Michael Moore wants you! Got any good dirt on Wall Street?
Filed under: Sex Sells, Banks, Entrepreneurship, Extracurriculars, Career, Wealth, Fraud, Recession, Investing, School
So, you wanna be in pictures? Here's your chance. Oscar-award winning, controversial, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore is looking for a few good whistle blowers.
In a letter posted on his website he makes the pitch, "If you work for a bank, a brokerage firm or an insurance company -- or if you have seen things or heard things that you believe the American people have a right to know -- please contact me."
He even provides his "private email": bailout@michaelmoore.com.
Let's start taking bets on what it's going to be called. Here are mine: Dicko (for Lehman Brother's last C.E.O., Dick Fuld), Stupid White Men II, Madoff and Me, Bowling for Bonuses. Or maybe he'll just call it Bonus. That would be a nice, artistic title that sums up what's been driving the Wall Street feeding frenzy that stormed our economy like locusts.
I have my doubts Moore's plea will win over the people with the real dirt. Do quintessential Wall Street types really want to talk to a "flaming liberal" like Moore? The most effective and interesting documentary covering the damnation of Wall Street would be, and this is my open letter to America, to have some budding filmmakers rent out a cigar bar in lower Manhattan, provide free drinks and kobe burgers, invite a bunch of laid-off Wall Street guys, and set the cameras rolling. Voila! You have Confessions of a Laid-off Banker.
Just ask them what they know. These guys aren't going back to finance anytime soon and they're in the same boat as anyone in a position to hire them.
That would be a way more interesting night at the movies than being subjected to Moore's infamous editing. I really can't stomach the thought of a Moore bailout movie trying to manipulate our emotions, make us gape and laugh. We get enough drama from the latest headlines.
I actually got to meet Moore once at UC Davis when I was a student. I helped organize an event where he gave a lecture in a big, fancy performance hall. What I remember most from that day is that he got mad that we didn't get him the kind of pickles specified in his dressingroom requirements. So he or his handlers left the jar in the hallway. Wait, aren't you supposed to be a hero for the working class? Pickles?
In his talk, he told the audience that I said backstage that I couldn't stay for his speech since my teacher doesn't like him. Actually, I apologized that I had to leave his talk early for a midterm. My impression from that day was that he seemed a little overworked and needed a vacation. And my impression from his letter is that we need fresh blood to take up the torch and tell the Wall Street story. A Michael Moore Wall Street documentary is way too predictable to want to watch.
Now's the time for unknown filmmakers to make their mark by beating Moore to the punchline. If you're in Virginia, get on the train to Manhattan. If you're in Wyoming, stop what you're doing and get over here. The story needs to be told in a juicy documentary, he's right about that. Michael Moore can stick to rolling around in his big pile of money and leave this one for somebody who needs a career.
Crisis presents great opportunity, mystery filmmaker. Get out there, rent the bar, and the i-bankers will come. (Don't forget to include me in the credits).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-11-2009 @ 4:09PM
Daddy Warbucks said...
Here's one for you Mike, Wall St is just a tool for the ultra rich to get richer without having to work. It's not considered insider trading when the fat tyrants who own most of the stocks decide together to sell off a portion of what they have. They sell off and it looks like a market slide getting the little players to sell off. They cause a panic and a lot of little players not only sell off but stay off keeping the prices of moneymakers low. Once it looks like they are going to stay low the fatties come back and buy a boatload of stocks and make a quick fortune. LOOK at the recovery rate whenever there is a market slide.
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2-11-2009 @ 6:31PM
craig.gawlick said...
Why can't that mystery filmmaker be YOU, Chalupa?
I'm sure you won't care what kind of pickles you get.
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2-11-2009 @ 7:33PM
Annee said...
Isn't he dead yet? Darn.
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2-12-2009 @ 1:24PM
nick said...
Andrea Chalupa you ever look in the mirror, you look alot like him. I think he would make a good bedroom partner for BARNEY FRANK...
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2-12-2009 @ 2:10PM
BK said...
Having met and learned to despise the slovenly, human manatee that is Michael Moore, we all should know more about the thugs on Wall St. and the sleazebags in Washington (Barney Frank-eater and Chris Doodoo Dodd) who exacerbated the financial mess.
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2-12-2009 @ 2:14PM
Jolly Rogers said...
