company. The executive said Mr. Moore's film is deemed to be against Disney's interests not because of the company's business dealings with the government but because Disney caters to families of all political stripes and believes Mr. Moore's film, which does not have a release date, could alienate many.

"It's not in the interest of any major corporation to be dragged into a highly charged partisan political battle," this executive said.

Miramax is free to seek another distributor in North America, but such a deal would force it to share profits and be a blow to Harvey Weinstein, a big donor to Democrats.

Mr. Moore, who will present the film at the Cannes film festival this month, criticized Disney's decision in an interview on Tuesday, saying, "At some point the question has to be asked, `Should this be happening in a free and open society where the monied interests essentially call the shots regarding the information that the public is allowed to see?' "

Mr. Moore's films, like "Roger and Me" and "Bowling for Columbine," are often a political lightning rod, as Mr. Moore sets out to skewer what he says are the misguided priorities of conservatives and big business. They have also often performed well at the box office. His most recent movie, "Bowling for Columbine," took in about $22 million in North America for United Artists. His books, like "Stupid White Men," a jeremiad against the Bush administration that has sold more than a million copies, have also been lucrative.

Mr. Moore does not disagree that "Fahrenheit 911" is highly charged, but he took issue with the description of it as partisan. "If this is partisan in any way it is partisan on the side of the poor and working people in this country who provide fodder for this war machine," he said.

Mr. Moore said the film describes financial connections between the Bush family and its associates and prominent Saudi Arabian families that go back three decades. He said it closely explores the government's role in the evacuation of relatives of Mr. bin Laden from the United States immediately after the 2001 attacks. The film includes comments from American soldiers on the ground in Iraq expressing disillusionment with the war, he said.

Mr. Moore once planned to produce the film with Mr. Gibson's company, but "the project wasn't right for Icon," said Alan Nierob, an Icon spokesman, adding that the decision had nothing to do with politics.

Miramax stepped in immediately. The company had distributed Mr. Moore's 1997 film, "The Big One." In return for providing most of the new film's $6 million budget, Miramax was positioned to distribute it.

While Disney's objections were made clear early on, one executive said the Miramax leadership hoped it would be able to prevail upon Disney to sign off on distribution, which would ideally happen this summer, before the election and when political interest is high.

Kazza · 05-05-2004, 11:21 PM

Even though not a Disney; the same thing happened when the film 'What a Girl wants' came out. The poster had Amanda doing the peace sign with her fingers and was 'fixed' to have her hands on her hips. Is that a democracy?

Brian · 05-05-2004, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by I'maDESIlover
Even though not a Disney; the same thing happened when the film 'What a Girl wants' came out. The poster had Amanda doing the peace sign with her fingers and was 'fixed' to have her hands on her hips. Is that a democracy?

No, it's censorship.

Kazza · 05-06-2004, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian
No, it's censorship.

Which is not right

Sterling Holobyte · 05-06-2004, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA
They did the same thing to Dogma in 1999, but luckily it found a new distributer.

And it's a good thing too, because we all know what a great film that turned out to be!

Disney has the right. It is basically a monetary decision, and Disney is a business after all.

Personally, I hope the film does get distributed, if only to show the world what a biased blowhard Mr. Moore is and continues to be.

Jokerette · 05-06-2004, 11:46 AM

Censorship sucks. I'm very against it in almost any form.

Brent88 · 05-06-2004, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sterling Holobyte
And it's a good thing too, because we all know what a great film that turned out to be!

Disney has the right. It is basically a monetary decision, and Disney is a business after all.

Personally, I hope the film does get distributed, if only to show the world what a biased blowhard Mr. Moore is and continues to be.

LOL! So true.

FamilyTiesGOP · 05-06-2004, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sterling Holobyte
And it's a good thing too, because we all know what a great film that turned out to be!

Disney has the right. It is basically a monetary decision, and Disney is a business after all.

Personally, I hope the film does get distributed, if only to show the world what a biased blowhard Mr. Moore is and continues to be.

Yes! Exactly right. It isn't like Moore wasn't warned anyway. Diseny warned Miramax in May 2003. They had a whole year to make some changes. Did Miramax and Moore think Disney was just bluffing?

Personally, I am glad because this sounds like a despicable, untruthful film. Much like his books are.

webuster · 05-06-2004, 01:22 PM

I hate censorship as well. If Disney keeps to it's decision- can Moore buy back distribution rights and distribute the film himself?

I always think that with politics, the people should know the truth (well, it should be available to them)- but Michael Moore, I think he's became a bit overbearing- he's like one of those uber-feminists from the 70's who used everything as an attack against men. He's doing the same with Bush- and, he seems to answer every question with a question ("should we not have the right...?" etc)- which is annoying.

But still- this film will probably make a tonne of money now that Moore has got so many 'followers'.

Btw- I really liked the film Dogma!

