CKY (film series)

CKY (video series)
The covers for the original four releases: CKY, CKY2K, CKY3, and CKY4
Directed by	Bam Margera Joe Frantz Ryan Gee Brandon DiCamillo
Written by	Bam Margera Brandon DiCamillo
Produced by	Bam Margera Joe Frantz
Starring	Bam Margera Brandon DiCamillo Ryan Dunn Chris Raab Rake Yohn Jess Margera Brandon Novak
Narrated by	Brandon DiCamillo
Cinematography	Joe Frantz
Edited by	Bam Margera Joe Frantz
Music by	CKY
Production company	Bam Margera Productions
Distributed by	Landspeed Ventura Distribution SLAM! Films Revolver Entertainment
Release date	1999–2002
Country	United States
Language	English

The CKY video series is a series of videos produced by Bam Margera and Brandon DiCamillo and other residents of West Chester, Pennsylvania. "CKY" stands for "Camp Kill Yourself". ^[1] The series was part of the basis for what eventually became Jackass .

Contents

• The CKY crew
• CKY
• Differences between the VHS and DVD versions
• CKY Documentary
• CKY2K
• Iceland
• The rental car
• Differences between the VHS and DVD versions 2
• CKY3
• CKY4: The Latest & Greatest
• CKY: The Greatest Hits
• High definition re-releases
• See also
• References
• External links

Four videos were released, Landspeed presents: CKY (later called CKY), CKY2K, CKY3, and CKY4: The Latest & Greatest. There is also a CKY documentary DVD, which is a supplemental item in the CKY Box Set, as well as two CKY Trilogy sets, both of which are compilation DVDs featuring scenes from the previous CKY DVDs. The videos were named after Bam Margera's brother Jess and his band CKY.

The videos feature Bam Margera, Brandon DiCamillo, their friends, and Margera's relatives performing various stunts and pranks, interspersed with skate footage of Margera and other professional skateboarders. ^[2] A trademark of the skating footage was to show unsuccessful trick attempts immediately followed by the same skater pulling the trick off. CKY started when Margera and his friends were in the same graphics arts class at school in West Chester, Pennsylvania. During class, they would go out to a field and film skits, eventually being compiled into the CKY series. In a 2002 interview, Margera said that more than 400,000 copies of the series have been sold. ^[3]

In 2018, producer Joe Frantz confirmed that he had begun remastering all four videos for HD release. They were released in 2019 on the now-defunct streaming service DCTV. ^[4]

The CKY crew

In addition to Margera and DiCamillo, the core members of the CKY crew included Ryan Dunn, Chris Raab (aka Raab Himself), Rake Yohn, and Bam's elder brother Jess. Jess' involvement with the video side of CKY became increasingly limited as CKY the band became popular, and touring and recording commitments took up most of his time.

The first video stars the main crew, as well as Ryan Gee (aka The Gill), Mike Maldonado, Chris Aspite (aka Hoofbite), Kerry Getz, brothers Mark and Chris Hanna, and Rake's younger brother Art Webb. Bam's father, Phil, was also featured (uncredited) in the first video. Bam's ex-girlfriend Jenn Rivell, and David Decurtis (aka Naked Dave) starred in the second video, which also features Bam's mother April (uncredited), and skateboarder Tim O'Connor. Chris Raab was called Raab Himself in the third video, which also featured CKY band members Deron Miller and Chad I Ginsburg, as well as skateboarders Tony Hawk, Brandon Novak, and Mike Vallely. Bam's uncle Vincent (aka Don Vito) starred in the fourth video. Jenn Rivell's daughter is also seen in some clips.

The CKY videos brought Bam and his friends to the attention of Jeff Tremaine who drafted them into the cast of Jackass which aired for three seasons on MTV, from 2000 until 2001. Most Jackass skits featuring the CKY crew were lifted from previously released CKY material or were recorded by the crew in West Chester, Pennsylvania, while the Los Angeles-based faction of the Jackass team featuring Johnny Knoxville, Chris Pontius, Wee Man, Dave England, Preston Lacy, Ehren McGhehey, and Steve-O filmed in California.

A subsequent MTV spin-off, entitled Viva La Bam (2003–2006), followed Bam Margera and his crew as they tortured Bam's family, and generally wreaked havoc in West Chester, and around the world. Another spin-off, titled Bam's Unholy Union (2007), featured Bam planning his wedding with some of the CKY crew members. A one-episode Spike TV special, titled Bam's World Domination , featured Bam, Dunn, and skateboarder Tim O'Connor participating in the Tough Guy Competition in Perton, Staffordshire, England. This special aired two days before Jackass 3D (2010) was released.

