For scientific and documentary purposes, ART IN SOCIETY republishes an unpretentious and basically simply article, not on Fahrenheit 9/11 but on the conditions of making the works of an artist available to the public in today's Western democracies.
The emphasis added by color is
not part of the original.
It tries to point out aspects
we think are especially noteworthy.
The editor
[Source: CNN.com]
Some theater chains refuse 'Fahrenheit'
Movie finding opposition as it expands
Friday, July 9, 2004 Posted: 1406 GMT (2206 HKT)
LOS ANGELES, California
(Hollywood Reporter) -- Michael Moore's controversial "Fahrenheit
9/11" will expand into 286 additional theaters Friday.
But if you're an interested moviegoer in
Grand Island, Nebraska, or Marquette,
Wisconsin, you'll have to drive to at least
the next town to view Moore's critique of
the Bush administration. Illinois-based
GKC Theatres and Iowa-based Fridley
Theatres have decided to not screen the
film.
Both theater chains, which were not
in
domestic distributor Lions Gate's original
800-theater release plan, are protesting
the content of Moore's film. According to
Fridley Theatres' Web site, the theater
chain has received a deluge of e-mails,
phone calls and letters, some praising
the action and others criticizing it. But a
statement from owner Robert Fridley
said the company is not playing the film
because it believes that "Fahrenheit" is
propaganda.
"It has always been and will continue to
be our policy to refuse to play what we
feel are propaganda films, no matter the
source. It was and is our feeling that
'Fahrenheit 9/11' falls into that category,"
he said.
In a statement to a local newspaper,
GKC Theatres president Beth Karasotes
confirmed that her chain, with 270
screens at 29 theaters, will not show
Moore's film as long as the country is at
war.
"We believe in Michael Moore's freedom
to make this movie," Karasotes told the
Michigan-based Mining Journal. "We
trust that our customers will recognize
and respect our own freedom to choose
not to show it. During a time of war, the
American troops in Iraq need and
deserve our undivided support."
Calls to Karasotes were not returned.
"Fahrenheit 9/11" has already grossed
more than $60 million since its release
two weeks ago. Lions Gate's expansion
into 2,011 theaters is expected to
generate an additional $9 million this
weekend. Lions Gate Films president of
releasing Tom Ortenberg said that, in
addition to the two chains in the Midwest,
a few independent one- or two-screen
theaters also have refused the film.
"This is a horrible precedent to be setting
for someone to be putting their personal
politics above the needs of their
community," Ortenberg said. "It raises a lot of
issues because in some cases these guys
are the only ones in some of these small towns."
But Fridley, for one, does not want to be seenas
someone imposing any form of censorship.
"We do not infer that Michael Moore has no right
to make his film and have it distributed," Fridley
said. "In fact, if he or anyone in our nation were ever
denied that right, we would be on the front line
defending his or her right to make and distribute
his or her film. Mr. Moore's and every filmmaker's
right to make and distribute a film is no different than
ours ... Mr. Moore has the right to have his message
just as we have the right to choose not to be his messenger."
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