For the 2024 Chêne Film Festival, we sat down with the filmmakers to bring you an exclusive Behind the Lens look at each film. The next film in this series is the DayBreak Outdoors Film “Reelfoot Religion.” We sat down with DayBreak Outdoors’ own Brandon Martin, the mastermind behind the lens. Following along with Brandon’s passion for waterfowl hunting and storytelling, this film explores the history and culture that makes Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee a truly unique place to hunt ducks.
Split Reed: First off, the Reelfoot Religion was excellent. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your filmmaking journey?
Brandon Martin: “My name is Brandon Martin. I have been duck hunting since I was 12 years old, and I first started filming on an iPhone. I wanted to make a cool video with music, so I went to my mom’s Imac computer and made my first video using iMovie. Ever since, I have become addicted to filming a story and then putting it together.”
Split Reed: What was the inspiration behind making this film a reality?
Brandon Martin: “I was always intrigued by the culture of duck hunting on Reelfoot Lake. You can truly feel it being a “way of life” for all these guys making their living and guiding. Add to that the history of the lake and the characters still out there, and it was a no-brainer. So, I wanted to put a story together and show people the culture and how different hunting on the lake is.”
Split Reed: What was your favorite part about the filming process?
Brandon Martin: “Duck hunting on Reelfoot Lake is truly unique from other places in the country, as are its characters. Getting to know the two gentlemen I filmed, their stories, and the lake’s history was the best part of the film. They had some wild stories as kids and how they got their blinds in the first place. Capturing this all with the camera made it that much more special.”
Split Reed: What challenges did you face making this film come together?
Brandon Martin: “The biggest challenge for me was trying to figure out what direction I was going to take on the film. When I sat these guys down to interview, it became clear to me that people needed to hear the story of their blinds and exactly why they will be losing those blinds in the family when they die. Figuring out the best way to present this to the audience in a compelling manner was certainly the main focus.”
Split Reed: Can you tell us about the Film’s characters?
Brandon Martin: “The film follows two main characters, Ronnie Capps and Ben Parker. Both are guides on Reelfoot Lake and have been hunting the lake their entire life. They are some of the last remaining guides with permanent blinds on the lake and a part of its history. If anyone is from the area, they certainly know the two characters.”
Split Reed: When watching Reelfoot Religion, the culture of duck hunting comes to mind. How much of an impact did duck hunting culture and history have on you when creating this film?
Brandon Martin: “Almost all of it. I hunted it a few times when I was a kid, and there is something totally unique about hunting out there. You are competing with other blinds. You have to put massive decoy spreads out, you have to put motion out, you have to be well hidden, and you need to know when and when not to blow a duck call. Then you have folks like Ronnie doing his mouth call, something only found on Reelfoot. Those who can do all of it the best end up killing the most ducks. Showing others the uniqueness of Reelfoot Lake’s history and culture was everything for this project.”
Split Reed: Knowing that all blinds on Reelfoot will eventually be listed in the draw, how important was it for you to preserve the history and story of those who still own their blind?
Brandon Martin: “This was extremely important. These blinds have been rebuilt multiple times, the holes have been meticulously managed, and they have spent every day of duck season for the past several decades trying to figure out how to make it better. Not to mention, many of these blinds have been passed down for generations. Preserving the stories of those still hunting their family blinds will hopefully give others a glimpse into Reelfoot Lake forever.”
Split Reed: For someone who may not be familiar with Reelfoot and its unique hunting style, what would you say it has to offer them that is different from more traditional waterfowl hunting styles?
Brandon Martin: “Reelfoot Lake is unique because of its history. This lake was created by an earthquake that made the Mississippi River backflow, making the water fill in where the ground sank. This created the lake. It is filled with cypress trees that are well over 100 years old. The people in this area made their living hunting ducks and fishing.”
Split Reed: Is there anything else that you would like to add or anyone you want to thank for helping make this film possible?
Brandon Martin: “I want to give a special thanks to Ben Parker and Ronnie Capps for taking the time to show me The Reelfoot Story and the way they do things. I’d also like to thank the Chêne team and their Film Festival, giving storytellers like myself a chance to explore waterfowl hunting.”
