Kerkorian Genocide Movie

[Haykakan]

BILLIONAIRE KIRK KERKORIAN FUNDING EPIC FEATURE FILM ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

12:53, 26 Feb 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Kirk Kerkorian is 97 years old and worth $4 billion. The one time
owner of MGM, and wealthy Las Vegas real estate and casino over (
he also owned the MGM Grand), is not done, however. He still has
one more wish. Kerkorian is funding a secret feature film about
the Armenian genocide that took place concurrent with World War I,
showbiz411.com reports, quoting its sources.

Kerkorian is hoping to produce the Armenian "Schindler's List" to
memorialize the Genocide.

There is already an Oscar nominated director and screenwriter signed
to the project. Various actors' names have come up, and some of that
may become clear soon. The movie has been described by the director-
who asked not to reveal his name yet- as a "Reds" or "Dr. Zhivago",
a sweeping World War I romance set against the Armenian genocide.

Kerkorian, who's always been fascinated with Hollywood, is said to
have contributed over $1 billion to Armenian charities and causes
over his long life time.

Author of the article Roger Friedman reveals that the still untitled
film wil begin shooting this summer in Europe. And the budget should
be pretty big, considering there's one backer. This movie has the
potential to be something on a large historic scale, unseen for
many years.

Friedman is assured the Kardashians, the most famous Armenian Americans
since the great writer William Saroyan, will be not be appearing in
the film under any circumstances.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/02/26/billionaire-kirk-kerkorian-funding-epic-feature-film-about-armenian-genocide/

http://www.showbiz411.com/2015/02/26/exclusive-billionaire-kirk-kerkorian-97-funding-epic-feature-film-about-armenian-genocide

[Mher]

Re: Kerkorian Genocide Movie

Members who are in the entertainment/cinema industry: Is there any legitimacy to this?

http://www.showbiz411.com/2015/06/15/kirk-kerkorian-armenian-genocide-movie-update-christian-bale-oscar-isaac-to-star

http://www.thewrap.com/christian-bale-oscar-isaac-to-star-in-terry-georges-epic-love-story-the-promise-exclusive/

It just seems to good too be true, and the source seems questionable at best
Ideally I would prefer the Genocide be covered in a more dignified and honorable way, perhaps through something like the Musa Dagh resistance, instead of some love triangle nonsense, but considered we've never had a non-low budget film on the topic, i'll take it.

[Mher]

Re: Kerkorian Genocide Movie

Kirk Kerkorian, Billionaire Investor, Dies at 98

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-16/kirk-kerkorian-billionaire-from-hotels-cars-films-dies-at-98

RIP

[Haykakan]

Re: Kerkorian Genocide Movie

RIP.
I wish our diaspora had more people who cared and did as much.

[Shant03]

Re: Kerkorian Genocide Movie

Agreed, oghormee. As expected he has been senile during the last 5-6 years so this isn't a shock to anyone. I wonder if there any part of his will is directed towards Armenia.

[Mher]

Re: Kerkorian Genocide Movie

I of course appreciate everything he did, and the great amount he donated, but I can't help but think how much more he could have done, without giving up much more, specially considering before the economic crisis his net worth was 16 billion dollars. After the initial emergency relief, which of course was urgent and most needed, there was many opportunities not to donate, but to invest. Many of the crucial projects that desperately need investment now could have been made a reality by him. This includes the nuclear power plant, the electrical system, the railway system. He could have invested in them, and gotten his investment plus interest back.

[Haykakan]

Re: Kerkorian Genocide Movie

I of course appreciate everything he did, and the great amount he donated, but I can't help but think how much more he could have done, without giving up much more, specially considering before the economic crisis his net worth was 16 billion dollars. After the initial emergency relief, which of course was urgent and most needed, there was many opportunities not to donate, but to invest. Many of the crucial projects that desperately need investment now could have been made a reality by him. This includes the nuclear power plant, the electrical system, the railway system. He could have invested in them, and gotten his investment plus interest back.

Just say thank you and move on..

[Eddo211]

Re: Kerkorian Genocide Movie

I wonder who is going to replace him....thats alot of power he held also with Las Vegas Mob. Connected Guy like him I am sure he had made his pick before departure.

