Fwd: Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
Date: Wed, 05 May 2004 07:32:08 -0400
From: Barry Ritholtz <ritholtz () optonline net>
Subject: Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush
To: dave () farber net

hi Dave,

For IP.

If anyone had any remaining questions about the dangers of media 
concentration, this should resolve it once and for all: It's totally 
unacceptable:

Barry L. Ritholtz
Market Strategist
Maxim Group
britholtz () maximgrp com
(212) 895-3614
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Big Picture:  A blog of capital markets, geopolitics, with a dash of film!
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/



Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/05/national/05DISN.htm

Excerpt:

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.

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