Monday, June 21, 2004

Look what I just found on myway.com!

Michael Moore takes title without asking. The AP reports that Ray Bradbury is furious at Moore for tainting his book with his movie.

Although as an Artist, Michael should be ashamed of himself to steal from another. I'm not surprised that he's that self centered. People have often written about his arrogance and hypocrisy. There's even a website IhateMichaelMoore.com. But there must one of those about everyone.

I don't thinks the stolen title will confuse people or ruin the book.

I love the fact that no one returned Bradbury calls for six months. Then Michael calls personally, after it's too late.


Moore Film Title Angers Author Bradbury

Jun 19, 5:52 AM (ET)

By PAUL CHAVEZ
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ray Bradbury is demanding an apology from filmmaker Michael Moore for lifting the title from his classic science-fiction novel "Fahrenheit 451" without permission and wants the new documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" to be renamed.
"He didn't ask my permission," Bradbury, 83, told The Associated Press on Friday. "That's not his novel, that's not his title, so he shouldn't have done it."
The 1953 novel, widely considered Bradbury's masterpiece, portrays an ugly futuristic society in which firemen burn homes and libraries in order to destroy the books inside and keep people from thinking independently.
"Fahrenheit 451" takes its title from the temperature at which books burn. Moore has called "Fahrenheit 9/11" the "temperature at which freedom burns."
His film, which won top honors in May at the Cannes Film Festival, charges that the Bush administration acted ineptly before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, then played on the public's fear of future terrorism to gain support for the war against Iraq. It opens nationwide next Friday.
Bradbury, who hadn't seen the movie, said he called Moore's company six months ago to protest and was promised Moore would call back.
He finally got that call last Saturday, Bradbury said, adding Moore told him he was "embarrassed."
"He suddenly realized he's let too much time go by," the author said by phone from his home in Los Angeles' Cheviot Hills section.
Joanne Doroshow, a spokeswoman for "Fahrenheit 9/11," said the film's makers have "the utmost respect for Ray Bradbury."
"Mr. Bradbury's work has been an inspiration to all of us involved in this film, but when you watch this film you will see the fact that the title reflects the facts that the movie explores, the very real life events before, around and after 9-11," she said.
Bradbury, who is a registered political independent, said he would rather avoid litigation and is "hoping to settle this as two gentlemen, if he'll shake hands with me and give me back my book and title."
Moore's film needed new distributors after Disney refused to let its Miramax subsidiary release it, claiming it was too politically charged. The documentary was later bought by Miramax bosses Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who lined up Lions Gate and IFC Films to help distribute it.
The movie's distributors are appealing to lower its R rating to PG-13 and a screening has been set for Tuesday by the Motion Picture Association of America's appeals board.
Bradbury's book was made into a 1966 movie directed by Francois Truffaut. A new edition of the book is scheduled for release in eight weeks, Bradbury said, and plans are in the works for a new film version, to be directed by Frank Darabont.

Thursday, June 17, 2004


From Variety:
LIBERALS LINING UP FOR 'FAHRENHEIT'
MoveOn wants Moore seats filled for docu
In an effort that could goose box office for Michael Moore's controversial doc, liberal activist group MoveOn PAC has announced plans to pack "Fahrenheit 9/11" shows on opening night.


Who do you think is going anyway. You can't take credit for something that's going to happen anyway. Liberals will got see this movie on the first night. They don't need MoveOn to tell them.

Not since my brother had the Batman symbol cut into his head has there been such convincing hype for a film.

Thanks to MoveOn I'll have to wait in a longer line of people eating soy and drinking Fiji water.

I hope people don't yell at the screen like in "Super Size Me." It was like "Rocky Horror Picture Show," but no one had seem the movie before.

They all read so much hype on the movie and waited so long to see it, that they couldn't contain themselves. They cheered when the title card came up.

People laughed at things that weren't jokes. One guy laughed when someone got into a car. No one joined in. He trailed off in embarrassment. "HAHAhahahaha....