RIP

[londontsi]

Re: Kerkorian Genocide Movie

A Personal Tribute on the Passing of
Kirk Kerkorian: an Extraordinary Man

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

https://www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Since his passing on June 15, thousands of journalists have
highlighted Kirk Kerkorian's amazing business accomplishments and
substantial charitable contributions. However , these journalists had
never met this great man, as he rarely gave interviews to the media.
Having worked with Mr. Kerkorian for almost three decades as Senior
Vice President of The Lincy Foundation and President of the United
Armenian Fund, I would like to offer a personal tribute about this
compassionate Armenian-American and wonderful human being.
I remember vividly the first time I met Mr. Kerkorian. It was at a
Beverly Hills restaurant in the mid 1980's during a small gathering of
wealthy Armenians who supported Gov. George Deukmejian's reelection. I
was there as editor of The California Courier newspaper. When I walked
over to introduce myself, Mr. Kerkorian recognized me right away and
told me that he was a regular reader of my weekly columns. I was
greatly surprised and flattered¦.
The next time I met Mr. Kerkorian was in his Beverly Hills office on
November 1, 1989, eleven months after the devastating earthquake in
Armenia. We discussed the possibility of forming a coalition of seven
major Armenian-American organizations, including The Lincy Foundation,
to airlift humanitarian aid to Armenia. Mr. Kerkorian offered to pay
the full cost of transportation and went on to generously pledge to
cover not only the cost of one airlift, but `all future airlifts as
long as Armenia needed assistance.' Within a few days, the United
Armenian Fund was born which successfully delivered over the next 25
years $700 million of relief supplies to Armenia and Artsakh, on board
158 airlifts and 2,250 sea containers.
In 1998, Mr. Kerkorian invited me to travel with him to Armenia, his
first trip during which he pledged to Pres. Kocharian to allocate $100
million (raising it later to $242 million) to build or renovate
tunnels, bridges and dozens of schools throughout Armenia and one in
Artsakh; hundreds of miles of highways, roads and streets; 34 cultural
institutions and museums; 3,700 apartments in the earthquake zone; and
$20 million of loans to small businesses. These projects not only
dramatically improved Armenia's infrastructure, but also provided much
needed employment to over 20,000 workers. Mr. Kerkorian asked me to
supervise these projects, in my capacity as Senior Vice President of
The Lincy Foundation.
Over the years, Mr. Kerkorian's Lincy Foundation contributed hundreds
of millions of dollars to Armenians worldwide, including $14 million
to provide heating oil for Armenia's freezing population during the
harsh winter of 1993, $4.5 million in 2006 to all 28 Armenian schools
in Lebanon, and millions of dollars to Hayastan All-Armenia Fund's
projects in Artsakh. It is estimated that from 1989 to 2011, The Lincy
Foundation contributed over $1 billion, split equally between Armenian
and non-Armenian charities.
In 2011, when The Lincy Foundation closed its doors, unfounded and
false rumors began circulating about the supposed reasons for its
closure. The fact is that Mr. Kerkorian had planned all along that at
a certain advanced age he would no longer deal with the deluge of
daily requests for funding from around the world and distribute the
bulk of his wealth after his passing.
I would like to conclude by mentioning some of the likes and dislikes
of this remarkable Armenian-American:
-- Mr. Kerkorian detested the divisions among Armenians. It upset him
to no end that Armenians could not get along with each other. He often
said: `Why can't they unite and march in the same direction?' He was
pleased to see seven major Armenian-American organizations working
together under the umbrella of the United Armenian Fund.
--He cared deeply about the destitute condition of the people in
Armenia and was constantly worried about emigration. He sought to
create jobs so Armenians won't have to leave their homeland.
-- He hated the limelight and never lent his name to any building or
institution.
-- He was extremely wealthy, yet lived very modestly and spoke gently
and politely. He preferred that people address him as Kirk rather than
Mr. Kerkorian.
Finally, no one had to prompt Kirk to donate money to worthy
causes. He often volunteered to make large contributions without being
asked.
The Armenian nation and the world owe him a great debt of gratitude.

