Interview with The Yes Men
At 9,30 pm, Cinema Světozor will introduce a second feature movie from the activist group called The Yes Men, The Yes Men Fix The World. Read a short interview with Mike Bonnano, one of the Yes Men members. The second Yes Men film won the Audience Award at the Festival in Berlin and an award at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam. Questions by Šimon Šafránek, member of the Program Board of the Fresh Film Fest.
Yes Men
Was there a single moment in your youth when you realized you have to give it a try to change the world?
No, no single moment! But it did gradually dawn on my.
In reverse, why do you think the majority of people just don’t do anything?
The culture of capitalism does a really good job of eliminating people’s time and turning it into a commodity. So often people simply lack the time to do something, or at least they have the perception that they lack the time and resources. There is also the issue of powerlessness – people feel like they are up against an impossible adversary. And they are if they act alone. Collective action is the only way to fight money-power given the way this legal system has evolved.
Do you think the Internet might change anything in that respect?
The Internet is definitely making it easier and cheaper for people to get the word out about actions. And one only need look at something like Wikileaks to see how it can be effective as a tool for transparency.
What one of your missions do you personally find the most important?
At the moment they all seem important for different reasons. At the moment we are in the process of training other activists to use our methods. The program is called The Yes Lab. Its a system for teaching people how to do the kinds of funny and meaningful mischief we’re known for. That project is working to multiply our activities manyfold!
Did it ever happen you were de-masked before you could take on the stage?
Never before we went on stage. We were found out during an event on a few occasions, but it was always too late for the organizers to stop it from happening!
Fresh Film Fest showcases student/youth filmmaker can you share a single advice for them?
Work cheap, and try to do something daring. And do it now, don’t bother waiting for raising money. If you try to raise money to make something expensive, especially in this climate, you might not make anything at all and years will have gone by. Don’t let that happen to you! One other thing: use your talents to help solve the problems that civilization faces. I know that sounds a bit bombastic, but when you see the world going up in flames, that kind of language comes to mind!
What is your view of the world of today?
The world today is suffering from a terrible cancer. Some call it the culture of capitalism – we are leading a way of life that is unsustainable, and by continuing we condemn most people to death. We need to stop that, and replace it with something sustainable. Fortunately for hope, there are just a small number of people who are content to exchange the long-term health of the planet for just a little more short term profit, so fighting them should be easy when we all band together. Unfortunately, it has to come to that.