Michael Moore is from a small city down the road from me. About 90% of the people think like him - you know, the only good Republican is a dead Republican, how GM sucks, eventhough they pay about $75 per hour including benes, etc. The place is a cesspool and you take your life in your own hands if you go there. The only time I ever go near the place is if I have to go on the expressway that goes thru the place and then I go about 75 mile an hour. If MM wants a good story about a sick place he could start with his own home.
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2-12-2009 @ 2:43PM
Alyssa McCarthy said...
"If MM wants a good story about a sick place he could start with his own home. " xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx He's spoke at length about his rundown hometown of Flint, Michigan in his movie "Bowling for Columbine"
2-14-2009 @ 5:31PM
Lynda said...
Hey Mr. Jolly.....You, do NOT KNOW SQUAT! I think you should get your facts straight about what G.M. employees make per hour. What you stated is a falsehood. G.M. employees make variable rates depending on thier job classification. Major setbacks have, thru many faults, that cause this fiasco. Lay blame where it should be placed. Greed at the top is SICKENING. The poor slob on the floor does his thing according to the BOSS. It is NO PICNIC working....anywhere....every job has its' challenges. Get off your high horse and smell the manure. idiot.
2-12-2009 @ 2:19PM
Harrison D Haney said...
I hate this son of a bitch and anyone who has anything to do with him. You are nothing but a mass of ignorant hoi polloi demagogues.
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2-13-2009 @ 1:10AM
jim said...
Harrison, why don't you tell us how you really feel!
2-12-2009 @ 3:59PM
judd said...
Michael Moore has NEVER told a lie in his films. His "culture of fear" outlined in "Bowling for Columbine" is spot on--just examine your own lives and our government. He exposes the hipocrosy in medicine, the draft dodging war mongerers, and the money behind the guns. GO MIKE!!
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2-12-2009 @ 2:52PM
Grumpy said...
Question ?? WHO IS MICHAEL MOORE ??
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2-12-2009 @ 2:44PM
Wayne said...
I'n sure Moore can create his own dirt about the Wall Street crooks. In fact I'm certain that's what he's going to end up doing anyway.
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2-13-2009 @ 12:15AM
RaraAvis said...
I knew Michael Moore when he was a struggling publisher of the Flint Voice. I resent you shallow idiots who judge him based on his appearance. He's devoted his life to exposing injustice wherever he finds it, and he has more balls than anyone I've ever known. I'll look forward to seeing this documentary.
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2-12-2009 @ 2:50PM
WILL said...
MOORE IS LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK , AT YOU FOOLS WHO PAY MONEY TO WATCH HIS DRIVEL
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2-12-2009 @ 2:55PM
Jeannie said...
Hey, asshole--you were so intent on trashing Bush with your lame prick movies, how about doing one on Nancy Pelosi? Now there's a worthless whore who deserves to be defamed. Everyone already knows Wall Street pricks are thieves--turn your camera on your liberal buddy, Nancy!
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2-12-2009 @ 2:59PM
Mike said...
Mike why don't you digg up some dirt on Barney Frank,Nancy Polosi,Harry Reid.
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2-12-2009 @ 3:03PM
Jenny said...
Why isn't the pig poking his snout at Rangel, Daschle, Geithner, etc., tax evasions? Or at PELOSI's plane and the amount of fuel and money she spends riding back and forth every weekend? Where is the change we were promised? Oh, I get it, the change is only for us, the 41% who pay income taxes. And we're getting an extra $13 a week. Goody.
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2-12-2009 @ 3:03PM
General said...
Hey, Michael Moore, here's an idea for your documentary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ9vTJLIA8M
It's about time someone exposed the Wall Street weasels and their crooked cronies in Congress. Keep up the good work!
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2-12-2009 @ 3:18PM
Nemesis said...
Michael Moore is one of the "dumb-fuckin'est sons-of-bitches" during this era of humanity! He wouldn't be worth the time, energy, or bullet it would take to put the bastard out of our misery. His bullshit propaganda is enough to gag a maggot and so many people lower their IQs by letting his garbage infiltrate their minds and to me that is in and of itself a tragedy. Don't let some worthless fuck like Michael Moore brainwash you into jumping on his band-wagon. Find out the truth from reliable sources!
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