Michael Moore Fights For Screen

MooreMichael Moore is fighting for the little guy once again, this time he is trying to wedge more documentaries and foreign films into theatres. We get the scoop from the fabled caves of Yahoo:


“My new year’s resolution is to sit down with the heads of exhibition chains and have them devote one screen in their multiplexes to nonfiction and foreign films,” Moore said. He said he’s spoken with fellow documentary directors to join him in the initiative, including board members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ documentary branch, though it is unclear if AMPAS would be officially involved.

The director of four of the top-grossing docus of all time (“Fahrenheit 9/11,” “Roger & Me,” the Oscar-winning “Bowling for Columbine” and the just-announced Oscar nominee “Sicko”) wants to use his influence with exhibitors to make this happen. “If not me, then who?” he said. “I’m the one who got through the door.” “This could be on the 15th screen of a multiplex that would otherwise have the sixth showing of the new “Harry Potter” movie. Some of these films make $200 or $300 per screen.”

I think this is flat out awesome. Where I am from, it is hard as hell sometimes to see an indy, foreign or documentary film. I usually have to drive to Toronto and even then, sometimes a movie doesn’t come around. You basically concede and wait for the film to come out on DVD. Moore makes a great point in the multiplex, it seems we have more screens than ever, and the opportunity for variety should be utilized.

I think it is fantastic that Moore is trying to eek out space for these types of film. If he is able to cut a deal with some major chains of theaters; this could be a fantastic victory for all. Many people want to see documentary film and it is cool that one of the genres champions are now giving back to those that are staring out. Moore doesn’t need handouts for himself, he has made it; he could film a squirrel eating peanuts for 90 min and it would get 2 screens at the AMC this weekend.

I am pumped about this news and hope that Moore is successful in his battle!

Comment with Facebook

9 thoughts on “Michael Moore Fights For Screen

  1. i don’t get the hate for moore.

    if anyone can direct me to where he has ever fought on the side of anything that has led to death or where he has stodd up for any causesthat lead to any type of human suffering I will be grateful because as far as I see it he is only ever fighting to save lives and make the world a bit better than the state of shit it is in at the moment.

    sure he lies but when all of his lies revolve around trying to get the world to a aplace that has less death lie away as far as I am concerned…..

  2. pfft….well i live in the by area…plenty of indy films out here….just i dont like much of them…..micheal moore is a piece of work…he has valid complaints but he is just a media machine himself whether he likes it or not.

    personally i give the owner of the theatre the right to play wtf he or she wants.

  3. Coincidentally, he’ll be visiting the school I teach at tomorrow to talk with the students about Sicko. Although his time will be primarily devoted to students, I’m happy to try to ask any questions anyone may want to ask him (within reason – I do work there so I have to go easy on the guy :) Let me know.

  4. Moore is generally hated with a passion in my current area (Flint,MI) . Some folks hate him for (occasional) truth distortions and “his” opinion. His previous film , “Sicko” was his best film to date, and also the least un-bias one.

    It’s all a moot point anyway. You can burn Moore at the stake or throw roses at his feet for all I care. This action- an appeal to theatre chains is a noble one. I have no problem with this. It would be outstanding if docs could play outside of the festival circuits or other places that your local art musuem (over in my area, the FIA tends to run them on the weekends- with only four screenings) …However…

    Here are the questions I want to pose to you…maybe I’ll bring one or two up later today on NowLive if it isn’t asked :

    Should Moore talk to the distrubutors/studios instead? Even if he did- do some of the “little studios” have the clout to compete with, say, WB on even a limited release level (remember, WB distributed “Roger & Me”, Moore’s first doc)

    Which sells more soda and popcorn and /or will result in the consumption thereof while watching, (for example) “Lake of Fire”, Tony Kaye’s documentary (which SHOULD have been nominated) regarding the abortion contreversy, which includes footage (in black and white) of abortions being performed or “30 Days Of Night”?

    {This does not pertain to films in the past dealing with music and/or musicians, such as U2, Madonna or Metallica.}

    Would audiences would rather use cinema as a form of escaping the cruelties of the planet…instead of being informed more about them?

    Does anyone watch the History and/or Sundance and/or The Documentary channel? Why should I go the movies if I got my own front row seat and cheaper food?

    Those above are the cons of Moore’s move.
    The plus is…it should have been done a long time ago.

    And…at one point in our history… it was!

  5. “I despise Michael Moore with a passion. The man does not make documentaries, they are opinion peices. How in the hell can you call this guy a “Documentor” when he is constantly in the middle of his film, giving you HIS opinion. I’m all for trying to convince movie theatres to have some sort of showing for indy/foreign/documentary films, but with this guy heading it, I’m sure it will turn into some stupid socialist political thing when the chains refuse. He loves to use his platform to over dramatize whatever he is talking about. I think he is just an attention whore.”- lUIS

    amen to that hes so freaking bias it ain’t even funny, all he does is bash america and the right wing! im on the left wing and even im digusted with this guy!

  6. I despise Michael Moore with a passion. The man does not make documentaries, they are opinion peices. How in the hell can you call this guy a “Documentor” when he is constantly in the middle of his film, giving you HIS opinion. I’m all for trying to convince movie theatres to have some sort of showing for indy/foreign/documentary films, but with this guy heading it, I’m sure it will turn into some stupid socialist political thing when the chains refuse. He loves to use his platform to over dramatize whatever he is talking about. I think he is just an attention whore.

  7. I think it’s important to make these films more available and I hope that Moore succeeds in his quest. I don’t often catch a doc in the theaters because it is easier to wait till it’s out on DVD or comes on cable.
    Even if say the theater who carries a doc or foreign film can share the space with another smaller film by having a couple of showings either in the afternoon or at night. The Regal theater near me will do that with some kids films which won’t make much money by playing at 10pm.

  8. AMEN! I’m lucky enough to go to school in a bustling metropolis with tons of movie screenings and indy theaters, but others aren’t so lucky. Even with all the theaters here in Raleigh, I didn’t get to see There Will Be Blood until a trip to New York City with my mom last weekend. I want to see Persepolis, and I can’t find it. I wish that more theaters would carry smaller indy and foreign films, but I get why they don’t. They’re trying to max out their profit, and let’s face it: more folks will turn out for hot chicks and giant robots than a guy screaming about drainage and milkshakes:)

Leave a Reply