Call for Boycott of all Disney assets until "Fahrenheit 911" released

[mouse7]

All Disney assets must be boycotted until Disney allows Fahrenheit 911 to be released.

That would be Disney and Miramax movies. Disney resorts. ABC and ESPN television networks.

[walldude]

1. Good idea in theory but..

If you have children it's nearly impossible, I think a petition might be a better course...

[mouse7]

3. God knows, we wouldn't want to put yourself out for Democracy

It's such an imposition for you to go to Universal Studios instead of Disneyland until the boycott is over.

Wow, Americans are so self-centered.

[leesa]

18. Do you mean to tell me that you will not participate because you have

children to entertain????? This is more damned important than entertaining your children!

[LoZoccolo]

23. HANNA BARBERA > DISNEY

You know it's true!

:toast:

[mouse7]

50. Ruh-roh, Raggy

Maybe we can get the to release F-911 for a Scooby Snack?

[Mrs. Overall]

25. I already boycott Disney

precisely because I do have children.

Disney's marketing tactics are brutal, and my children are exposed to Disney related movies/paraphernalia as little as possible.

[Gemini Cat]

31. Another good reason to boycott Disney!

Do it for the children!
The same would apply to McDonalds as well.

[mouse7]

49. Agreed, Disney boycott would be good for kids

Kids don't need all that commercialism attacking them constantly. Disney kids programming is little more than one long toy commercial.

[progressivebydesign]

54. Umm.. who runs your house? You or the kids?

Man.. are we that suburbanized that we can't suffer a bit, or explain to our kids what having principle is all about?

[Emillereid]

60. Your kids need democracy more than they need movies --

it's better for their developing brains and the minds that reside it them. The best antidote to Disney is reading (if they're young, read to them) or take a walk or go to the park or zoo, or do all the things that parents used to do before there was the Disney distraction! Personally I hate the way Disney has ruined so many good stories by they overly sanitized/cutsey depictions of them! Most college students have never read the real deal -- they only know the Disney versions.

[cal04]

2. Just sent email to move on .org about that

Since they send all the pettitions, I thought they might help us in making one for this too.
This story is ridiculous


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/05/national/05DISN.html?ei=5006&en=89982416bdce50c0&ex=1084334400&partner=ALTAVISTA1&pagewanted=print&position=

[krkaufman]

10. Sounds like a job for BitTorrentMan...!

Ridiculous. But isn't it interesting in light of the recent censorship of Nightline on ABC, owned by Disney. Gotta wonder if there isn't some connection between Disney/Eisner and Sinclair.

[Eric J in MN]

13. Sinclair Broadcasting refused to broadcast Nightline. That

Sinclair Broadcasting refused to broadcast on its 6(?) stations. That wasn't Disney's fault.

[krkaufman]

24. Which is why....

I'm well aware of the distinctions between Disney, ABC and Sinclair Broadcasting... which is why I worded my post as...

"Gotta wonder if there isn't some connection between Disney/Eisner and Sinclair."

... rather than making a declaration.

Just tossing out some bread crumbs on which to nibble. The censorship seems almost too coincidental, and I think it's very possible that Eisner may be acquainted with those in control of SBC.

[FreakinDJ]

4. Agreed

[Khephra]

5. Hell, I've boycotted them

since they closed down the last traditional animation studio.

[scarletwoman]

6. on edit...

never mind...

[CharlesGroce]

11. So, what, the media is allowing us to enjoy liberalism again?

These concessions, putting Clarke on the payroll, don't really actively help the situation in this country. Think about it this was, if Clarke were to have anything else to say on the matters of government, ABC will have veto power.

Anyway, the story is from Drudge Report (via the NYTimes website), it'll probably be out in a few days (some other post tonight has the link).

[scarletwoman]

12. Sorry, I didn't see the other thread about this

I edited my post, I obviously spoke too soon, and without information.

sw

[Atman]

7. I posted it on a couple boards, too

I'm down with it. Good idea. They are in a very bad financial situation, and they will have to call the bean counters in to determine whether Jebbie has enough tax breaks to offer them. Personally, I think a boycott is not enough. I'd call for full-on protests at the opening of any Disney movie. Tie the "family business" in with the Bush "family business" of killing and war. Tie the two together, if Eisner wants that. Tie them so tightly it chokes the living shit out of them.

[krkaufman]

15. Hey, push hard enough and maybe Eisner will get tossed.

Eisner's position within Disney sounds fairly precarious already, so maybe a boycott could have some real effect.

[CharlesGroce]

8. Forgive me for saying this...

but Michael Moore was an IDIOT to let Mirimax (or Disney through contractual ownersguo, or any big money corporation) have the rights to his film like that.

It would have been a hit even if it had been budgeted and produced at the level of Roger and Me from his independent days.

Just stupid. Well just legally inattentive and overly confident.

[krkaufman]

14. Weinstein

It looks like he might have felt confident since Weinstein was the guy he was working with, supposedly a Dem contributor.

