|
|
 |
  |
| Sunday, 11 July 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Moore foes hold fest Just as his "Fahrenheit 9/11" was screened nationwide, several filmmakers in the USA readying documentaries aimed at debunking Michael Moore, and a new film festival is being planned that will feature such works as well as other documentaries well to the right of Moore's films. Scheduled Sept 9-11 in Dallas, the American Film Renaissance, as the festival will be known, has just been announced by co-founder Jim Hubbard, who said it is bankrolled primarily by some "big-time conservative donors." Hubbard currently is negotiating to show two films critical of Moore. The first is Michael Moore Hates America, made by newcomer Michael Wilson and funded partially by Brian Cartmell, who made a small fortune when he sold his Internet domain registration company, eNic, to Verisign. The feature film, made for $200,000 and featuring appearances from Penn Jillette and John Stossel, among others, is looking for a theatrical and DVD distribution deal. The second is 'the bigger-budget effort Michael & Me that was made by talk-radio star and soon-to-be TV host Larry Elder. The 90-minute documentary takes on Moore's 2002 anti-gun documentary, Bowling for Columbine, Elder said. "My film is a defense of those who own guns and of the Second Amendment," said Elder, whose The Larry Elder Show from Warner Bros. Prods. starts Sept 13 on CBS affiliates in most major markets. Elder said that he borrows liberally from Moore, including a "Bowling"-like animated segment that has Elder interviewing an obviously tense Moore. "He's sweating and sweating to the point he's reed thin, then he pulls out a gun and shoots me." Moore didn't agree to an interview for either Elder's movie or Wilson's. For Moore's part, he said he's familiar with the title Michael Moore Hates America but doubts the movie even exists, beyond the trailer that can be seen on the Internet. "You're being duped by the kooky right," he said. "I've been waiting to see this movie. It sounds like great science fiction." Moore said he hadn't heard of Elder's film Michael & Me. As for the festival, Hubbard said that about 10 films are confirmed, and he'll cap it at about two dozen. Film reviewers Michael Medved is a confirmed guest as is Lionel Chetwynd, whose Showtime movie DC 9/11, starring Timothy Bottoms as President Bush, will be shown. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
