Ryen McPherson

Ryen McPherson
Born Ryan Edward McPherson
(1983-07-04) July 4, 1983
Nationality American
Occupation Film director, producer
Years active 1999–present
Notable work Bumfights, Indecline Volume 1: It's Worse Than You Think
Home town La Mesa, California
Website http://www.stabtheprincess.com

Ryen McPherson (born Ryan Edward McPherson) is best known as being a founding member of activist collective INDECLINE and creative director of an award-winning creative agency in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1][2][3][4] McPherson first came into the public eye after the creation of Bumfights, a film produced by INDECLINE, which featured high school fights caught on tape and homeless men (most notably Rufus Hannah and Donnie Brennan) attempting amateur stunts.[5]

Films

Bumfights Vol. 1 – Cause For Concern (2002)

At the age of 13, McPherson was introduced to Rufus Hannah and Donnie Brennan, two local homeless men living on the streets of La Mesa, California. Rufus was known locally as the "Stunt Bum" and was frequently seen performing amateur stunts in a park close to McPherson's school. McPherson was told of Rufus' stunts and shortly thereafter formed a relationship with him, documenting Rufus and Donnie's day to day life as well as the various stunts performed by Rufus, that up until meeting McPherson, had been performed exclusively for the enjoyment of the local high school students and police. These stunts were performed without incentive, monetary compensation or coaxing. After witnessing them himself and spending a considerable amount of time getting to know Rufus, McPherson set out to capture a side of the homeless lifestyle that very few residents of his suburb were aware of. This early video footage would later be used in the first installment of the Bumfights video series. Volume 1 would be titled: "Bumfights: A Cause for Concern".

In 2001, the 56-minute film, Bumfights Vol. 1 – Cause For Concern, was released on DVD, produced by McPherson, along with his friends Zachary Bubeck, Daniel J. Tanner, and Michael Slyman.[6]

All those involved in the creation of Bumfights were arrested for various charges after a friend of Rufus and Donnie persuaded them to sue. In 2003, McPherson was sentenced to 280 hours of community service at a homeless shelter. In 2006, the San Diego court system denied an appeal for a second time against jail time from McPherson, after McPherson failed to complete the community service.[7]

INDECLINE: Vol. 1 "It's Worse Than You Think" (2005)

Four years after the release of the first volume of Bumfights, McPherson and his INDECLINE team released 'INDECLINE: Vol. 1 "It's Worse Than You Think"', a video that strayed away from showing their relationship with the homeless. Instead, the focus of the video is mainly graffiti, street crime, people with mental disabilities and skateboarding segments, with heavy anti-establishment and anti-capitalist overtones. The DVD was released in 2005 and came with an INDECLINE stencil.[8]

Shoot to Kill Media, aka Critical Focus (2010)

In 2010, McPherson founded a creative agency and production company in Nevada. Under the name, Shoot to Kill Media, McPherson directed music videos for performers including Dirty Hooks and commercials for companies such as STK steakhouse at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.[9][10] In 2014, the company changed its name to Critical Focus and produced an award-winning viral video for the Life Is Beautiful music and art festival.[11]

Thailand

In November 2014, McPherson and his Bumfights co-creator Daniel Tanner were questioned by Thai police, before being released without charge, after trying to post human remains back to the US.[12][13][14] On November 18, 2014, a warrant was issued for McPherson's arrest. McPherson and Tanner immediately left for Cambodia, and subsequently returned to the US.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Callahan, Yesha. "Indecline Founder Speaks Out About Viral 'Black Lives Matter' Hollywood Walk of Fame Video". The Grapevine. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  2. ↑ "Meet the Makers - Vegas Seven". Vegas Seven. 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  3. ↑ "Horizon Interactive Awards: Video Awards 2013". www.horizoninteractiveawards.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  4. ↑ "Horizon Interactive Awards: Video Awards 2014". www.horizoninteractiveawards.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  5. ↑ Callahan, Yesha. "Indecline Founder Speaks Out About Viral 'Black Lives Matter' Hollywood Walk of Fame Video". The Grapevine. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  6. ↑ "Ryen McPherson Q&A 2". Archived from the original on January 8, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Ryen Denied" (PDF). Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  8. ↑ "The Mike The Pod Review: Indecline: "It's Worse Than You Think", Vol. 1". Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  9. ↑ "The Dirty Hooks, "Naked City Colt" - Vegas Seven". Vegas Seven. 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  10. ↑ "Meet the Makers - Vegas Seven". Vegas Seven. 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  11. ↑ "Behind the Scenes at the Life Is Beautiful Lineup Announcement Film Shoot — DTLV". DTLV. 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  12. ↑ "Thailand police seek Americans over baby parts posted to US". BBC News. November 17, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014. Police named one of the Americans as a controversial video maker, Ryan McPherson.
  13. ↑ "'Bumfights' Creators -- Busted For Mailing Baby's Head ... And Other Body Parts". TMZ. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014. The co-creators of the "Bumfights" video series were arrested in Thailand over the weekend for allegedly packaging child body parts stolen from a hospital, and shipping them to the U.S. ... labeled as "toys." According to multiple reports ... Ryan MacPherson and Daniel Tanner were busted when a scan of the boxes by a Bangkok parcel company revealed the gruesome discovery.
  14. ↑ Andie Adams and Associated Press (November 17, 2014). ""Bumfights" Producers Questioned for Shipping Human Body Parts". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved November 17, 2014. U.S. investigators are trying to determine whether any laws were broken by two American tourists – former San Diegans who produced the controversial “Bumfights” films – who police say tried to ship preserved human parts from Thailand to Las Vegas. FBI spokeswoman Bridget Pappas said Monday that investigators are aware that Ryan McPherson and Daniel Tanner were questioned after Bangkok police confiscated the three packages labeled "toys."
  15. ↑ "Thai arrest warrants issued for 'body parts' Americans". BBC News. November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
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