another_reason_eisner_is_evil auto-didact number 257 Disney Forbids Distribution of Moore Film By JIM RUTENBERG 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. 'Fahrenheit 911' eZuma.com  A Disney executive said the company doesn't want to distribute Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 911,' which skewers President Bush, because it could alienate some consumers. (The New York Times) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 'Nightline' ABC/AP   A broadcast devoted to reading the names of Iraq war dead was pulled from Sinclair Broadcast Group's ABC affiliates. Sinclair said ABC had "adopted a strategy employed by numerous anti-war demonstrators." (Reuters) Details Watch Show: 'The Fallen' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "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. 'The Reagans' Cliff Lipson, CBS  CBS last fall yanked 'The Reagans' miniseries, above, and aired it on Showtime instead. CBS executives said they did not cave to right-wing pressure but pulled the show because it portrayed the Reagans unfairly and had a liberal bias. (The New York Times) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. More From the New York Times · Report Warns of Al Qaeda Presence in U.S. Prisons · Gore and Investors Buy Cable News Channel · Massachusetts Shifts a Bit on Gay Marriage 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. May 4, 2004 Copyright © 2004 The New York Times Company. 040505 ... sixstop funny that even Disney looks at Michael Moore and says, "Okay, man, thats too far." 040506 ... minnesota_chris I heard that Eisner is just a bastard. Walt Disney had soul, but not Eisner. I've heard the same thing about Gene Roddenberry (creator of Star Trek) and his replacement, Rick Berman. Roddenberry was all about having fun and making beauty. Berman was (is?) a power hungry monster. 040507 ... sixstop Moore admitted that this is all old news the other day. He admitted it was a publicity stunt and that Disney turned him down months ago... What an ass. 040507 ... somebody cite your sources 040508 ... not sixstop but who really cares? mr. piggles 040508 ... Im with Chris Yep 040508 ... kookaburra woah, your name is all bold like. tell the nature of this skill 040508 ... sixstop he used a bold tag in html. And here's your source. But don't count on the so-called neutral press to run it to balance the original nonsense. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3565069&thesection=news&thesubsection=world 040508 ... auto-didact number 257 MICHAEL EISNER TO RENAME DISNEY AFTER HIMSELF A lot has happened since we first interviewed Disney CEO Michael Eisner in 2002, and learned of his shocking plans. As he predicted, Roy Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney and the last of his relatives at the company he founded, is out. Eisner and his yes-men claim that he won't be re-nominated to the Board of Directors because he is 73, and mandatory retirement is at age 72. This is nonsense. He is out because he stood in the way of Michael Eisner's diabolical designs. Roy Disney isn't the only one leaving. Stanley P. Gold, also a member of the board and Eisner critic is out. Here is a link to Roy Disney's resignation letter, and an article about Stanley Gold's resignation, and Stanley Gold's Resignation letter. Has Eisner turned the Magic Kingdom into an evil empire? That is the picture these letters paint. The Uncoveror saw this coming. We are saddened, but not surprised. Here is the original article from last year: The Uncoveror recently interviewed Michael Eisner, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. Our intention was to grill him about his labor practices, and lawsuits against daycare centers for the use of Disney characters. We got much more than we bargained for. Uncoveror: We would like to know more about some accusations your critics have made about they way you run Disney. Specifically, we want to know if it is true that your company pays workers in sweatshops as little as six cents per hour. We also would like to know more about your lawsuits over the use of Disney characters, such as the ones against day care centers. Eisner: We have had some grousing from employees about low pay, and I will talk about the ways we protect our intellectual property, but let's not talk about that now. I want to tell you about my plans for the future. I made this company what it is today, and will continue to make it bigger, and more financially successful. The first thing I am going to do is rename Disney The Michael Eisner Corporation. Uncoveror: The Disney name is possibly the most recognized trademark on the globe. Your name is not that well known. Don't you think that this move will diminish your market presence? Eisner: When I first took Disney over in 1984, the company was in the dumps, and bleeding money. I personally turned it into a money machine. Aladdin, The Lion King, the Toy Story movies: you can thank me for all of them. It was my creative vision that made them hits. Why should my company still have some dead man's name on it? Uncoveror: So, Walt Disney is indeed dead? It is commonly believed that he is cryogenically frozen in Snow White's Castle. Eisner: That cryonic chamber was costing me millions to maintain, so I pulled the plug on it, and auctioned it off. I donated the old man's carcass to science. Uncoveror: I can't believe you! How could you do such a thing. What's next, are you going to kill off Mickey Mouse? Eisner: I will do with my property as I see fit, whether tangible or intellectual. I am keeping the mouse. He's mine, and I make a lot of money from him. A few schools and day care centers thought they could just paint Mickey on the wall without paying me, so I sued them. Someone told me that the mouse would go public domain by 2004, and then I wouldn't be able to sue day care centers any more, so I sent my lobbyists to Congress, and got the Sonny Bono Copyright extension passed. It is good to have members of Congress in your pocket, such as Fritz Hollings, Howard Berman, and Howard Coble. They do whatever Jack Valenti and I say. Being a billionaire has its privileges. Uncoveror: Mickey Mouse is a cultural icon. He is known throughout the world. You did not create him, Walt Disney did. Since Walt is gone, why shouldn't Mickey Mouse be in the public domain? It disturbs many people to hear you call him your property. They feel Mickey Mouse belongs to all the world. Eisner: I don't give a damn what some commie subversives think. The mouse is mine! To clearly demonstrate this fact, I will be changing his name to Mikey Mouse, after me. Uncoveror: This decision cannot be popular. What have your employees said about it? Eisner: Everyone in the boardroom cheered me on. There have been some rumblings about this at lower levels, but the whiners, like that old codger Roy Disney, will be fired. There is no room here for anyone who doesn't "get it" that I am the boss. Uncoveror: Well! I am completely taken aback. No more Mickey Mouse, he's now Mikey Mouse. I still need to ask about the workers in sweatshops you are allegedly paying pennies on the hour to, and the workers whom you have allegedly underpaid right here in America. Eisner: Low pay? They should be paying me for the privilege of working in any capacity for the Magic Kingdom. I don't like your attitude, young man. This interview is over! At that point, Eisner summoned security, and our reporter was physically thrown out of the building. The local police were waiting outside, and arrested him for "disorderly conduct" Our Chief Editor had to bail him out of jail. Soon, The Michael Eisner Corporation will be producing cartoons featuring Mikey Mouse. You read it here first. HOME ... 040509 ... doar . 050714 what's it to you? who go blather from