Ryan Dunn also had his own spin-off TV show, titled Homewrecker . To qualify for Homewrecker, a participant had to submit to the show a story of how he or she was victimized by one of their friends. Each segment opened with the "victim" explaining to Dunn what happened to them. Dunn then observed the offender to get additional ideas on what to do. Finally, Dunn and a team of helpers helped the participant redo their friend's room to fit what the evildoer had done to them. It aired on MTV in 2005.

A one-episode MTV special, titled Blastazoid , featured Brandon DiCamillo, and Rake Yohn, creating a "live action Donkey Kong", based on the 1981 video game with the same name. It also features stunts and pranks similar to the CKY videos. It aired in 2006.

A spin-off movie, titled Haggard: The Movie , was released in 2003. A loose sequel to this movie, titled Minghags: The Movie , came out in 2009.

Bam also hosted his own radio show, Radio Bam on Sirius XM, which aired from 2004 to 2013. The show's cast originally starred Bam, his brother Jess, Brandon DiCamillo, Brandon Novak, Rake Yohn, and Joe Frantz. It featured guest appearances from Ryan Dunn, Raab Himself, Bam's parents and uncle, Bam's then-wife Missy Rothstein, the CKY band members, and some Jackass cast members.

CKY

CKY
Original 1999 VHS release
Directed by	Bam Margera
Written by	Bam Margera Brandon DiCamillo
Produced by	Joe Frantz Bam Margera Cat in Color
Starring	The CKY crew
Cinematography	Bam Margera Ryan Gee
Edited by	Bam Margera Rob Erickson
Music by	CKY
Distributed by	Tum Yeto (1999); Ventura Distribution (somewhere later in 1999)
Release date	March 1, 1999 (1999-03-01)
Running time	approx. 45 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Landspeed presents: CKY, the first film in the series, was released on March 1, 1999, featuring Bam Margera and Brandon DiCamillo on the cover. The name Landspeed comes from Landspeed Wheels, the wheel company created by Rob Erickson and distributed by Tod Swank through Tum Yeto Inc. Landspeed made skateboard wheels and clothing from 1998 to 2000. The name CKY comes from Jess Margera's band. The video shows a mixed up variety of random, homemade, crazy humor, and mostly focuses on stunts, pranks, and crazy behavior, as well as skateboarding. The music features original songs by the band CKY, including "96 Quite Bitter Beings".

CKY2K

CKY2K, the second film in the series, was released on May 22, 2000, featuring Rake Yohn on the cover. The video features a trip to Iceland, the rental car, a baseball game, "Bran's Freestyle", and other random items. The music features early versions of Flesh into Gear and Sporadic Movement by CKY; as well as many other artists, including an opening scene with Rammstein, Iceland scenes with Björk and Orbital, and a skateboarding scene with Believer "Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)" ^[5] and Aphex Twin.

Near the end of the video, there is a scene in which a minor exposes his genitalia in front of a public restaurant. The video explained that "this is what happens when you tell Bam you'll do anything to be in CKY." In 2003, the parents of the minor sued. ^[6] During the hearing, a County Court Judge ruled that images of the plaintiff "must be deleted from future versions" of the video. ^[7] Subsequently, CKY2K was discontinued due (in part) to copyright issues. The first major issue was from Björk.

CKY3

CKY3, the third film in the series, was released in 2001, ^[8] featuring Bam Margera and his father Phil on the cover. Soon after its release, Margera and DiCamillo were sued over the fight scene involving Mike Vallely. ^[9] The issue was settled out of court in 2006. ^[10] It was also the first of the videos to be taken off the market due to copyright restrictions. Some of the musicians (or their legal representation) were unhappy with Margera using their music without their permission. This would later happen with CKY2K and the box set including all three videos and the documentary.

CKY4: The Latest & Greatest

CKY 4, the fourth and final film in the series, was released on November 10, 2002, featuring Ryan Dunn rolling off a roof in a barrel with Bam Margera recording on the cover. It has a marked improvement in editing techniques compared to the other films, mostly due to Bam Margera's newly acquired wealth and ability to purchase motion picture film cameras and use advanced post-production facilities. However, it also features a lot of older video material, some unseen, some extended and some off-cuts from previous CKY films. Scenes include Don Vito's "50 Shots of Peach Schnapps" as a bonus feature.

CKY4 is the only CKY video to be censored, and one of the few DVDs to have been censored three times.