[MadashellLynn]

16. stupid like a fox

look at all the free publicity he is going to get out of this and now more people will want to see what all of the fuss is over and all of the rest of us will kick up a bigger fuss and the movie will be seen Micheal Moore will make sure of it! And disney will get hurt in the process

[leesa]

19. That's right! And if this takes an award in France, it will be out there.

[mouse7]

22. Will Moore be able to get a print of film to show at Cannes?

That's the big question at this point. Has Disney got all the reels?

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

9. Just had a little Disney DVD breaking ceremony...buh bye.

If these weasles think that my family or I will ever patronize their stupid themepark they have another thing coming.

FASCISTS, pure and simple. Heil, Mein Maus!

JB

[FlemingsGhost]

17. Don't bother. It's a marketing stunt.

They're going to make a lot of money.

[mouse7]

21. Eisner is doing this for Florida tax breaks for Disney

The tax breaks on Disney's Orlando property are far more of a concern for Disney than the income from a documentary, no matter how much the ticket sales are stimulated by controversy.

I'm wondering if Jeb Bush isn't behind this. Threatened Disney's sweet Florida property tax rate.

[0rganism]

39. It's win-win for Disney

By putting up a fight, they make good for Jebby, show the conservatives they really care, and generate publicity for Moore's film at the same time.

Later, when Disney breaks down in arbitration, proving to liberals that they're really not total fascists, and Mirimax distributes the film anyway, they make extra box-office from the hype.

The more I think of it, the more it seems like the only sensible business model for a film like this includes a manufactured controversy.

[progressivebydesign]

55. Great catch. N/T

[atre]

42. I suspect you're right... Moore has done this before

... and it was a pure marketing ploy. Let's not get too upset at Disney, and let's certainly not boycott ABC (which has been as left-friendly as any other network).

[Buns_of_Fire]

45. Two quotes from the NYT article

(The article is at http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/05/national/05DISN.html?ei=5006&en=89982416bdce50c0&ex=1084334400&partner=ALTAVISTA1&pagewanted=print&position= if you missed the link earlier.)

Miramax is free to seek another distributor in North America, but such a deal would force it to share profits and be a blow to Harvey Weinstein, a big donor to Democrats...

While Disney's objections were made clear early on, one executive said the Miramax leadership hoped it would be able to prevail upon Disney to sign off on distribution, which would ideally happen this summer, before the election and when political interest is high.

I can't believe that Miramax, knowing the nature of the film (and the nature of Disney), wouldn't have had a "Plan B" for just such a situation. I CAN believe that Moore, canny as he is, will receive lots of free publicity for the movie over this -- and he knows it.

So far as tax breaks go, Disney has nothing to fear from Jebthro. The enabling legislation that allowed Disney to build its "kingdom" in central Florida was enacted years ago (there was an article in Playboy -- "A Real Mickey Mouse Operation", which I believe was in the December, 1974 issue -- which detailed how Florida basically gave away the farm to get Disney in there). Disney and Florida are joined at the hip, now. Florida can't afford to lose Disney -- Disney can't afford to leave Florida.

[edbermac]

20. No such thing as bad publicity...

Michael's probably thrilled about this. It's the same situation when Bill O'Leilly sued Al Franken about his book. Michael will be all over the media screaming about how Disney is trying to suppress this and get ten times more publicity for the film.

[RoyGBiv]

26. I've been boycotting Disney for years...

Ever since their effort to build a freakin' Civil War theme park at Manassas Junction in Virginia.

They relented, but I found I didn't miss their influence in my life, and it was rather easy to steer my daughter away from their products. She even came around to realizing there were much better places to go on vacation than Disneyland. I'm sure I've inadvertently supported them since I stopped paying as close attention, but it wouldn't be hard to go back to doing so.

And, I might add, if you want to know how successful a boycott of Disney can be, consider that a bunch of Civil War "buffs" and poorly funded preservationists effective shut them down. If that group can do it, a group this large surely can, provided we inject a little will power.

[liveoaktx]

27. Disney's Assets and Holdings

http://www.cjr.org/tools/owners/disney.asp

[Missy Vixen]

28. I completely agree

This might be a nice topic for Air America personalities to discuss tomorrow.

We have no problem boycotting Disney and Disney owned entities if they refuse to distribute "Fahrenheit 911". I also have no problem calling and faxing them in the morning with this information.

Julie

[mouse7]

29. That would be great, Julie :-)

There's a lot of people with a lot of connections and resources here at DU. We simply cannot allow this attack on free speech and artistic freedom to stand.

[benburch]

30. I'm game

What can I do to help?

[mouse7]

32. Well... we need to get a boycott announcement on a popular blog

That way, we can get people to start linking the boycott announcement on their own blogs and driving the boycott announcement up the Popdex rankings as well as other blog.

It would also help if we could hammer Disney with a google bomb. people search Google for Disney and find the boycott announcement.

