Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush

More. This time from the New York Post. Perhaps one of the reasons Weinstein was so willing to tell Moore that he would get Disney to change their minds (assuming that's actually what happened) was to set up more aggravation for Disney for ammunition in his continuing quest to get Disney to sell Miramax back to him.

http://www.nypost.com/business/20223.htm

EISNER MAY CUT MIRAMAX LOOSE

By TIM ARANGO

May 6, 2004 -- Walt Disney chief Michael Eisner has indicated recently that he may be willing to negotiate a deal to sell Miramax back to its founder Harvey Weinstein, The Post has learned.

While Eisner and Weinstein have had a long-running feud, the latest episode - in which Disney blocked the distribution of left-winger Michael Moore's Miramax-backed film - may have been the last straw for the troubled partnership.

Sources say Eisner and Disney Chairman George Mitchell refused to view the movie before deciding to block its distribution. Instead, Disney motion picture executive Brad Epstein viewed the film and reported back to Eisner.

The matter was even brought up at Disney's recent board meeting, and directors agreed with Eisner and Mitchell that Disney should not distribute the film, sources say.

A few months ago, representatives for Weinstein approached Disney about entering negotiations, but were rebuffed, sources say, with Eisner refusing to even bring the matter to the board.

More recently, however, Eisner has relaxed his earlier position that Disney would be unwilling to sell Miramax under any circumstances, according to a source.

Because of Weinstein's success at producing hit films at Miramax, he would have no shortage of potential financial backers, media sources indicate.

"The whole world would be lined up to back Harvey and Bob," Weinstein's brother and business partner, said one source.

A Miramax spokesman said of the latest film controversy, "We're discussing the issue with Disney. We're looking at all of our options and look forward to resolving this amicably."

In a statement, Disney said, "In May 2003, The Walt Disney Company communicated to Miramax and Mr. Moore's representatives that Miramax would not be the distributor of his film. Contrary to his assertions, Mr. Moore has had and continues to have every opportunity to either find another distributor or distribute the film himself."

Miramax picked up financing for the film after Mel Gibson backed out - a move that prompted the threat of a legal fight between Moore and Gibson, sources say.

"While [Weinstein] may be hated by some in Hollywood, many grudgingly admire him because he stepped up to make this movie," said one Hollywood source.

The decision to halt distribution of Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," which focuses on the Bush administration's handing of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, could turn out to be another bad financial decision by Eisner. Moore's last film, "Bowling for Columbine," was highly profitable - it cost $3 million to produce, yet raked in $120 million in worldwide box office receipts.

"Fahrenheit 9/11" cost about $6 million to produce, most of it Miramax money.

If the film goes on to be a box office hit, it wouldn't the first time that a decision by Eisner to meddle in Miramax affairs turned into a disaster.

Miramax once had the rights to the lucrative "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, but Eisner prevented Miramax from producing it - a decision that has cost Disney more than $1 billion in revenue.

Of course, in some ways, taking Miramax back would be a bit of a failure for the Weinsteins since they have apparently had ambitions on running a larger studio (and, according to Peter Biskind, thought they had a deal to run Hollywood Pictures at one point before Hollywood Pictures was folded and when Miramax was even more of a niche player).

 

I guess Disney isn't very good at "forbidding" things from happening. (since Disney owns the movie, they literally could keep it from being released at all if they really wanted it to not see release).

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm.../nm/20040512/media_nm/media_disney_miramax_dc

Disney and Miramax have agreed on how to proceed with the distribution of Michael Moore (news)'s controversial documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," about the Sept. 2001 attacks against the United States and the Bush White House's response, sources said.

The agreement calls for Disney to sell the Weinsteins the rights to the movie and the Weinsteins to find a new distributor. The deal is similar to one the parties arranged for a previous film, "Dogma."

"We are very happy Disney has agreed to sell 'Fahrenheit 911' to Bob and Harvey," Hiltzik said in a statement. "Bob and Harvey are providing Disney a term sheet based on the deal previously done on 'Dogma."'

The Moore documentary, which will premiere at the Cannes film festival (news - web sites) in France this month, was financed by Miramax, but Disney declined to distribute it.

 

I saw Lewis Black on the Daily Show last night and he talked about this issue. One interesting thing he pointed out was that Disney owns WABC which broadcasts Rush Limbaugh.