Flint film fest snubs Michael Moore

[Newsjock]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2004/06/01/Arts/quickhits040601.html

There will be a noticeable absence in Flint, Mich., as the blue-collar U.S. city prepares for its first ever film festival.

Famous Flint son Michael Moore was not invited to the inaugural festival, which will show 29 works by international independent filmmakers between Friday and Sunday.

... Organizers "wanted this to be about local filmmakers and not about one famous one who has a way of bringing all the attention on himself," Greg Fiedler told the Associated Press. Moore didn't offer to submit anything either, he added.

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[democracyindanger]

1. Proof that they're talking out their collective ass

"...29 works by international independent filmmakers..."

"Organizers 'wanted this to be about local filmmakers...'"

[pinniped]

4. I guess MM falls in a category between those two.

:eyes:

[Voltaire99]

13. Nice point. (n/t)

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

2. A filmmaker is not without honor except in his hometown n/t

[rocktivity]

3. He's out of their league now

It would be like Kobe Bryant joining a pick-up basketball league for senior citizens. I think it would be nice if he were a guest speaker or endorser, though--after all, Moore put Flint on the map cinemawise.

:headbang:
rocknation

[boobooday]

5. MEOW

How stupid.

I guess they get publicity by not inviting him too, although it's pretty chickenshit if you ask me.

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[LisaM]

6. It could be international AND local... ahem....

for the geographically challenged, Flint is actually pretty close to Canada.

It sounds to me as if Moore didn't make an entry, so I don't know if snub is the correct word. I'm sure that if he showed up, they wouldn't turn him away.

[Minstrel Boy]

7. This was the correct decision to support local talent.

Consider, you're a local, unknown, independent filmmaker. In blows Cannes winner and Manhattanite Michael Moore, robbing your work of its shot at receiving some much needed attention. Even if Moore's film screened out of competition, he and his film would be the focus.

And note, Moore didn't submit his work. He's not being rebuffed.

[democracyindanger]

9. Consider

you're running an unknown, independent film festival in a small town. The small town has one internationally known film director, an Oscar and Palme d'Or winner, who still maintains a home in your small town. An appearance by him at your festival would assuredly bring tons of publicity. He doesn't even have to enter a film, or be a judge, or speak--just show up for a screening or two. Industry rags might even send a reporter, or at the least call up Moore and ask him what he thought about the festival. Automatic free publicity of the type the festival wouldn't normally receive, and all it would cost is a couple free tickets.

The organizers may not be acting out of politics, but they're definitely acting stupidly.

[AndyTiedye]

12. We Should All Pester Our Local Theaters as the US Release Approaches

We want this on A LOT of screens, because there are A LOT of us waiting to see it!

[rawstory]

8. So they didn't get anything from his work?

Hmm. You have to admit, though, Moore is a bit of the media hog.

[Wind Dancer]

11. I disagree - a media hog?

Compared to?

[rednek_Liberal]

10. Who is this Michael Moore ...

and why is he always following me with a camera crew.

[pacifictiger]

14. the word "snub" appears to be

the typical media headline designed and twisted for dramatic attention-getting effect.
It would be interesting to know the real story - like did he even know it was happening? Or maybe he knew, but was already committed to something else? Or maybe, because it was a first-time event, the organizers excluded him because they were not set up to handle nationwide/worldwide attention?

[shugah]

15. shakespeare comes to mind

"how sharper than a serpent's tooth, an ungrateful child."

[Tellurian]

16. I wouldn't be surprised if ...

the supposedly "29" international filmmakers invited to the festival, who are also local(?) filmmakers are co-opted renta filmmaker GOPers.

[AngryAmish]

17. People I know from Flint Haaaate Moore

They think he trashed their town in "Rodger and Me." And still bitter about it.