Jeff Tremaine
Encyclopedia
Jeffery James "Jeff" Tremaine (born September 4, 1966) is an American film and television producer/director, and, along with Johnny Knoxville
and Spike Jonze
, one of the creators of MTV's
Jackass
. He directed Jackass: The Movie
, Jackass Number Two, Jackass 3D
, and Jackass spinoff Wildboyz
. Tremaine is the former editor of Big Brother Magazine
and a former art director of the influential BMX
magazine GO as well as a former professional BMX rider. Jeff was the executive producer
on the MTV reality series Rob and Big and now works as the executive producer of Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory
, Ridiculousness, and Nitro Circus
.
in Bethesda, Maryland
in 1985. Jeff also attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
, graduating in 1989 with a degree in Fine Art. While attending Washington University, Jeff was a member of the Sigma Nu
fraternity.
In 1989/90, Tremaine fronted the short-lived band Milk
along with Lewman (guitar), Jenkins (bass), and BMX rider R.L. Osborn (drums). Milk
achieved worldwide cult status among skateboarders when “The Knife Song” was used on Jason Lee
’s skate section in the landmark Blind video, Video Days (the song was later reused as a snippet in Jackass: The Movie
during the “Rental Car-Crash Derby”).
He has a brother named David Tremaine who is the principal at Hayfield Secondary School
in Alexandria, VA.
, Chris Pontius
, and later Steve-O
at a Big Brother party. Tremaine also worked at Big Brother with future Jackass and Wildboyz
crew members Dimitry Elyashkevich
and Rick Kosick
. Together with Dave Carnie and Johnny Knoxville
, with material submitted by Bam Margera
, the Big Brother group created a television series based on Knoxville's Big Brother video skits and Tremaine's longtime friend and music video/film director Spike Jonze
submitted the pilot to various networks. After a bidding war between Comedy Central
and MTV, Jackass was picked up by MTV with Jeff as the director.
Following the ending of the Jackass television series and a successful major motion picture, Tremaine joined Jackass alums Chris Pontius
, Steve-O
, Dimitry Elyashkevich
, and Rick Kosick
in the Jackass spin-off Wildboyz
.
Tremaine is also an artist, who creates large, 3D works of art. On JackassWorld.com it is quoted that Tremaine would: "spackle a sheet of plywood with papier-mâchéd beer labels, birdseed, sand, moss, or whatever other material he could get his hands on, and then paint a pretty picture on top of the whole textured mess." Many of his paintings were used on snowboards and skateboards.
In 2009, it was announced that Tremaine would be directing the second sequel to Jackass, titled Jackass 3D
. It was filmed in 3D
starting in January 2010. The whole cast of the previous movies returned. Tremaine is also working with The Dudesons, described as "the Jackasses of Finland" who moved to the United States for their MTV series called "Dudesons in America".
Film
Johnny Knoxville
Philip John Clapp , better known by his stage name Johnny Knoxville, is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, stunt performer, best known for being the co-creator and principal star of the MTV reality series Jackass, with the catchphrase "I'm Johnny Knoxville, and welcome to Jackass."-Early...
and Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
, one of the creators of MTV's
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Jackass
Jackass (TV series)
jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks...
. He directed Jackass: The Movie
Jackass: The Movie
Jackass: The Movie is a 2002 American reality film directed by Jeff Tremaine with the tagline "Do not attempt this at home." It is a riskier and uncensored continuation of the stunts and pranks by the various characters of the MTV television series Jackass, which had completed its unique series...
, Jackass Number Two, Jackass 3D
Jackass 3D
Jackass 3D is a 2010 American 3D comedy film and the fourth film in the Jackass series. It was released on October 15, 2010 by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films to American theaters and marked the 10th anniversary of the franchise, which started in 2000...
, and Jackass spinoff Wildboyz
Wildboyz
Wildboyz is a spin-off and follow-up to Jackass, which debuted in 2003 on MTV and moved to MTV2 in its third season. Steve-O and Chris Pontius are the stars of the show, who perform stunts and acts with animals, often putting themselves in situations for which they are not trained...
. Tremaine is the former editor of Big Brother Magazine
Big Brother (magazine)
Big Brother was a skateboarding magazine founded by Steve Rocco, which was notable for ushering in street skating and the sub-culture of skateboarding....
and a former art director of the influential BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
magazine GO as well as a former professional BMX rider. Jeff was the executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
on the MTV reality series Rob and Big and now works as the executive producer of Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory
Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory
Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory is an American reality television series starring Rob Dyrdek. The first season premiered on February 8, 2009 on MTV.-Summary:...
, Ridiculousness, and Nitro Circus
Nitro Circus
Nitro Circus is an American television series that featured Travis Pastrana and his friends traveling around the world riding dirtbikes, base jumping, and performing reckless stunts. It was originally run as a miniseries in 2006 on Fuel TV. In January 2009, it began running as an episodic reality...
