Saturday, January 21, 2006

a Q&A with al cabino

My friend Al Cabino's efforts to encourage Nike to release replicas of the sneakers worn by Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future Part II continue to gather media attention. Here is a recent question and answer session:

Steven Swain: Describe "sneaker activism".
Al Cabino: I am credited with coining the term "sneaker activism". I am applying activism to sneaker culture. There's old-style activism with people like Naomi Klein. This is new-style activism.

SS: Describe the petition you've started.
AC: This is the world's first and only international sneaker petition.

SS: How many signatures to date?
AC: Over 3500 signatures from over 40 countries.

SS: What is so special about this pair of sneakers?
AC: The McFlys are the Holy Grail of movie sneakers. The McFlys were created just for the film, they were never worn beyond the silver screen. They're the most mythical sneakers in film history.

SS: Have you ever petitioned for a shoe in the past?
AC: No.

SS: Why did you get into sneakers?
AC: I love sneakers but I'm not one-dimensional, I love activism, movies, media, pizza. My childhood sneaker memories have a lot to do with rocking brand new kicks and doing the dance moves from Thriller. Sneakers are fun.

SS: Do you like Back to the Future as a movie?
AC: Yes.

SS: So are you a Michael J. Fox fan?
AC: Yes, he's this young Canadian guy who made it really big in Hollywood. He's an international superstar. We don't really have any royals in Canada, and in the New World celebrity culture tends to replace the culture of royalty.

SS: Any heroes?
AC: One of my childhood heroes is David Suzuki.

SS: What other brands or products do you find inspiring?
AC: The Nintendo Revolution. I'm a longtime Nintendo fan, and the joystick design is very intriguing. If Nintendo is reading the interview and wants to send me a Nintendo Revolution, please, go ahead.

SS: Has Montreal, your home, had an impact on your work?
AC: Vice magazine was born in Montreal. So was Dov Charney and Naomi Klein. We're this whole generation of people who are born of brutal honesty. I love that.

For more info go to http://operationmcfly.blogspot.com

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