Millionaire Filmmaker Michael Moore: ‘Capitalism Did Nothing For Me’

[SoftLion]

hursday, October 01, 2009
By Nicholas Ballasy, Video Reporter
(CNSNews.com) -- Documentary film director Michael Moore, who has become a millionaire thanks to the profits from his movies, told CNSNews.com that “capitalism did nothing” for him.

CNSNews.com spoke with Moore on the red carpet at the Uptown Theatre in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night before the premiere of his upcoming documentary, “Capitalism: A Love Story."

CNSNews.com asked: “Critics may say, when they see this movie, Michael Moore has amassed a fortune of over $50 million, some have said and –”

Moore said: “Really? Are you kidding me? Seriously? Wow. Where did it go?”

CNSNews.com then asked Moore: “Critics would say he’s [Moore] been very successful under a capitalist system. How would you justify making a movie where you paint capitalism as evil?”

Moore said: “Well, capitalism did nothing for me, starting with my first film.”

“You know, I had to pretty much beg, borrow and steal,” he said. “The system is not set up to help somebody from the working class make a movie like this and get the truth out there.”

“In fact, in Fahrenheit 9/11 if you remember, capitalism, the Disney Corporation, tried to kill that film--tried to make it so that people couldn’t see it,” said Moore. “My book Stupid White Men--Harper Collins tried to kill that book so that people couldn’t see it. It's only because I put the light of day on it and told people what was going on did people get the chance to see these things.”

According to Fortune Magazine (http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/04/magazines/fortune/michael_moore_capitalism_review.fortune/), Moore’s films have grossed over $300 million worldwide. His highest grossing film was “Fahrenheit 9/11,” which critiques the Bush administration’s handling of the war in Iraq and earned over $200 million worldwide.

Moore reportedly was paid $21 million (http://slate.msn.com/id/2117923/) by Disney for producing, directing and creating the film.

Moore also earned 50 percent of the profits of his 2007 film “Sicko,” totaling $25 million plus DVD sales, according to (http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-130060728/moore-war-after-skewering.html)Vanity Fair (http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-130060728/moore-war-after-skewering.html).

The Los Angeles Times (http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jun/29/entertainment/et-moore29) reported that Moore would receive all of the profits made from DVD sales of “Sicko,” sales of which have been estimated at over $17 million (http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2007/SICKO.php).

“Look, you know, I mean, I make documentary films,” said Moore. “So, clearly, I’m not loaded in the way you described. But I do well, obviously because my films do well.”

“So, that means I have an extra responsibility to make sure I spend my time trying to make things better for the people that don’t have what I have, right? I mean, everybody should do that,” he said.

Moore’s newest film, “Capitalism: A Love Story” opens in theaters October 2.


http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/54833

[dave81]

I like Michael Moore.

I then Googled "CNSN News" and I don't think I like them.

[SoftLion]

I like Michael Moore.

I then Googled "CNSN News" and I don't think I like them.

Why not add something substantive to the discussion in the context of this article in light of your dislike towards this source?

[I can't think of a name]

I have been to the uptown theater.

[Dominique]

How about this, I'll take his share of "nothing", and lets see how that goes. While people actually continue to listen to his fat ass is beyond me.

[gaijinsamurai]

X2, Dominique. Michael Moore is one of those people whose popularity is difficult to fathom. The guy's a fool, and I still can't believe that people give him the time of day.

[LineDoggie]

Moore said: “Really? Are you kidding me? Seriously? Wow. Where did it go?”




Heres my Guess

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h222/linedoggie/whopper.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h222/linedoggie/0404_JG_pizzapie.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h222/linedoggie/dunkin.jpg

[gaijinsamurai]

^ Hahahahaha!!!

[Airhab]

Just saw the movie, its quite good, this Government is turning into a Government of the rich for the rich,

[seanvi]

Michael Moore is a hypocrite and a moron. Just another liberal that is so arrogant he thinks he knows whats best for everyone else.

[MichaelF]

Errrrrrr...he makes movies, right?

How, exactly, did he finance them?


Oooohhhh....right. Capital.

[muck]

What a clown.
That's the uttermost bigotry in my eyes: rich leftist activists.

The leader of our socialist party is someone like him, too. A millionaire with a 1800 sqm estate.

Nonetheless people seem to believe in their honesty.

[Red_Fern]

Michael Moore is an unpatriotic, prideless and scum-filled douchebag. He's such a hypocrite. If capitalism did nothing for him, how the hell did he accumulate funds to make more "propaganda" films? That's all I see them as.