.
Early life
He graduated from Walt Whitman High SchoolWalt Whitman High School
Walt Whitman High School is a public secondary institution serving roughly the western part of Bethesda--an unincorporated suburban area of Washington, DC, in Montgomery County, Maryland. The school is named in honor of the American poet. It is fed into by Thomas W. Pyle Middle School.-History:The...
in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
in 1985. Jeff also attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, graduating in 1989 with a degree in Fine Art. While attending Washington University, Jeff was a member of the Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
fraternity.
In 1989/90, Tremaine fronted the short-lived band Milk
Milk (band)
Milk was a band founded by Jackass co-creator Jeff Tremaine, which would go on to have a cult status with skateboarders. In 1991, with the release of Blind Video Days, Milk's "The Knife Song" was used in Jason Lee's skate section in the landmark Blind video, Video Days.Ten years later, "The Knife...
along with Lewman (guitar), Jenkins (bass), and BMX rider R.L. Osborn (drums). Milk
Milk (band)
Milk was a band founded by Jackass co-creator Jeff Tremaine, which would go on to have a cult status with skateboarders. In 1991, with the release of Blind Video Days, Milk's "The Knife Song" was used in Jason Lee's skate section in the landmark Blind video, Video Days.Ten years later, "The Knife...
achieved worldwide cult status among skateboarders when “The Knife Song” was used on Jason Lee
Jason Lee (actor)
Jason Michael Lee is an American actor and skateboarder known for his role as the title character on the NBC television series My Name is Earl, his portrayal of Syndrome in the film The Incredibles, his role as Dave Seville in the Alvin and the Chipmunks films, and his work with director Kevin...
’s skate section in the landmark Blind video, Video Days (the song was later reused as a snippet in Jackass: The Movie
Jackass: The Movie
Jackass: The Movie is a 2002 American reality film directed by Jeff Tremaine with the tagline "Do not attempt this at home." It is a riskier and uncensored continuation of the stunts and pranks by the various characters of the MTV television series Jackass, which had completed its unique series...
during the “Rental Car-Crash Derby”).
He has a brother named David Tremaine who is the principal at Hayfield Secondary School
Hayfield Secondary School
Hayfield Secondary School is the oldest secondary school in the Fairfax County Public Schools system of Virginia. It opened its doors in 1968 and graduated its first seniors in 1971.-History:...
in Alexandria, VA.
Career
Using his formal background in graphic design, Tremaine took a job as the art and editorial editor at Big Brother magazine in 1992. During this time Tremaine came in contact with some of the more colorful personalities in the skateboarding world, including Dave CarnieDave Carnie
Dave Carnie , is a former editor-in-chief of Big Brother Magazine and current writer for numerous publications.-Writing career:...
, Chris Pontius
Chris Pontius
Christopher Andrew "Chris" Pontius is an American entertainer and daredevil. Pontius is a member of Jackass, and along with Steve-O, was the co-host of Wildboyz.-Life and career:...
, and later Steve-O
Steve-O
Steve-O is an American stunt performer and television personality. His entertainment career is mostly centered around his performance stunts on the American TV series Jackass and accompanying movies....
at a Big Brother party. Tremaine also worked at Big Brother with future Jackass and Wildboyz
Wildboyz
Wildboyz is a spin-off and follow-up to Jackass, which debuted in 2003 on MTV and moved to MTV2 in its third season. Steve-O and Chris Pontius are the stars of the show, who perform stunts and acts with animals, often putting themselves in situations for which they are not trained...
crew members Dimitry Elyashkevich
Dimitry Elyashkevich
Dimitry Elyashkevich is a producer and camera operator of the MTV series of Jackass and Wildboyz.He was born on February 23, 1975 in Minsk, Soviet Union . Dimitry has also cameoed in the series and movies, most notably the Gumball 3000 rally special as their Russian Interpreter, as well as being...
and Rick Kosick
Rick Kosick
Rick Kosick is an American photographer and crew member, and supporting cast member of the Jackass TV series and the three Jackass movies.-Early career:...
. Together with Dave Carnie and Johnny Knoxville
Johnny Knoxville
Philip John Clapp , better known by his stage name Johnny Knoxville, is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, stunt performer, best known for being the co-creator and principal star of the MTV reality series Jackass, with the catchphrase "I'm Johnny Knoxville, and welcome to Jackass."-Early...
, with material submitted by Bam Margera
Bam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
, the Big Brother group created a television series based on Knoxville's Big Brother video skits and Tremaine's longtime friend and music video/film director Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
submitted the pilot to various networks. After a bidding war between Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
and MTV, Jackass was picked up by MTV with Jeff as the director.
