Animal Magnetism

October 4, 2006

Activist Art Animal Magnetism The press kit for Wake Up Screaming describes it as the chronicles of "Texas-farm-boy-turned-punk-rock-road-warrior Jason Bayless as he charges his way across the country on the Vans Warped Tour." Bayless just may be one of the most affable "warriors" out there. By Allison Hurwitz Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006 Wake Up Screaming follows the action in and around the peta2 tent, spearheaded by Bayless, as it promotes animal rights and vegetarianism on the tour. Bayless is made the focus of the

film — his travails personal and plights philosophical play raw on screen in a way that presses the border of invasion. Bayless himself is not the definition of the oft-stereotyped scary and in-your-face animal rights activist. Sure, his left arm is inked with a detailed depiction of a cat tortured in a Texas Tech lab, but Bayless is easy-going, intelligent and more poised to talk than pick a fight. For the PETA organization, Bayless’ disposition is probably the documentary’s greatest strength. The Senior Youth Projects Specialist of peta2 debunks negative typecasting while remaining determinedly dedicated to the cause. Throughout the feature Bayless is caught goofing off with various spikey-haired drummers and lead singers (more like lead screamers in this case), engaging with

show-goers about animal activism, visiting with Mom in Dixieland and discussing his impending divorce on camera vis a vis his soon-to-be ex-wife. The film touches on the humor, the passion and the motivation Bayless personifies. He self-deprecates, making goofy faces as he attempts to sing and dance like rock-star. At a tour stop in D.C. he dresses as a monkey for a protest skit in which he is beaten by lab-coated scientists outside of COVANCE headquarters. On numerous occasions he is shown waxing philosophical on the benefits of a vegan lifestyle to both artists and fans. Bayless says that the openness of those involved with the Warped Tour is what makes it an optimal place for peta2 to canvass. An offshoot of the main PETA organization, peta2 focuses its outreach on youth. The project came about after Blockhead Skateboards founder Dave Bergthold approached Bayless to document his adventures on the tour, which he had been on with peta2 four times prior. The skateboard mogul directed and filmed the resulting doc. Bayless says at first he thought Bergthold was joking. No stranger to the tour, Bayless admits that it certainly cultivates its own distinct culture — the film gives an insider view into that altered world. "Warped Tour seriously is that bubble. You go to sleep one night and wake up the next morning somewhere else." Somewhere else being one of 48 stops made in the 2005 sweep. This day to day repetition allows for a cast of reappearing "characters" and a continuity of storyline between them. One of these performers, Dave, of Bleed the Dream,

takes "The PETA Challenge," going vegan for the entire tour. Another, Gel, of the band The Eyeliners, loses a Ms. Pacman showdown to Bayless. The consequence? She must go veg for a week. In the film, Dave says he feels healthier after making the meatless switch but also that it is a cool thing to do. Based on the deliberately anti-establishment stylings of many of the tour kids in the video, coolness is obviously something they consider, regardless of whether or not they acknowledge it. If people go vegan or get involved with animal rights to prove a point or to be a part of a hip movement doesn’t really matter to Bayless he says, so long as they do. "Most people," he says, "who do it for the cool factor don’t turn back." As for how the movie turned out, Bayless is mostly content (save for one cringe-inducing birthday scene involving him and a hired striper). "I want this film to be a tool for

people. Everything you do helps; by being vegan you help 100 animals a year." This message is repeated continuously in Wake Up Screaming, although, thankfully, the documentary avoids being preachy or judgmental. At one point shocking images of tortured animals are shown during a protest outside of Neiman Marcus, or as Bayless ‘N Crew call it, "Neiman Carcass." Other than that, the film is rather tame. What can be grating, however, is the punk music soundtrack of the tour, which plays throughout the film and becomes more than slightly irritating after the first 30 minutes. One can only imagine hearing that same style on a consistent basis for nine weeks straight as this guy did. Punk audio abundance aside, Wake Up Screaming serves a good introduction for people —

especially those under 25, into the world of animal rights by providing enough facts to inform yet sufficient unrelated footage so as not to be tiresome. The film premiered as part of the Naro’s Green Screen Film Festival on Friday, Sept. 29. Bayless, who lives in Norfolk (although spends the majority of his time traveling for peta2), was nervous prior to the screening. He says he is still distant from the emotional scenes capturing his return home (que the embarrassing mom stories) and his now ex-wife. "I don’t think it will sink in until people see it," he says. After the DVD is released nationally on Oct. 10, it may be harder for Bayless to go incognito in the Ghent neighborhood he frequents. The self-described vegan junk food addict haunts KBs for its vegan frozen custard and Dog N’ Burger for its "best fries ever." Even if pseudo-celebrity status is reached, it’s doubtful anything in

Bayless’ mission will change. He’ll still be fighting for animal rights, playing video games and spreadin’ the word on the tour as he’s always done and will continue. "My main purpose is to educate," he says. "My favorite thing is meeting people and starting a dialogue." •Peter H

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