WIAKywbfatw's Journal: Corporate Censorship: Yet Another Reason To Hate Disney

As reported by BBC News.

Disney 'blocks' Moore documentary

Controversial director Michael Moore has said film studio Disney is refusing to release his new documentary, which heavily criticises President Bush.

Fahrenheit 911 was to be distributed by Miramax, a division of Disney.

But Disney has "officially decided to prohibit" Miramax from distributing the film, the director said on his website.

Moore, who won an Oscar for Bowling for Columbine in 2003, questioned whether in a "free and open society" Disney should be making such a decision.

Fahrenheit 911 links Mr Bush with powerful families in Saudi Arabia, including that of Osama Bin Laden, and attacks his actions before and after 11 September.

Miramax, run by Hollywood moguls Harvey and Bob Weinstein, agreed to distribute the documentary but Disney signalled it was not happy with the deal.

Disney bought Miramax 10 years ago but retained the rights to block films it deemed against its interests, such as adult-rated films.

But the New York Times said Miramax did not agree this was a situation where that clause should be invoked.

"For nearly a year, this struggle has been a lesson in just how difficult it is in this country to create a piece of art that might upset those in charge," Moore said on his official site.

"Some people may be afraid of this movie because of what it will show.

"But there's nothing they can do about it now because it's done, it's awesome, and if I have anything to say about it, you'll see it this summer - because, after all, it is a free country."

Miramax spokesman Matthew Hilzik told the New York Times: "We are discussing the issues with Disney. We're looking at our options and look forward to resolving this amicably."

But Zenia Mucha, a Disney spokesman, said: "We advised both [Moore's] agent and Miramax in May of 2003 that the film would not be distributed. That decision stands."

Moore's agent, Ari Emanuel, accused Disney and its chief executive Michael Eisner of fearing a loss of tax breaks if it backed the release in the US.

Moore will give Fahrenheit 911 its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, but no date has been set for a US release.

I don't know about you, but I'm fed up of this bullshit.

Whatever you think of Michael Moore, you have to agree that there's something fundamentally wrong with allowing a filmmaker (or writer, or artist) to create a piece of work and then apply corporate standards of what's right and what's wrong (ie, money, money and money) in deciding whether or not that work is suitable for public scrutiny.

Let an individual's work stand (or fall) on its own merits. Stop this corporate censorship now.

poor victim

[blinder]

look, I couldn't give a flying fuck what MM thinks, he's an asshat of the highest order. But instead of bitching about being a poor widdle victim of big bad Disney... why not take some of his own money, and do distribution himself???

Its not censorship, last I checked, Disney isn't the United States Congress.

Look at George Lucas, no one in their right-mind (at the time) in Hollywood would have anything to do with Star Wars... well, what did GL do? He got the studio (Fox) to agree to sell back the licensin

Re:

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Re:poor victim

[ceejayoz]

The fact that Disney could lose tax breaks from Jeb Bush for distributing a legal dissent against his brother seems like misuse of state resources, does it not?

I'd imagine the Right would be equally up in arms if a liberal governor threatened to increase taxes on, say, Ann Coulter, for being a shrill bitch.

Re:poor victim

[blinder]

The fact that Disney could lose tax breaks from Jeb Bush

Of course there's evidence that this is the case right? Or do I need a tinfoil hat? :-o

But I thought it was good to raise taxes on corporations... i mean they are all evil right? Heh, just gotta keep who's evil and who aint straight :-)

Re:poor victim

[ceejayoz]

But I thought it was good to raise taxes on corporations

It is, when done fairly.

Raising taxes on one corporation for that corporation's political position is not fair.

Re:poor victim

[blinder]

It is, when done fairly

LOL! So, I wonder, what is fair? 50%, 60%, what... 80% tax rate? How much wealth would we like to re-distribute? It'd be nice if we could get that rate up to, oh I dunno, maybe 90%, that way I could stop working 60 hours a week. Now that'd be sweet! :)

I mean, big corporations and rich people got that way by exploiting poor people right? I mean, we really do need to punish them I suppose.

Look, there is zero evidence that this is the case, and any speculation on our part is just tha

Re:poor victim

[ceejayoz]

Punish? Redistribute wealth? No.

Pay the same percentage my small business is required to, instead of using their large and well paid legal departments to find loopholes? Yes, please.

Hell, if the big companies didn't have the loopholes they do, we'd be able to afford lower taxes on individuals and small businesses.

devils advocate

[Shakrai]

If your going to point out the bad things that a company does (since by definition nearly all of them do) you should also point out the good.

I would point out that Disney is hardly in bed with the radial right (by definition George Dubya Bush). Disney has fought a running PR battle with them (including being boycotted [cnn.com]) over gay rights (they provide health/life insurance benefits for gay partners, among other things) and freedom of expression. I wouldn't consider them to be in bed with the radial right --

Re:devils advocate

[Cy Guy]

As a Disney stockholder (via all stock purchase of a dot.com I had stock in) I have to say I'm outraged, and would be pretty tempted to sell my stock in protest. But I will give thme a pass given they are the parent co. of ABC and ABC just held their own against the far right by doing the Nightline deathtoll last week.

But personally, I just want to smack them for it simply as a bad business move. If they want to make it clear they have NOTHING to do with the content of the film, then just issue a pre

Are you trying to rip the universe apart?

[Em Emalb]

I can't stand Michael Moore, and 90% of the things he stands for, but at the same time I don't like Disney much either.

This is most definitely disturbing news.

Neither win, both are losers. A conundrum (again with that word!) indeed.