An Interview with Michael Moore

Introduction

Michael Moore is the self-proclaimed champion of lost causes, defender of the working class, and enemy of right-wing corporate America. He grew up in the city of Flint, Michigan, which has been referenced in his many "agit-prop" documentary essays, beginning with ROGER AND ME (1989); and continuing with PETS OR MEAT: THE RETURN TO FLINT (1992); THE BIG ONE (1997); BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE (2002); and FAHRENHEIT 9/11 (2004). His formula of "ambush journalism," pursued by his own company, Dog Eat Dog, and his blue collar image (abetted by his ample girth, trademark baseball cap, tattered tennis shoes, and blue jeans) has established him as a controversial media image recognizable the world over. With a substantial percentage of his profits, Moore supports the Center for Alternative Media, a foundation dedicated to supporting independent filmmakers and social action groups (www.michaelmoore.com).

Details

Michael Moore's breakout documentary, Roger & Me, was released to theaters in December 1989. On the road to promote the film, Moore came to Kansas City, where he agreed to attend a preview screening of the film with students from my Film History class. Afterwards, after a Q&A session with the students, we retired to the home of his hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Meyers, of Kansas City, Missouri, for the following interview, December 5, 1989. This was two weeks in advance of its official "premiere" in Flint, Michigan on December 19. Roger & Me was Moore's first film. His only prior experience with the film medium was running a film society in Flint.

Attired in his by-now-familiar baseball cap, blue jeans, and tattered tennis shoes, Moore's remarks about his filmmaking agendas and his plans for the future have since been borne out in his subsequent features, The Big One, Welcome to Columbine, and Fahrenheit 9/11, and in his various television series. I am grateful to Warner Bros., Dan Meyers, and Michael Moore for the opportunity for the following interview, heretofore unpublished.

John Tibbetts (JT) and Michael Moore (MM) Interview

JT: Does Warner Bros. have special plans for distributing Roger & Me?

MM: Well, Warner Bros. is reserving a seat in every theatre, at every screening in every city in America. This seat is for Roger Smith, Chairman of General Motors, so that he can attend this movie any time he likes, free of charge, compliments of Warner Bros. He will be made aware of it, if he isn't already. It doesn't matter where he travels, if he's bored he can go see the movie for free.

JT: Could wild horses keep him away I wonder. . . .

MM: I don't know. If there was a movie out there starring you, you'd have to go see it. What's he gonna do come Academy Award time for Best Supporting Actor, he's not going to pull a Marlon Brando on us is he?

JT: People are wondering: "Roger Smith? What's this all about?" Take us back, Michael, roughly a few years ago when something rather devastating happened to your hometown of Flint, Michigan.

MM: I myself was unemployed about three years ago when Roger Smith came on TV and announced that he was closing down three factories in my hometown, eliminating thousands of jobs (nearly 30,000 jobs in Flint in the 80s). So, I thought: I'll make a movie, go after Smith to try to get him to come to Flint. I'll take him on a tour and show him what happens to people when they lose their jobs. So I began this quest, and we dogged him all over the country for, at the very least, an interview.

JT: Your production company is called Dog Eat Dog.

MM: That's really how we felt making this film. It's that kind of world. It's a staff of just...