The 'Yes Men' film was an interesting film to watch in a class room environment.
A rags to riches story for any aspiring student of theater, or anyone simply looking for fame. But [find the names online] aren't in it for the fame. At first glance, making a documentary about yourself (an 'auto-documentary'?) can seem pretentious, but the two don't seem to be wanting their faces plastered on the news. Indeed, doing so would be detrimental to their deeper goal. Social change.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the film, to me, was the origin of the [find names online] From buying hundreds of GI Joes and Barbies simply to return them to the store with traded voiceboxes, to hacking into SimCity's code to give players a few surprises. When the two met and start working together their high profile pranks take a turn. To watch as two pranksters become movie stars with a message makes for a fascinating documentary.
I was continually reminded of the NY based group 'ImprovEverywhere'. They both attempt to use a sort of urban theater to progress their agenda. In the case of 'ImprovEverywhere' that goal is simply to wake people up from their routine patterns and find entertainment in the typical. While the 'Yes Men' certainly succeed in changing people's days, the change is viewpoints and perspectives.
One of the best Improv Everywhere urban sketches:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luVcCs0UMB0