Following the ending of the Jackass television series and a successful major motion picture, Tremaine joined Jackass alums Chris Pontius
Chris Pontius
Christopher Andrew "Chris" Pontius is an American entertainer and daredevil. Pontius is a member of Jackass, and along with Steve-O, was the co-host of Wildboyz.-Life and career:...
, Steve-O
Steve-O
Steve-O is an American stunt performer and television personality. His entertainment career is mostly centered around his performance stunts on the American TV series Jackass and accompanying movies....
, Dimitry Elyashkevich
Dimitry Elyashkevich
Dimitry Elyashkevich is a producer and camera operator of the MTV series of Jackass and Wildboyz.He was born on February 23, 1975 in Minsk, Soviet Union . Dimitry has also cameoed in the series and movies, most notably the Gumball 3000 rally special as their Russian Interpreter, as well as being...
, and Rick Kosick
Rick Kosick
Rick Kosick is an American photographer and crew member, and supporting cast member of the Jackass TV series and the three Jackass movies.-Early career:...
in the Jackass spin-off Wildboyz
Wildboyz
Wildboyz is a spin-off and follow-up to Jackass, which debuted in 2003 on MTV and moved to MTV2 in its third season. Steve-O and Chris Pontius are the stars of the show, who perform stunts and acts with animals, often putting themselves in situations for which they are not trained...
.
Tremaine is also an artist, who creates large, 3D works of art. On JackassWorld.com it is quoted that Tremaine would: "spackle a sheet of plywood with papier-mâchéd beer labels, birdseed, sand, moss, or whatever other material he could get his hands on, and then paint a pretty picture on top of the whole textured mess." Many of his paintings were used on snowboards and skateboards.
In 2009, it was announced that Tremaine would be directing the second sequel to Jackass, titled Jackass 3D
Jackass 3D
Jackass 3D is a 2010 American 3D comedy film and the fourth film in the Jackass series. It was released on October 15, 2010 by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films to American theaters and marked the 10th anniversary of the franchise, which started in 2000...
. It was filmed in 3D
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
starting in January 2010. The whole cast of the previous movies returned. Tremaine is also working with The Dudesons, described as "the Jackasses of Finland" who moved to the United States for their MTV series called "Dudesons in America".
Filmography
Television- Jackass (TV series)Jackass (TV series)jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks...
(MTV, 2000–2002) - Jackassworld.com: 24 Hour TakeoverJackassworld.com: 24 Hour TakeoverJackassworld.com: 24 Hour Takeover was a 24-hour live TV special featuring many stars of the MTV show and movie franchise Jackass from February 23-24, 2008....
(MTV Special, 2008) - Nitro CircusNitro CircusNitro Circus is an American television series that featured Travis Pastrana and his friends traveling around the world riding dirtbikes, base jumping, and performing reckless stunts. It was originally run as a miniseries in 2006 on Fuel TV. In January 2009, it began running as an episodic reality...
(MTV, 2007–2009) - WildboyzWildboyzWildboyz is a spin-off and follow-up to Jackass, which debuted in 2003 on MTV and moved to MTV2 in its third season. Steve-O and Chris Pontius are the stars of the show, who perform stunts and acts with animals, often putting themselves in situations for which they are not trained...
(MTV, 2003–2006) - Steve-O: Demise and Rise (MTV Special, 2009)
- Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy FactoryRob Dyrdek's Fantasy FactoryRob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory is an American reality television series starring Rob Dyrdek. The first season premiered on February 8, 2009 on MTV.-Summary:...
- 24 Hours with...24 Hours with...24 Hours with... is a TV show created by UK production company Hideous Productions for ITV. The shows Executive Producers are Spencer Austin and Harry Harrold, along with Paul Ross for co-production partners Twofour Broadcast....
(ITV, 2006) - The Dudesons in America (MTV,2010) {Co-Executive Producer}
- ESPN's "30 for 30" The Birth of Big Air (2010) {Director}
Film
- Jackass: The MovieJackass: The MovieJackass: The Movie is a 2002 American reality film directed by Jeff Tremaine with the tagline "Do not attempt this at home." It is a riskier and uncensored continuation of the stunts and pranks by the various characters of the MTV television series Jackass, which had completed its unique series...
(2002) - Jackass Number Two (2006)
- Jackass 2.5 (2007)
- Jackass 3DJackass 3DJackass 3D is a 2010 American 3D comedy film and the fourth film in the Jackass series. It was released on October 15, 2010 by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films to American theaters and marked the 10th anniversary of the franchise, which started in 2000...
(2010) - Jackass 3.5 (2011)
- Nitro Circus 3DNitro CircusNitro Circus is an American television series that featured Travis Pastrana and his friends traveling around the world riding dirtbikes, base jumping, and performing reckless stunts. It was originally run as a miniseries in 2006 on Fuel TV. In January 2009, it began running as an episodic reality...
(2011)