• A DVD Easter egg showed Bam Margera and his then-girlfriend mid-coitus with altered color mixes to avoid nudity. This wasn't the first time CKY videos had attracted trouble of this sort, but none of the previous videos cut legal sexually themed scenes until this one, in mid-2003. The scene is only available on the first 5,000 copies.
• In 2002, Brandon DiCamillo and CKY drummer Jess Margera wrote a rap about Masters of the Universe characters Skeletor and Beast Man engaging in extreme homosexual behavior, called Skeletor vs Beastman. Mattel, owners of the Masters of the Universe franchise, heard about the rap, and were displeased. Margera was sent a cease-and-desist order, and subsequent editions of the DVD have replaced this video with skateboarding footage.
• CKY guitarist Chad I Ginsburg, a fan of punk rocker G.G. Allin, visited his grave one day and after consuming an entire bottle of Jim Beam bourbon (Allin's favorite beverage), he proceeded to urinate on the grave and left an autographed copy of Infiltrate.Destroy.Rebuild. , which was later stolen. Mixed in between the grave footage is CKY performing Allin's song "Bite It, You Scum".
• At the end of the "lil key key" Chris Raab's skit, there was an Easter egg that was also cut in 2003 for unknown reasons.

CKY: The Greatest Hits

On November 2, 2014, MTV premiered a special in dedication of the CKY videos, featuring new interviews of the crew, as well as unreleased footage documenting the series as a whole. The special was directed by former CKY cinematographer Joe Frantz. ^[11]

High definition re-releases

Joe Frantz announced on a 2011 episode of Radio Bam that he was set to remaster the CKY series in HD. He stated the same will be done with Haggard: The Movie and Minghags . On January 19, 2014, Frantz gave an update on the project via his Facebook page, stating:

I'm in the process of raising funds and a cutting distribution deal to bring HAGGARD 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION to hi definition. THIS IS NO PLUG, believe me…It's very difficult to get the funds I need to do this correctly, and I've been working at it in all my spare time for a year... It will take some time, and a lot of work and passion on my part. I love this film with all my heart and will eventually get it out, with all the lost scenes in tact[ sic ], plus a lot more of the "behind the scenes" stuff you all loved. Thanks all for the support, it means everything to me!

^[12]

On December 2, 2018, Frantz gave an official update on the project, stating that production is now underway. ^{[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]} The remasters released from March 14 to April 25 on the now-defunct streaming service DCTV. On May 15, 2021, Frantz announced on his Instagram and Twitter accounts that he will be uploading the HD re-releases for free on YouTube. ^{[20] [21] [22]}

See also

• CKY (band)
• Jackass
• Haggard: The Movie
• Viva La Bam
• Radio Bam
• Homewrecker
• Bam's Unholy Union
• Minghags: The Movie
• Bam's World Domination
• Bam's Bad Ass Game Show

Related Research Articles

Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show is a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast appeared. Each episode had a specific theme, mission, or challenge which was accomplished by performing pranks, skateboarding, and enlisting the help of friends, relatives, and/or experts. Although partly improvised, the show was supported by a greater degree of planning and organization.

Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American former professional skateboarder, stunt performer, television personality, and filmmaker. He rose to prominence in the early 2000s as one of the stars of the MTV reality stunt show Jackass and subsequent films. He also created the spin-off shows Viva La Bam (2003–2006), Bam's Unholy Union (2007), Bam's World Domination (2010), and Bam's Bad Ass Game Show (2014), and co-wrote and directed the films Haggard (2003), and Minghags (2009).

Jesse Margera is an American musician. He is best known as the drummer of the rock band CKY, which he co-founded in 1998. Prior to CKY, Margera performed in the band Foreign Objects with former CKY vocalist and guitarist Deron Miller, and he has since worked with Gnarkill, Viking Skull, The Company Band, Fuckface Unstoppable, and Sovereign Eagle. Margera has also appeared in the CKY video series and the Viva La Bam and Jackass television series alongside his brother Bam.

Jackass is an American reality comedy TV series and franchise created by Jeff Tremaine, Spike Jonze, and Johnny Knoxville. It originally aired as a TV series of three short seasons on MTV between October 2000 and August 2001, with reruns extending into 2002. The series featured a compilation of pain and embarrassment inducing stunt performances and pranks on each other and the public, with the regular cast entailing Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, Ryan Dunn, Steve-O, Dave England, Ehren McGhehey, Jason "Wee Man" Acuña, and Preston Lacy.

Edward Webb, known by his stage name Rake Yohn, is an American television personality and former member of the CKY crew. He was a regular in the CKY videos and MTV's reality comedy series Viva La Bam and also had occasional appearances in Jackass.