[Haykakan]

Re: Kerkorian Genocide Movie

A Personal Tribute on the Passing of
Kirk Kerkorian: an Extraordinary Man

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

https://www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Since his passing on June 15, thousands of journalists have
highlighted Kirk Kerkorian's amazing business accomplishments and
substantial charitable contributions. However , these journalists had
never met this great man, as he rarely gave interviews to the media.
Having worked with Mr. Kerkorian for almost three decades as Senior
Vice President of The Lincy Foundation and President of the United
Armenian Fund, I would like to offer a personal tribute about this
compassionate Armenian-American and wonderful human being.
I remember vividly the first time I met Mr. Kerkorian. It was at a
Beverly Hills restaurant in the mid 1980's during a small gathering of
wealthy Armenians who supported Gov. George Deukmejian's reelection. I
was there as editor of The California Courier newspaper. When I walked
over to introduce myself, Mr. Kerkorian recognized me right away and
told me that he was a regular reader of my weekly columns. I was
greatly surprised and flattered¦.
The next time I met Mr. Kerkorian was in his Beverly Hills office on
November 1, 1989, eleven months after the devastating earthquake in
Armenia. We discussed the possibility of forming a coalition of seven
major Armenian-American organizations, including The Lincy Foundation,
to airlift humanitarian aid to Armenia. Mr. Kerkorian offered to pay
the full cost of transportation and went on to generously pledge to
cover not only the cost of one airlift, but `all future airlifts as
long as Armenia needed assistance.' Within a few days, the United
Armenian Fund was born which successfully delivered over the next 25
years $700 million of relief supplies to Armenia and Artsakh, on board
158 airlifts and 2,250 sea containers.
In 1998, Mr. Kerkorian invited me to travel with him to Armenia, his
first trip during which he pledged to Pres. Kocharian to allocate $100
million (raising it later to $242 million) to build or renovate
tunnels, bridges and dozens of schools throughout Armenia and one in
Artsakh; hundreds of miles of highways, roads and streets; 34 cultural
institutions and museums; 3,700 apartments in the earthquake zone; and
$20 million of loans to small businesses. These projects not only
dramatically improved Armenia's infrastructure, but also provided much
needed employment to over 20,000 workers. Mr. Kerkorian asked me to
supervise these projects, in my capacity as Senior Vice President of
The Lincy Foundation.
Over the years, Mr. Kerkorian's Lincy Foundation contributed hundreds
of millions of dollars to Armenians worldwide, including $14 million
to provide heating oil for Armenia's freezing population during the
harsh winter of 1993, $4.5 million in 2006 to all 28 Armenian schools
in Lebanon, and millions of dollars to Hayastan All-Armenia Fund's
projects in Artsakh. It is estimated that from 1989 to 2011, The Lincy
Foundation contributed over $1 billion, split equally between Armenian
and non-Armenian charities.
In 2011, when The Lincy Foundation closed its doors, unfounded and
false rumors began circulating about the supposed reasons for its
closure. The fact is that Mr. Kerkorian had planned all along that at
a certain advanced age he would no longer deal with the deluge of
daily requests for funding from around the world and distribute the
bulk of his wealth after his passing.
I would like to conclude by mentioning some of the likes and dislikes
of this remarkable Armenian-American:
-- Mr. Kerkorian detested the divisions among Armenians. It upset him
to no end that Armenians could not get along with each other. He often
said: `Why can't they unite and march in the same direction?' He was
pleased to see seven major Armenian-American organizations working
together under the umbrella of the United Armenian Fund.
--He cared deeply about the destitute condition of the people in
Armenia and was constantly worried about emigration. He sought to
create jobs so Armenians won't have to leave their homeland.
-- He hated the limelight and never lent his name to any building or
institution.
-- He was extremely wealthy, yet lived very modestly and spoke gently
and politely. He preferred that people address him as Kirk rather than
Mr. Kerkorian.
Finally, no one had to prompt Kirk to donate money to worthy
causes. He often volunteered to make large contributions without being
asked.
The Armenian nation and the world owe him a great debt of gratitude.

Thank you yet again.