If it weren't for capitalism, he couldn't make and sell his bullsh*t anti-American films to the general public and make $$$ off it.

Fcuking idiot.

[Alpheus]

Statements like this really make me doubt it if Moore even made those movies.

That and his IQ.

[muttbutt]

Can we stop talking about tubby, he's an irrelevance to us.

[saturnin]

He have probably totally lost hist mind. First, capitalism is not there to give him anything. It is up to him to use this system in best way to achieve his goal and it doesn´t matter if that goal is to make big profit or be lazy and enjoy a lot of free time with TV/friends/family....

He didn´t get that capitalism is about free people who can earn money by the way they want (in communist countries once you studied one branch you have very limited options to choose your job) and spend this money the way you want (twenty years ago you could basicelly buy one kind of jogurt, offcourse if there was any because somebody (communist party) thought that they know better what you want (heavy industry is obviously more important that consuptions good...).

he should be taken to north korea for at least five years to fully appreaciate his country and system which was behind it´s historical succes.

[metalgolem]

Michael Moore is a scumbag propagandist trying to pass off his ultra-liberal agenda as documentary films.
He has voted simultaneously in 2 electoral districts (New York and Michigan) in the past.
His films are filled with lies and half-truths and much of the
"fact" he puts forth is out of date and taken out of context.
He lived in a swanky suite overlooking Central Park...you have to know that's
not where welfare recipients reside.
He's a liar and for a multimillionaire like him to spew anti-capitalist BS, is the living
definition of hypocrisy.

[brainplay]

“You know, I had to pretty much beg, borrow and steal,” he said. “The system is not set up to help somebody from the working class make a movie like this and get the truth out there.”

In short he had to accumulate capital and invest it into a movie production to make a product which made him a profit. Is that not capitalism at its finest? Is that not how everyone starts out?

[SoftLion]

In short he had to accumulate capital and invest it into a movie production to make a product which made him a profit. Is that not capitalism at its finest? Is that not how everyone starts out?

You beat me to it - exactly.

[RICHICOQUI]

Hmm Lets see he has two condos in new york city and he has a big house in michigan! I say capitalism been very good for him!!:roll:

[Hollis]

Hmm Lets see he has two condos in new york city and he has a big house in michigan! I say capitalism been very good for him!!:roll:


That is his stick. He complains about capitalism, and the anti-capitalist mob pays him and worships him. The more he slams it, the more he makes.

Some how I don't think the anti-capitalist mob is too smart. I am sure MM is laughing all the way to the bank in his very expensive car. If there is a demand, some venture capitalist will provide the supply.

[LineDoggie]

Poor People typically arent Fat-

Exhibit A
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h222/linedoggie/040523_michael_moore_trophy_vmed_wi.jpg

Prosecution rests

[Macs.]

You can hate him, and not agree with his views but he does produce good movies.

He obviously doesn't make normal documentaries, he produces entertainment, popcorn-"documentaries". Flatten down, fast cuts, music etc etc. And he does it well, the style of his movies is simply easy to watch and entertaining. Otherwise he couldn't attract the number of views he is getting. It's on the behalf of the viewer to take a step back and realise that his movies are not clear observing documentaries, but opinion pieces for the most part.


Poor People typically arent Fat-


In western societies it's actually the other way around these days, poor people tend to be fatter than "rich" people.

[Danik]

You can hate him, and not agree with his views but he does produce good movies.

He obviously doesn't make normal documentaries, he produces entertainment, popcorn-"documentaries". Flatten down, fast cuts, music etc etc. And he does it well, the style of his movies is simply easy to watch and entertaining. Otherwise he couldn't attract the number of views he is getting. It's on the behalf of the viewer to take a step back and realise that his movies are not clear observing documentaries, but opinion pieces for the most part.



In western societies it's actually the other way around these days, poor people tend to be fatter than "rich" people.

I find them mostly annoying. I cant stand someone giving opinions as facts, and to make it worse have people believe it and cite these movies.

Aside from the US, what other western society?

[Atlantic Friend]

Michael Moore is a scumbag propagandist trying to pass off his ultra-liberal agenda as documentary films.
He has voted simultaneously in 2 electoral districts (New York and Michigan) in the past.
His films are filled with lies and half-truths and much of the
"fact" he puts forth is out of date and taken out of context.
He lived in a swanky suite overlooking Central Park...you have to know that's
not where welfare recipients reside.
He's a liar and for a multimillionaire like him to spew anti-capitalist BS, is the living
definition of hypocrisy.