[JCMach1]

36. I posted to mine, but we need someone bigger

Mine is something like #33 (Google) for Leftwing Weblogs...

It has to be a coordinated effort though...

[mouse7]

38. Outstanding!

Thank you! You know what they say. Every race begins with a first step.

[benburch]

51. DONE!

White Rose now links to the Democrats.com boycott effort.

[arissa]

33. I hope the movie is released, I want to see it, but Moore asked for this..

What the hell does he expect, going with such a mainstream, Hollywood, billion-dollar corporation? For crying out loud, the guy is supposedly an expert on why these corporations are evil! Yet he signs with them rather than going independent? He deserves it.

If he were practicing what he preaches, and either produced it himself (I'm sure he's got the money) or went with a smaller, better, non-big-evil-"conglorporation," this wouldn't be a problem. He should know better. :shrug:

[Democat]

34. He is fighting from within, sometimes it's the only way

Who cares what kind of movie you make if no one sees it.

[mouse7]

37. Miramax has always had a pretty good rep before

Miramax itself hasn't been a typical movie studio. It's very supportive of independent projects.

I lived a couple of blocks from a major studio, and knew all kinds of studio people when I lived in LA. This completely caught me by surprise. Since the days of the blacklists, Hollywood has been very touchy aboout any appearances of appearing to make any studio decisions based on politics. Don't get me wrong, they make political decisions all the time, but they make sure they can cover the decisions with other excuses.

This isn't even being camoflaged. That's why the reaction must be immediate and massive. The American People may never get another chance to protest censorship in Hollywood if the American People sleep through this fight.

[dawn]

35. I already boycott them. I had a horrible experience working there.

I was a temp.

[wtmusic]

40. My wife worked at Mauschwitz too

They locked her in for 10 hrs/day

[Nostradammit]

41. LMGFAO!!!!

Mauschwitz! Oh dear Lord that's the funniest thing I've heard in a long time.

And spot on the money.

Thanks...

[VolcanoJen]

43. Won't the film just get picked up by another distributor?

According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, Moore's last film, "Bowling for Columbine," grossed over $21 Million in its U.S. theater run. Add in the overseas gross, and the movie made over $36 Million.

Sure, it's not "Lord of the Rings," but that's a very impressive chunk of cheese for a documentary. Hollywood isn't exactly on Bush's side to begin with, but even if they were, I can guarantee that movie executives love money. Controversy be damned... and besides, controversy is profitable.

"Fahrenheit 9/11" has the potential to be a more lucrative movie than its predecessor, especially given the content, the timing, and the fact that every last one of us will probably go see it. Twice.

Doesn't this kind of stuff happen from time to time? I know I've heard of "controversial" films switching distributors before. What self-respecting mogul on earth would take a pass on the rights to distribute this film?

[wtmusic]

44. could be a publicity play

if not there will likely be serious legal consequences.

[symbolman]

46. How about a new Disney Mascot?

I mean, they ARE destroying everything we hold dear in one way or another.. :)

[mouse7]

48. looks good

Thanks :-)

[LittleApple81]

47. Boycott FLORIDA. Their repug government is behind this. n/t

[Sub Atomic]

52. Funny--I'm doing this very thing.

I'm taking a couple of days' vacation tomorrow and Friday. I was going to take my partner & a couple of friends to Disneyland as my partner has never been there.

As of this morning, I've changed my plans. We're going to Magic Mountain instead.

It'll be more fun, cheaper, and in my own way will keep a few hundred dollars from going to them.

[mouse7]

53. Big Boycott Disney effort page at Democrats.com

Here's the link...

http://democrats.com/elandslide/petition.cfm?campaign=disney

[Lorien]

56. Considering that I've been employed by them

for 15 years, that will be tough. Considering that they are THE employer of most of those making under $30,000 a year in Central Florida, it'll be even tougher on them. With the dollar being so weak overseas, tourism is increasing here, so a "boycott" by several thousand DUers won't amount to much. Write to Miramax : Miramax Films, 99 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013, USA. Tel: [phone] or Eisner directly: [e-mail] and let your voices be heard DIRECTLY. Write to your local papers (Disney has a division that scours media for references) about this unAmerican move it's making. Some of us do make movies and products with that company without malice or devious conspiracies in mind; there are A LOT of liberals employed here (Orlando went for Gore in 2000)so flinging insults and vitriol at all things Disney seems a bit excessive (like saying ALL Americans endorse Bush and his policies). It's a few a**hole execs at the top that made this decision, not the rest of the 100,000 employees and contractors.

[mistertrickster]

57. Kick it . . . and I'm onboard

Send the bastards an e-mail and tell them what your doing . . .
And remember that ABC is part of their empire so that means no more NYPD Blue, (whimper) . . .

[NJmaverick]

58. PETITION TO SIGN!

http://democrats.com/disney

[robbedvoter]

59. It needs to be done in a more focused matter to work

Take out only one of their empire - the closest related to this.