The Camp Kill Yourself crew was a group of friends and relatives centered around television personality and skateboarder Bam Margera, many of whom are from or located in and around West Chester, Pennsylvania. The crew was active from Landspeed presents: CKY (1999) to Minghags: The Movie (2009). Some members of the crew were skateboarders, while others were involved either on-camera or behind-the-scenes in Margera's various projects such as the CKY videos, Jackass, Viva La Bam, Haggard: The Movie, Bam's Unholy Union, Minghags: The Movie, and Radio Bam.

Brandon DiCamillo is an American former television personality, actor, stunt performer and filmmaker. He was a founding member of the CKY crew and rose to fame through appearances in the CKY video series and MTV's Jackass, Viva La Bam, and Bam's Unholy Union series.

April Margera is an American reality television personality who has appeared on MTV's Viva La Bam and Jackass, as well as the CKY videos, Haggard, Minghags and Bam's Unholy Union.

Brandon Thomas Novak is an American motivational speaker, author, and former professional skateboarder and CKY crew member. He also had appearances in the Viva La Bam reality comedy series and the Jackass films.

Haggard: The Movie is a 2003 American independent comedy film based on the story of how reality television personality Ryan Dunn's girlfriend may have cheated on him. The film was financed, directed and produced by Dunn's Jackass co-star and longtime friend Bam Margera.

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Volume 2 is a compilation album by American rock band CKY. It was released by Distant Recordings and Teil Martin International on February 27, 1999, the same day as the band's debut studio album Volume 1. The album features a number of early demo recordings, as well as skits and samples from the first CKY video, and recordings of prank calls performed by Brandon DiCamillo.

Jackass Number Two is a 2006 American reality slapstick comedy film directed by Jeff Tremaine, and produced by Tremaine, Spike Jonze, and Johnny Knoxville. It is the sequel to Jackass: The Movie (2002), both based upon the MTV series Jackass. Like its predecessor and the original television show, the film is a compilation of stunts, pranks and skits, starring the regular Jackass cast of Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Dave England, Ryan Dunn, Chris Pontius, Wee Man, Steve-O, Preston Lacy, and Ehren McGhehey.

"Flesh into Gear" is a song by American rock band CKY. Written by band members Deron Miller, Chad I Ginsburg and Jess Margera, and produced by Ginsburg, it is featured on the band's 2002 second studio album Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild. The song was released as a single in 2002, reaching number 38 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

Minghags, previously known as Kiss a Good Man's Ass, is a 2009 film by Jackass star and professional skateboarder Bam Margera.

Phil Margera is an American reality television personality known for appearing on Viva La Bam, the CKY videos and the Jackass television series and movies. He is the father of CKY drummer Jesse Margera and Jackass star and professional skateboarder Bam Margera.

Jackass 3D is a 2010 American 3D reality comedy film directed by Jeff Tremaine. It is the third installment in the Jackass film series, and the sequel to Jackass Number Two (2006). The film stars the regular Jackass cast of Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn, Steve-O, "Danger Ehren" McGhehey, Dave England, Preston Lacy, Wee Man, and Chris Pontius. This is the last Jackass film to feature Dunn before his death in 2011 and Margera as a primary cast member before his departure in 2020. This is also the last Jackass film to feature a guest appearance by Rip Taylor, who died in October 2019.

Joseph Frantz is an American producer, cinematographer, director, and former member of Bam Margera's CKY crew. His body of works includes the CKY video series, Haggard: The Movie, reality television shows such as Viva La Bam and Bam's Unholy Union, Jackass Number Two, Jackass 2.5, Jackassworld.com: 24 Hour Takeover, Jackass 3D, and Jackass 3.5, and music videos for bands such as HIM, CKY, Clutch, and the 69 Eyes.

Radio Bam was a Sirius XM radio station hosted by professional skateboarder and Jackass cast member Bam Margera that aired on Mondays at 7 pm, straight after The Jason Ellis Show. The show's supporting cast was originally made up of Margera's fellow CKY crew members Brandon DiCamillo and Brandon Novak, who appeared on most episodes of the show's early years, with frequent guest appearances from Ryan Dunn, Rake Yohn and Chris Raab, as well as Bam's parents April Margera and Phil Margera, uncle Don Vito, and occasional appearances from the Jackass crew.

References

External links

• Landspeed: CKY at IMDb  
• CKY2K at IMDb  
• CKY3 at IMDb  
• CKY Documentary at IMDb  
• CKY4: The Latest & Greatest at IMDb  
• CKY: The Greatest Hits at IMDb