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Bumfights

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Bumfights is an independent video series originally created by Indecline Films. The videos feature homeless individuals in the San Diego and Las Vegas counties of the U.S. fighting and attempting amateur stunts in exchange for money, alcohol, and other incentives. The first video, Bumfights: A Cause for Concern, was produced by Ryan McPherson, with friends Zachary Bubeck, Daniel J. Tanner, and Michael Slyman, as Indecline Films. Shortly after sales began to escalate, Indecline Films sold the rights to two investors,[1] who went on to produce three sequels.

The videos immediately gained criticism from the mainstream public and became one of the most discussed news stories of 2002.[2] The US-based National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) has stated that Bumfight videos disseminate hate against the homeless and dehumanize them.[3] In April 2006, the four original filmmakers agreed to pay three homeless men depicted in the videos and to not produce any more "Bumfights" videos or distribute videos already made, under a settlement announced as a lawsuit was to go to trial.[4]

Bumfights videos

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

Controversy

The videos have proven to be highly controversial. They have been banned in a number of countries including Great Britain, and most traditional retail outlets have refused their sale. The popular internet auction site eBay routinely cancels listings which contain copies of the video, citing their policy which prohibits the sale of materials which promote or glorify violence. In the state of California, both felony and misdemeanor charges were filed against the producers, as well as civil lawsuits; in 2005, the producers were sentenced to six months in prison for having failed to complete the community service to which they had previously been sentenced. The filmmakers maintain that the production of the video was a mutually beneficial arrangement and that the homeless people depicted freely chose to participate.

The films have likewise been blamed for inspiring a number of violent teenage attacks on the homeless, both in the United States and other countries. In 2004, three teenagers from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, severely beat and killed a homeless man by the name of Rex Baum.[5] The following year, four teenagers from Holly Hill, Florida, attacked and killed Michael Roberts, a homeless man whom they found in the woods. They confessed to beating Roberts for three hours, after which he died.[6] A group of suburban Nevada teenagers, who took on the moniker "311 Boyz", also faced criminal charges, including attempted murder, after filming several violent exploits inspired by Bumfights. The suspects attempted to make a profitable video by instigating fights around their neighborhoods, in some instances imposing on unwilling participants. [7]

End of Distribution

The Bumfights official website eventually expired, and web hosting was eventually taken over by a charity organization known as SmileTrain [8]. The Courts involved in the lawsuits surrounding the Bumfights producers enforced the barring of further installments being produced, and stopped legal sales of videos already made. As a result, Bumfights videos were rendered available through pirated means only.

Ryan McPherson, who sold the rights to Bumfights after only the first installment, moved on to produce a similar reality video called Indecline: Volume One. [9] Though controversial, legal troubles have not hindered the sales of this video. [10]

  • In one episode of the 2003 remake of Dragnet, the case investigated is strongly based on the Bumfights videos (called "Bum Wars" in the episode).
  • In the episode of American Dad, Threat Levels, Stan begins a Bumfights Federation for himself, staging Bumfights on his own street, in a wrestling ring and giving the competitors professional wrestling-style personas and nicknames.
  • An episode of Nathan Barley sees a character betting on homeless people undergoing painful acts, e.g. having teeth pulled, on the internet.
  • A Scottish version of Bumfights titled "Jaikie Japes" was initially released on the independent label Beefheart Films, but has now been deleted due to threats of civil actions.
  • The December 12, 2006 episode of Dr. Phil featured Bumfights producer Ty Beeson. Dr. Phil McGraw had stopped the tape and requested that the producer leave the set, stating he refused to "publicize" the subject because he claimed the short video was despicable. Debate, however, has arisen as to why the segment, which featured clips from the videos, was not edited from the show if Dr. Phil truly wished to deny the videos publicity.[11]
  • In the show Arrested Development, George Sr. forces his sons to fight on camera and sells the videos, calling the series Boyfights.
  • In the comic book, Countdown to Mystery a knockoff of Bumfights leads Dr. Kent V. Nelson, fallen on hard times after a divorce and loss of practice, to find the Helmet of Doctor Fate after having been thrown into a Las Vegas dumpster with it.
  • The episode Return of the Kane of Veronica Mars features Logan staging Bumfights.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.pollystaffle.com/questionsandanswers/ryenmcpherson2.shtml
  2. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdKzBg0gqfM
  3. ^ National Coalition for the Homeless
  4. ^ SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro - Homeless men in 'Bumfights' get settlements over video
  5. ^ "Teen 'sport killings' of homeless on the rise". Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  6. ^ "'Bumfight' Videos Inspired Joy-Killing". Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  7. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb9WIhWGSnI
  8. ^ http://www.bumfights.com/
  9. ^ http://www.indecline.com/
  10. ^ http://www.pollystaffle.com/questionsandanswers/ryenmcpherson2.shtml
  11. ^ "'Bumfights' creator no match for Dr. Phil". Retrieved 2007-11-12.
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