Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush
By JIM RUTENBERG

ASHINGTON, 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, 12:21 PM: Message edited by: Rokenn ]

Well, it wouldn't be happening if you damned liberals hadn't handed over huge hunks of the private sector to the gummint to manage. If state governors didn't have control of the faucet of money flow through tax breaks and other gummint money programs, Disney wouldn't be having to factor the gummint into its business decisions. This ain't a problem with Disney of business -- it's fallout from society letting government get its big fat hands into too many cookie jars.

Erm, I guess it's clear that I think it's Disney's business to run and Disney's decision to make. In light of the circumstances, it sounds like a reasonable decision.

Anyway, perhaps Mr. Moore could take it up w/ Disney directly. In fact, if he walked/ran from Michigan to Florida (rather than fly or drive) to meet with them, maybe he'd at least look presentable the next time he decides to use an awards show as a political pulpit.

Do liberals really do that kind of thing in America? Seems quite erm..un-liberal to me [img]smile.gif[/img] No wonder so many American's hate liberals!

But it's still surely not a desirable thing to be occuring? The self-censorship that occurs in the US can only be described as sinister from an outsider's point of view. Read some Chomsky, he has a lot to say about things like this

I'm glad SOMEBODY at Disney figured out that pissing off over 50% of the population is NOT a good business strategy. 'bout <font color=steelblue>censored</font>' time.


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Edited for extreme profanity.</font>

[ 05-07-2004, 04:26 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

So instead they piss off the other 50%. Smart move on their part!

[ 05-07-2004, 04:27 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

Actually DBear, it's more that 50% that like Bush.

Uh, Shamrock? If more people here read Noam Chomsky, more people would despise him and the left.

Yeah. Damn friggin clever. I'm sure they make much more money on that movie by not releasing it.

Disney keeps Miramax from distributing a movie. In my opinion, that's a pretty shitty thing do do, no matter what movie that happens to be.

[ 05-07-2004, 04:27 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

Blame the liberals!!! They should all be dragged out into the street shot! No real American wants everyone to be clothed, housed, fed, and to have healthcare regardless of economic conditon.

Kill them all, starting with Mr. Moore, for his audacious film full of critisim of our beloved leader, Bush, the first president ordained and guided by God personally.


Death to the liberals! (Though I am unsure what liberals have to do with a major entertainment conglomerate practicing what basically amounts to political censorship)


(This post is chocked full of sarcasm- in case you can't tell)

Thanks, Chewie -- I agree 100% [img]graemlins/heee.gif[/img]

I had a post on this last night that failed to go through. Little time today. Basically, it's the fault of big government -- which liberals tend to support. If we had not let our government become such a financial actor, Disney would not be factoring the gummint's opinion into Disney's business decisions. The enemy here is government hand outs and incentives. The problem with government is that its a self-propogating monster. It just grows and grows and gobbles up society. 40% of Americans depend on the government for their money in one way or another. How far a cry from socialism it that? (None if you as me.)

To wrap back around and close the loop here, I note every liberal I know supports more government involvement in just about everything. They want to feed the monster. Almost every government employ will vote Democrat and support more government employment, hiring, and growth. It's simply what is.

Now, to put on the other hat for a minute, I note that Republicans are really interested in the government money too -- they like to spend it on companies they own or are friendly with. So, they aren't exactly the "good guys" here. But, at least some Republicans I know would like to see a real downsizing of the government -- and that would be a nice start.

[ 05-06-2004, 12:48 PM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

Terrible move!! Just like they did with images with flag drapped coffin. What's going to be censored next?!

Chewie, do you relize how offense that statement was, even though you weren't serious. How would you feel if I said kill the conservatives for supporting this shitty president.