Occupy Wall St. Spurs Michael Moore To Develop New Film

Michael Moore plays at being a regular Joe, but he has developed an image and reputation as one of the loudest voices on the American political left. His career began with Roger and Me in 1989, but his Oscar-winning 2002 film Bowling for Columbine cemented his position as a liberal provocateur. The three major documentaries that followed, Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko, and Capitalism: A Love Story further developed his identity as a filmmaker, but also made him as controversial on the left as he is on more conservative political sectors.

In Capitalism, that last 2009 doc, Moore said that he would not make another film until others took the stage to fight against the issues that he has tackled in documentaries. The Occupy Wall St. protests and subsequent 'Occupy' movement across the US and other countries seem to be exactly that force he was hoping for. And so Michael Moore, the director, now says he's on his way back.

Speaking to The Wrap, Moore was reminded of his promise to make another film when people took action against economic problems. Asked if he the Occupy movement has led to make another film, he said,

Yes, I am [planning another film]. But I'm not making a film about this... I'm not gonna tell you what I'm going to do film-wise, but it will be something that's not being addressed. It will be funny and shocking and hopefully will help move the ball down the field. And as long as I am one among many ... That is why I love going down to Occupy Wall Street. Because I stand there with hundreds as part of this general assembly, and I am one voice. If feels so much better to me to have hundreds of other people sharing in that and saying, "We're all going to put the yoke on our shoulders and carry this forward." That feels better than standing alone on the Oscar stage being booed off it.

So, no real revelation other than a plan to return. And I hope that seeing people take their own action somehow pushes Moore to make a more direct, honest film than some of his past efforts. I appreciate Moore's vigor and idealism, but can't always back his tactics. (And I've been flat-out angry at his demand for a boycott against the state of Georgia in the wake of the execution of Troy Davis — the people here who might be able to affect policy in the future can't do so under economic embargo.)