And if his movies were odes about how deregulation and big corporations really benefit everybody (who has enough money), he'd be hailed as a beacon of light and liberty and right to pursue happiness.

[SoftLion]

You can hate him, and not agree with his views but he does produce good movies.

He obviously doesn't make normal documentaries, he produces entertainment, popcorn-"documentaries". Flatten down, fast cuts, music etc etc. And he does it well, the style of his movies is simply easy to watch and entertaining. Otherwise he couldn't attract the number of views he is getting. It's on the behalf of the viewer to take a step back and realise that his movies are not clear observing documentaries, but opinion pieces for the most part.



Opinions as to whether you think his movies are "good" (factual would be another inquiry) are beside the point, but could certainly be "discussed".

Here you have someone rallying against the same economic scheme that they have used quite shrewdly and effectively themselves to succeed. This is bald hypocrisy, happily sacrificed in deference to the almighty dollar. I have no problem with the guy making loads of $. I do have a problem with him attempting to demonize anyone else that does, much less the nation, as a whole, that gave him the opportunity in the first place. I don't know which is worse, his hypocrisy in the case of this movie, or the lambs to the slaughter that lie to themselves to see past it.

It is obvious he knew this when asked the questions cited in this article, unless he is an unimaginable dolt. The best he could do was: Disney = capitalism = bad = tried to stop my movie? Save that nonsense for the rest of your "yes" people in your political base.


And if his movies were odes about how deregulation and big corporations really benefit everybody (who has enough money), he'd be hailed as a beacon of light and liberty and right to pursue happiness.

Nope - that's only okay for hollywood and those of Moore's ilk, duh.

[JKD]

Poor People typically arent Fat-

Exhibit A
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h222/linedoggie/040523_michael_moore_trophy_vmed_wi.jpg

Prosecution rests

Poor people tend to eat cheap food. It's not a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. They eat lots of greasy fat food and sugar. They don't often live near parks and certainly can't afford a gym membership.

Just sayin'. Not defending Michael Moore on this.

[3rdMillhouse]

Ain't he a shameless bastard?

[Harry Henkel]

Ever since I've started reading http://www.moorewatch.com/, I don't like the guy anymore. The fact that he's a hypocrite (living in a mansion while criticizing that same lifestyle), doesn't dismiss his arguments though. However, those are usually nonsense too: how the hell does he confuse democracy, a political system, and capitalism, an economic system?

I did like his conclusion at the end of Bowling for Columbine though; that the reason for the highlevel of gun crimes in the USA isn't gun ownership, but fear.

[sheroo]

You can hate him, and not agree with his views but he does produce good movies.

He obviously doesn't make normal documentaries, he produces entertainment, popcorn-"documentaries". Flatten down, fast cuts, music etc etc. And he does it well, the style of his movies is simply easy to watch and entertaining. Otherwise he couldn't attract the number of views he is getting. It's on the behalf of the viewer to take a step back and realise that his movies are not clear observing documentaries, but opinion pieces for the most part.

Well that's exactly what Fox news is isn't it. With O'Reilly and Hannity.......
so what's wrong with what moore does.....
If Foxnews can pass off as a news channel his movies pass off as documentaries....
That is the way the world goes....

[Stefan850]

Errrrrrr...he makes movies, right?

How, exactly, did he finance them?


Oooohhhh....right. Capital.

As much as I dislike Michael Moore I dislike even more stupid arguments like this one here.

Did you see Michael Moore's first movie or movies or any of his movies actually.

You could have financed them probably.

Bunch of interviews and chases around the buildings followed by black/white one sided, simplified arguments and a funny montage.

[Mr.K]

He have probably totally lost hist mind. First, capitalism is not there to give him anything. It is up to him to use this system in best way to achieve his goal and it doesn´t matter if that goal is to make big profit or be lazy and enjoy a lot of free time with TV/friends/family....

The capitalism system is the maximization of profits, nothing else. You're not here to make friends, respect standards or laws, you are here to maximize profits.



He didn´t get that capitalism is about free people who can earn money by the way they want (in communist countries once you studied one branch you have very limited options to choose your job) and spend this money the way you want (twenty years ago you could basicelly buy one kind of jogurt, offcourse if there was any because somebody (communist party) thought that they know better what you want (heavy industry is obviously more important that consuptions good...)