05-05-2004, 03:14 PM	#1
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush They did the same thing to Dogma in 1999, but luckily it found a new distributer. Here's the article: Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush By Jim Rutenberg The New York Times WASHINGTON, May 4 — The Walt Disney Company is blocking its Miramax division from distributing a new documentary by Michael Moore that harshly criticizes President Bush, executives at both Disney and Miramax said Tuesday. The film, "Fahrenheit 911," links Mr. Bush and prominent Saudis — including the family of Osama bin Laden — and criticizes Mr. Bush's actions before and after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Disney, which bought Miramax more than a decade ago, has a contractual agreement with the Miramax principals, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, allowing it to prevent the company from distributing films under certain circumstances, like an excessive budget or an NC-17 rating. Executives at Miramax, who became principal investors in Mr. Moore's project last spring, do not believe that this is one of those cases, people involved in the production of the film said. If a compromise is not reached, these people said, the matter could go to mediation, though neither side is said to want to travel that route. In a statement, Matthew Hiltzik, a spokesman for Miramax, said: "We're discussing the issue with Disney. We're looking at all of our options and look forward to resolving this amicably." But Disney executives indicated that they would not budge from their position forbidding Miramax to be the distributor of the film in North America. Overseas rights have been sold to a number of companies, executives said. "We advised both the agent and Miramax in May of 2003 that the film would not be distributed by Miramax," said Zenia Mucha, a company spokeswoman, referring to Mr. Moore's agent. "That decision stands." Disney came under heavy criticism from conservatives last May after the disclosure that Miramax had agreed to finance the film when Icon Productions, Mel Gibson's company, backed out. Mr. Moore's agent, Ari Emanuel, said Michael D. Eisner, Disney's chief executive, asked him last spring to pull out of the deal with Miramax. Mr. Emanuel said Mr. Eisner expressed particular concern that it would endanger tax breaks Disney receives for its theme park, hotels and other ventures in Florida, where Mr. Bush's brother, Jeb, is governor. "Michael Eisner asked me not to sell this movie to Harvey Weinstein; that doesn't mean I listened to him," Mr. Emanuel said. "He definitely indicated there were tax incentives he was getting for the Disney corporation and that's why he didn't want me to sell it to Miramax. He didn't want a Disney company involved." Disney executives deny that accusation, though they said their displeasure over the deal was made clear to Miramax and Mr. Emanuel. A senior Disney executive elaborated that the company had the right to quash Miramax's distribution of films if it deemed their distribution to be against the interests of the company. The executive said Mr. Moore's film is deemed to be against Disney's interests not because of the company's business dealings with the government but because Disney caters to families of all political stripes and believes Mr. Moore's film, which does not have a release date, could alienate many. "It's not in the interest of any major corporation to be dragged into a highly charged partisan political battle," this executive said. Miramax is free to seek another distributor in North America, but such a deal would force it to share profits and be a blow to Harvey Weinstein, a big donor to Democrats. Mr. Moore, who will present the film at the Cannes film festival this month, criticized Disney's decision in an interview on Tuesday, saying, "At some point the question has to be asked, `Should this be happening in a free and open society where the monied interests essentially call the shots regarding the information that the public is allowed to see?' " Mr. Moore's films, like "Roger and Me" and "Bowling for Columbine," are often a political lightning rod, as Mr. Moore sets out to skewer what he says are the misguided priorities of conservatives and big business. They have also often performed well at the box office. His most recent movie, "Bowling for Columbine," took in about $22 million in North America for United Artists. His books, like "Stupid White Men," a jeremiad against the Bush administration that has sold more than a million copies, have also been lucrative. Mr. Moore does not disagree that "Fahrenheit 911" is highly charged, but he took issue with the description of it as partisan. "If this is partisan in any way it is partisan on the side of the poor and working people in this country who provide fodder for this war machine," he said. Mr. Moore said the film describes financial connections between the Bush family and its associates and prominent Saudi Arabian families that go back three decades. He said it closely explores the government's role in the evacuation of relatives of Mr. bin Laden from the United States immediately after the 2001 attacks. The film includes comments from American soldiers on the ground in Iraq expressing disillusionment with the war, he said. Mr. Moore once planned to produce the film with Mr. Gibson's company, but "the project wasn't right for Icon," said Alan Nierob, an Icon spokesman, adding that the decision had nothing to do with politics. Miramax stepped in immediately. The company had distributed Mr. Moore's 1997 film, "The Big One." In return for providing most of the new film's $6 million budget, Miramax was positioned to distribute it. While Disney's objections were made clear early on, one executive said the Miramax leadership hoped it would be able to prevail upon Disney to sign off on distribution, which would ideally happen this summer, before the election and when political interest is high.

05-05-2004, 11:21 PM	#2
Kazza Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 17, 2003 Posts: 3,244	Even though not a Disney; the same thing happened when the film 'What a Girl wants' came out. The poster had Amanda doing the peace sign with her fingers and was 'fixed' to have her hands on her hips. Is that a democracy?

05-06-2004, 11:46 AM	#6
Jokerette Clown Princess Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 29, 2004 Location: Gotham City...dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight Posts: 334	Censorship sucks. I'm very against it in almost any form.

05-06-2004, 01:22 PM	#9
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	I hate censorship as well. If Disney keeps to it's decision- can Moore buy back distribution rights and distribute the film himself? I always think that with politics, the people should know the truth (well, it should be available to them)- but Michael Moore, I think he's became a bit overbearing- he's like one of those uber-feminists from the 70's who used everything as an attack against men. He's doing the same with Bush- and, he seems to answer every question with a question ("should we not have the right...?" etc)- which is annoying. But still- this film will probably make a tonne of money now that Moore has got so many 'followers'. Btw- I really liked the film Dogma!