...I'm okay with being REALITY-based.




Tuesday, June 29, 2004
      ( 12:28 PM )
 
Taking that Extra Step

So a few months ago, Michael Moore didn't know how he was going to distribute his film, even after it won the top award at Cannes. Why? Because Disney, the owner of Miramax (its original distributor), decided back in May 2003 that it wouldn't distribute it. Remember Eisner's words:

Disney, Mr Eisner said, had simply decided that it "did not want a film in the middle of the political process when we're such a non-partisan company".

They decided it was too politically explosive for Disney's reputation as an American institution. I guess Disney's changed its mind.

Now Disney has gone a step further. They have now joined forces with the right wing machine that seeks to censure Farenheit/911 and are putting out a "patriotic" film.

Worse, it’s called “America’s Heart and Soul.”

“Entertainment movie giant Walt Disney Corp, which last month refused to release the politically explosive “Fahrenheit 9/11,” is unveiling a “patriotic” film this week that supporters say could act as a counter-balance Michael Moore’s hit film.

While Disney insists that the release of the rousing film “America’s Heart and Soul” on Friday is unconnected with Moore’s documentary, branded by his critics as “anti-American,” conservative groups that oppose Moore film say Disney’s new release makes them proud to be American.

“This unusual film was inspirational,” said Howard Kaloogian, chairman of Move America Forward, which has spearheaded a boycott campaign of “Fahrenheit 9/11,” after attending a special screening of the film Monday.

…Disney executives said that the release of the new film on Friday – a week after the release of “Fahrenheit” – was simply co-incidental. Releasing the film now “had nothing to do with ‘Fahrenheit 9/11? and there is no link at all between the two movies,” said a Disney spokewoman.

You may recall that Howard Kaloogian (Move America Forward) has led the effort to keep theaters from showing Farenheit/911 (harassing theater owners, etc). He is now advertising this new film, being distributed by Disney, and saying that he and his group support the troops (as opposed to Farenheit?). So, moving along with the myth the right wing continues to propagate - that the left is against the troops - Disney has agreed after all to join the political debate. At least they're out front now.

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