Why any critisiscm of capitalism, results in " BUT COMMUNISM IS WORSE!"
He's not advocating communism, or the end of a market economy system.
Mind you, you have capitalist countries, with people who are not free.
Now instead of the natural yogurt and stuff you can by at the farmer markets, you have 50 kinds of yogourt, all of them have additives for longer shef-life and other ingredients that you never encountered before, 30 of them are made by the same company, wow life sure is betterrofl




he should be taken to north korea for at least five years to fully appreaciate his country and system which was behind it´s historical succes.

See above, what's up with the link to communism/juhche.

[SoftLion]

Well that's exactly what Fox news is isn't it. With O'Reilly and Hannity.......
so what's wrong with what moore does.....
If Foxnews can pass off as a news channel his movies pass off as documentaries....


Then again, Fox News is not an anti-capitalism advocate, right? This thread is not about whether or not he makes good movies or has the right to make movies. The thread is focused on Moore's newest movie: Capitalism: a Love Story, and how the creator, Moore, demonizes the very system that has made him a successful entrepreneur and the system that will ultimately lead to the success of the very production which advocates against that system.

But I suppose all that is lost on you? Or hypocrisy is not a bothersome characteristic in those you revere?

[Fallap]

Statements like this really make me doubt it if Moore even made those movies.

That and his IQ.

How can a guy with glasses not be stupid?

[Aerosoul]

How can a guy with glasses not be stupid?
Joking, right?

[Mr.K]

How can a guy with glasses not be stupid?
And he's fat! Did anyone mention that he's fat! Fat people are stupid!

[Fallap]

Joking, right?

I misspelled it, :O

[kitatatsumi]

Is selling automatic weapons to children patriotic? Is interfering with voting patriotic? Are the HMO's patriotic when they drop you instead of paying for your treatment? Is capitalism itself patriotic and above criticism? Are large corporations which outsource their labor to Asia patriotic? If you feel the government willfully lied to justify a war of aggression, is keeping quiet about that patriotic?
(Not my opinions, im just saying that because those are some of the topics he has covered)

While Moore probably enjoys money, success as eating much and the rest of us, I think there is nothing un-patriotic about challenging a system which you feel is corrupt.
His movies are also quite well-done and thought-provoking in my opinion.

[kalerab]

Michal Moore is one-sided, unobjective and demagogic in all his films.


Just like the one he critizies.

[Sand Man]

Wow at this thread still growing ... and y'all say you don't like him.


Well all your hate must make him richer, too.

[saturnin]

The capitalism system is the maximization of profits, nothing else. You're not here to make friends, respect standards or laws, you are here to maximize profits.



Why any critisiscm of capitalism, results in " BUT COMMUNISM IS WORSE!"
He's not advocating communism, or the end of a market economy system.
Mind you, you have capitalist countries, with people who are not free.
Now instead of the natural yogurt and stuff you can by at the farmer markets, you have 50 kinds of yogourt, all of them have additives for longer shef-life and other ingredients that you never encountered before, 30 of them are made by the same company, wow life sure is betterrofl




See above, what's up with the link to communism/juhche.

The capitalism system is the maximization of profits, nothing else. You're not here to make friends, respect standards or laws, you are here to maximize profits.

WRONG, first it depends on how you define capitalism - and there is a problem. If you define capitalism as system where resources are private owned (put it basicelly capital but doesn´t have to be exactly money) which are alocated by decisons of it´s owner than my first post is just o.k. You have to understand that use of those resources in such a system depends upon decision of those owners. And there is NO rule that those resources MUST be MAXIMALIZED vis profits. You maybe just see Wallstreet but capitalism is much wider concept. Yes in long run all subject should make profit to get something on their table but if you look closely into most decisions done by people in capitalism (or any other system) you would clearly see that maximalization of profit is no present in such a extend you would probably expect.

I don´t know how you understand term capital but there can be easly included human capital, social capital, etc. All this use people not only to see profit but also to achieve many different goals/needs. This is what free alocation of resources (capitalism) is about at the end. I know men who get in privatization houses which worth millions of CZK. He didn´t use all of them to maximalize profit. He refuse most profitable contracts just to achieve his old dream from childhood and in two of them opened stores with what he likes (hobby). He know that this will not be profitable but did it. Same as when some talented people do not fully use all opportunities - for many different reasons they decide for something different than higher salary. You can easly find similar behaviour all around you :).

