Bumfights

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Bumfights is a video series produced by Indecline Films. The debut release titled Bumfights Vol. 1: A Cause for Concern features primarily high school fights caught on tape and homeless men (most notably Rufus Hannah and Donnie Brennan) in the San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas metropolitan areas attempting amateur stunts in a style inspired by the popular MTV series Jackass. It was produced by Ryen McPherson, with friends Zachary Bubeck, Daniel J. Tanner, and Michael Slyman, as Indecline Films. Contrary to its title, the video does not depict homeless men actually fighting, but instead a compilation of street fights caught on tape and homeless men performing in skits and stunts.

The video series immediately garnered criticism. In April 2006, the four original filmmakers agreed not to produce any more Bumfights videos or distribute videos already made, and to pay three homeless men depicted in the videos, under a settlement announced shortly before a lawsuit was due to go to trial.[1]

Reception[]

By June 2002, 250,000 copies were reported sold for over $22, according to Wired magazine.[2] Community complaints led to the police investigating if any laws were broken by producers.[2] Advocacy groups were critical of the film.[3][4]

Indecline: Vol. 1—"It's Worse Than You Think"[]

Ryen McPherson moved on to produce a similar reality video called Indecline: Vol. 1—It's Worse Than You Think. Though controversial for its fight footage and acts of elaborate graffiti art, legal troubles did not hinder the sales of this video, although the website went offline in June 2008. The Indecline web site went back online in November 2008.[5]

Bumfights videos[]

  • Bumfights Vol. 1: A Cause for Concern (2002)
  • Bumfights Vol. 2: Bumlife (2003)
  • Bumfights Vol. 3: The Felony Footage (2004)
  • Bumfights Vol. 4: Return of Ruckus (2006)

References[]

  1. ^ "SignOnSanDiego.com: Homeless men in 'Bumfights' get settlements over video". Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved September 26, 2006.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ a b Friess, Steve. "Homeless Fight Club Miffs Critics". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  3. ^ Stahl, Michael (2018-10-02). "Subversion Gone Wrong: Inside 'Bumfights'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  4. ^ "LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: NEWS: Film cashes in on street scenes". 2003-01-05. Archived from the original on 2003-01-05. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  5. ^ "Ryen McPherson Q&A Part 2 [Bumfights / Indecline / King of the Jews ] - Polly Staffle - Movie & DVD Reviews". Polly Staffle. Archived from the original on 2007-01-08. Retrieved 2014-03-06.

External links[]

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