For Kenn Williams, the journey to running one of the most talked-about new physical-media labels did not begin with licensing deals, directors’ cuts, or rare film elements hidden in storage. It began with a simple video rental shop.
“I started the company in 2022 as just a video rental store,” Kenn recalls, describing what originally began as something fun to “screw around with” before the venture took off. As renters poured in and sales from boutique labels began to move, the idea of doing something larger and much more personal started to take shape.
That turning point came through someone Kenn had admired for decades: cult-film director Albert Pyun. Their friendship, born from a Facebook comment years ago, grew into a collaboration that is now the backbone of Yippee Ki-Yay Mother Video’s identity.
“I knew Albert for a very long time,” Kenn says. “I knew that Captain America was sitting there… I realized how crazy different it was and how much better it was. I thought everyone should see it.” What followed was a deal that led to the label’s breakout release: Albert Pyun’s long-lost director’s cut of Captain America, scanned from his personal print. The film’s success, enough to warrant a second pressing, marked the beginning of what fans now know as Enter the Pyuniverse, a dedicated line celebrating the late director’s work.
Kenn’s admiration for Pyun is woven through every release. “After he passed… it feels like I can pay him back some for how kind he was. It made me keep going.” That emotional thread shows in the ambitious releases coming from the label: Road to Hell featuring multiple cuts, the upcoming Slinger (Pyun’s original Cyborg director’s vision), Interstellar Civil War, and more. “We’re restoring those and making them look good… I’m looking forward to just keep going.”
But the Pyun catalog is only the beginning. Kenn confirms that 2026 will be a major year, with at least five non-Pyun films already planned. And while he keeps details close, he offers a playful tease: “You guys know his stuff. He’s a little maligned… fun and campy and video-gamey.”
The company’s physical presence is just as important as its media releases. Yippee Ki-Yay Mother Video operates a large storefront and micro-cinema, currently in Racine, Wisconsin, and moving to a new building in Menominee, Michigan. With 20,000 rental titles and tens of thousands more for sale, the store is a haven for collectors and a place where community still matters.
Kenn is equally excited about screenings, including the December Los Angeles screening of Captain America at The Frida Cinema. “We’re really looking forward to that,” he says. “We’re going to have a really good time.” More screenings and a full national tour are planned for 2026.
Behind the scenes, Kenn credits collaborators like Roy Damm for helping shape the discs, special features, and restoration work. “Some of the things he’s done… are better than some physical releases that have come out,” Kenn says. “He puts together our discs and we’re super happy.”
What stands out most in talking with Kenn is his genuine passion, not only for Pyun but for the physical-media world itself. He cares deeply about doing things the right way, even if that means taking longer to add more features or include newly discovered footage. “You pre-ordered, you’ll get your stuff,” he reassures collectors. “If we can keep adding to it and make it take an extra two or three months, everyone will be happier with the product.”
After speaking with him, it is easy to see why the label is gaining momentum. Kenn is not simply releasing movies. He is preserving the work of filmmakers he loves, giving forgotten films a chance to be rediscovered, and building a community around physical media at a time when it matters more than ever.
I had a great time talking with Kenn, especially about the behind-the-scenes process of buying, licensing, and restoring films. His enthusiasm is contagious, and it is clear that Yippee Ki-Yay Mother Video is just getting started.
See you and everyone else at the event in December.
Jessie Hobson