As for why discussion about capitalism often ends with communist/socialist (those two are not same). Well it is obvious. If somebody say that capitalism (ie free will over you property) is bad and something must be done - we should ask what can be done?
He in fact says that those property should be used according to decison of somebody who before didn´t owned this (goverment). It can be directly taken from original owner or some kind of regulation can take pleace - results is often very similar in both cases). Or you are leaved with your property (without or mostly with regulation) but they take some part of your profit/property and alocate it according to will of government (socialism). So you end up with socialism or communism and decison which option is better....
"Mind you, you have capitalist countries, with people who are not free."

yes, in all countries nobody is absolutely free to do whatever he wants. I suspect that you speak hear about countries like Saud Arabie, etc. -well, first you have to look how much are USA, GB and other realy capitalistic countries (what percentage of GDP is affected by regulation/taxis/governemnt realocation). Than you realize that when those are not realy (even when often portraited as such) absolutely capitalistic to say at least - than you realize than Saudi and others are even less capitalist countries.

But the main question would be - are those countries (not "free") better with or without capitalism. And you probably know my answer. (In fact real capitalism cannot exist without as much as possible "free" country).

"Now instead of the natural yogurt and stuff you can by at the farmer markets, you have 50 kinds of yogourt, all of them have additives for longer shef-life and other ingredients that you never encountered before, 30 of them are made by the same company, wow life sure is better"

once again capitalism is also about that you can freely decise on what you spend your money. Did you tryed to buy jogurt in communist countries? They see competition as something which is many times waste of resources. In long run there is always trend to minimalize what they call duplication etc. - which in reality mean that you have less options. Sometimes even only one. And because there is no danger for those few (one) producer to lost their consumer, they in long run do not put much emphasis to improve their products. Sometimes they even do not much care about healty of their product. While in capitalism once somebody discover their shortcoming, they have big problem. In fact there is strong pursuit by government (communist or any dictatorship) to cover this and they have much stronger capability to achieve that...

btw. Michael Moore is somehow nice sample how capitalism nicely work: somebody who do no have to put much money into some investment (movie) but have "good" idea and will can easly earn money even without regulation and government. I don´t know why this idiot complain that they (bankers/capitalist) didn´t help him when he is nice example that there is no need for help. Hack even if he would need a lot of money for this film and it would seems to be profitable even those bankers (or somebody else with money) would borrow him money to make some profit :)

[matthew.manhorn]

Well America is a free country for liberals to roam around

Michael Moore is an American product that won't exist in other countries!

[Wimbly]

The movie is apparently bombing at the box office.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/hollywood-mixes-zombies-comedy-for-1-recipe-9m-friday-25m-weekend/#

Michael Moore's purposefully controversial and politically polarizing documentary Capitalism: A Love Story was distributed by Overture Films and wound up in 7th place. It went wide into 962 theaters this weekend after opening on September 23rd in a limited release of 4 theaters. The pic about the financial crisis made $1.6M Friday and $2M Saturday (+33%) for a $5M weekend and $5.4M cume. Just for comparison purposes: Moore's most recent Sicko did $4.4 mil its opening weekend from only 441 theaters (and that was with him guesting on The Tonight Show and announcing he'd been subpoenaed by the Bush administration for the health care documentary). And his Fahrenheit 9/11 did $23.9M its opening weekend from 868 venues.) So, as much as the left loves Moore, and the right detests him, and he always uses the ensuing controversy to self-promote, the money angle is only what interests me. The fact is that Capitalism: A Love Story looks like its domestic total will fail to crack $20M and end up his worst performing film since his Oscar-winner Bowling For Columbine in 2002.

[XShipRider]

He works in a market driven industry whether he likes it or not. He can create the market himself, ever more the hypocrite.

I don't see him complaining about the outlets for his movies, those filthy rich corporations that gouge $8+ for a bucket of popcorn. This is the same popcorn with enough salt to raise blood pressure in our sedentary children. Not to mention the butter substitute generously poured on with enough oil to open your own Lube Stop. Anyone seen the size of a Coke at the movies? Those supertankers have their own tide tables. But I digress...

Maybe President Obama should take a look at regulating the movie industry, actor salaries, director salaries, cap producer return on investment, popcorn sales and the like. Oh, and don't get me started on the private jets movie makers take to/from sites around the world. I guess 1st Class just isn't good enough for them, is it?

[PanzerMaster]

Eeeew The Hypocrisy!

Imagine if someone partecipates at Family Day events, condemns abortion and euthanasia, fights against prostitutions and then receive professional escort or underaged girls in public palaces, where also people with recorders, cam and cocaines go unchecked in those places that receives the powerful of the worlds. Yeah! Imagine that... oh snap! Don't Imagine, just go to Italy ;)

[Bathinus]

Has anyone actualy sen his movie though? Has he made any good points in it at all?