Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Media / Film / News Bites Punking the Chamber
Posted by Michael Miner on 10.20.09 at 11:19 AM
The Yes Men — self-described "gonzo political activists" disguised as corporate toadies — took on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Monday. As the chamber, they issued a news release and then staged a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington DC, announcing that the chamber had seen the light and decided to throw its weight behind climate change legislation it long opposed. "Mother Nature means business, and we do too."
At the close of the conference, confusion ensues — and some will say hilarity reigns — when a genuine chamber spokesman barrels in to denounce the fraud.
Here's a link to a video assortment, including the Fox Business Network's credulous coverage of the chamber's new position coming to a screeching halt.
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These guys are fearless! And they need help! An email sent out last week read:
Preview "Angel" DVD: www.theyesmenfixtheworld.com/special/
Invest: invest@theyesmen.org
Adopt-a-ball: adoptaball@theyesmen.org
Buy a film print: invest@theyesmen.org
Tell your local theater about our film
Dear friend,
We broke a bunch of rules last week - for example, the rule that says, "Don't put your cinema audience at risk of arrest" (see pictures and videos here). Also the one that says managing a film distribution is only for People Who Know What They're Doing.
Still, the Yes Men Fix the World's opening weekend was a smashing success. The film keeps raking in the amazing reviews. More and more theaters want it. Audiences have such a great time that we're hiring a Riot Coordinator. And we've got fun plans for mayhem in five more cities already.
There's only one glitch: we're totally broke. Busted. Flat cleaned out. We can't possibly afford to make the 10-15 new film prints ($1200 each) that theaters want, nor buy the advertising (another $15,000 at least) to make the film work in each market - let alone pay the high salaries that good Riot Coordinators command nowadays.
But you know, a Yes Man never gives up. So we've got a three-part plan to raise the money we need:
One: We're selling a very small number of DVDs - just a couple hundred - only to friends in the US who've signed up on our list - i.e. you. The price is high - $50 (or more!) - but it'll help us get the film and accompanying mayhem to middle America. This DVD, which comes with a free "dream edition" New York Times and oodles of love, will ship mid-November, making it a perfect holiday gift. (The official DVD won't be out until mid-spring at the earliest.) Every film distributor we know says it's Bad News to sell a DVD during theatrical rollout, so we're trying to keep this quiet - please, if you get one, don't pass it around or sell it on eBay, just keep it under that yule log. (Note: it's a Zone 1 DVD, which means it'll play only in the US.)
Two: You can loan money to our distribution and audience engagement effort, to be paid back when proceeds from the retail DVD start rolling in next year. To take this route, please email invest@theyesmen.org.
Three: We're putting Survivaballs up for adoption. For just $1,000, you will become the proud parent of the world's stupidest costume. The Survivaball you own will be deployed in direct-action protest all across America, and then in December will go to Copenhagen to push world leaders to do something smart about climate change. Eventually, if you want it, it will end up in your boudoir, or wherever one keeps tired Survivaballs. Since we announced this Adopt-a-Ball program three days ago, two balls have already found happy parents. To adopt your own active ball, please email adoptaball@theyesmen.org.
Four: You can buy a film print ($1200) and loan it to us until we're done with the theatrical run. It'll be a bit scratched by then, but will still make a stylish tabletop, chair, shower curtain, etc. (We'll include the instructions.) To help out this way, please write invest@theyesmen.org.
Of course, you can also just donate money to us, or buy posters, t-shirts, Reggie candles, etc. in our store. We've got a film that makes people want to act, and shows them how to do it. All we need to spread the revolt is a little money.
If you don't have any money, and still want to help, here's something you can do: ask your local theater to play our film! Current US screenings list is here. (True, we have no money now - but by the time the print needs to go to your theater, the money tree will have bloomed. We're that optimistic.)
Your (momentarily) impoverished friends,
The Yes Men
Their film will be at the Music Box at the end of the month but if you can help support their amazing work in the meantime, please do!
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