At the end of the film, it said that 6 weeks after the movie premiered at Sundance, MCD took out Super Sizing. The audience cheered like they were in the rally scene of the warriors. Then it said that MCD was doing healthy Happy meals. They all laughed. "How dumb!" What? It's the same thing.

I was just afraid, being the heaviest person in the theater, someone was gonna stand up and yell, "GET HIM!" Then be chased by pitch forks and torches to my car.

Saturday, June 12, 2004

Reaching to the Choir

From travelling religous road-shows to Battlefield Earth, shilling to the service is nothing new. Part of Passion of the Christ's $370 million domestic gross came from "grass roots" marketing aimed at repeat viewings from church groups.

Now these groups can pay more. According to the AP wire, Sam's Club will offer 50-DVD "penance packs" of Passion of the Christ for $898. That's just $17.96 a Passion pop. Get your customized INSERT YOUR CHURCH'S NAME HERE video slipcases, then sell it back to the choir at $30 even.

Secular movies aimed at the "grass roots" market could also benefit with a 50-pack and customized slipcases. Yes, we're talking to you, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Day Without a Mexican.

- Media Yenta's Brother

Friday, June 11, 2004

Some new Laws have been passed in Hollywood.

1) You cannot call yourself an actress/model is you have never acted or modeled.

2) If you make definate plans with someone, you don't have to keep them if something better comes up.

3) If you are a waiter and your customer is in anyway related to the Show biz industry, you are required to give them your script or reel. This rule now includes people that are security and catering for a movie studio.

4) If your movie career fails, you get a sitcom deal automatically. If that sitcom fails, you get a talk show.

5) no more than 5 reality camera crews are allowed in a coffee shop at one time. Unless they serve mocha.

6) Seeing Erica Estradda at an audition is now considered a "celebrity sighting."

7) If you want a cup of coffee in Silver Lake, you must have "Von Dutch" some where on your person.

8) If you saw and enjoyed "Something's Gotta Give," you are wtill allowed to make judgements on films.

Tuesday, June 01, 2004

Last year's Matrix sequels opened a Pandora's box of crass synergistic tie-ins with the simultaneous release of TheAnimatrix. The straight-to-DVD comp ofanime shorts awkwardly complemented themovies with long backstory expositions andquestionable character introductions. Since
producers had the time between flicks, itgave animation's finest the time to sculpt somewhat decent entertainment.

Screw entertainment, something clicked withThe Animatrix that had nothing to dowith entertainment. Now three major summerreleases come with their own DVD toons. TheShrek DVD comes with Shrek 3-D,
fifteen bonus minutes of new content. TheChronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury, a standalone DVD release, features titularstar and veteran VO talent (Iron Giant)Vin Diesel. Van Helsing: The London Assignment is the animated prequelstarring the voice of Hugh Jackman (although
everyone knows VH sucks without David Lee Rothor Sammy Hagar). While these cartoon adventures take food out of Saturday morning cartoon
executives' mouths, it does broadenthe "myths" of the franchise-ready characters.

While I haven't succumbed and grabbed thesefrom Best Buy's impulse aisle, I think theymight be better than the Star Wars
Holiday Special. Marginally.

Why stop there? Here's a few suggestions for summer toon tie-ins:

Collateral Comics. Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx's likenesses return in this space-age sequel. The moody hit man, the gregarious taxi hack, and their talking dog Gulp accidentally fall into a spaceship and get sent to the Dark Side of the Moon, where it's always night. Jay Thomas (Cruise) and Nancy Cartwright (Foxx) provide voices.

Harold and Kumar Go to In-N-Out. West Coast prequel.

Today: The Day Before Tomorrow. Actually a comp of old Captain Planet episodes. Voice talent includes Jake Gyllenhaal's chest.

Brown Bunny Babies. Starring Vincent Gallo's prepubescent trouser snake.

Got a better one? Send it to comments. Winner gets photo of Jake Gyllenhaal.

- Media Yenta's Brother