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Ben Masters

@bencmasters

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Hello! I’m a wildlife filmmaker with Fin and Fur Films. Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers will be in theaters Sept. 25

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Coming to Texas Theaters September 25!

The official trailer for “Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers.”

Narrated by @ethanhawke, the film offers an inspiring journey through the springs, creeks, rivers, and bays that define the Lone Star State, showcasing the abundant diversity of wildlife that calls Texas home while confronting the critical water challenges facing a rapidly growing population.

This film takes audiences from the rugged Rio Grande to the thriving waters of the Sabine and Neches, encountering resilient otter families, strutting turkeys, and mysterious alligator snapping turtles along the way.

Produced in partnership with @heb, @texanbynature, and @texasparkswildlifefoundation, the wildlife sequences took over three years to film and feature never-before-seen footage, with an original score performed by the @dallaschambersymphony.

We’re immensely grateful for the hundreds of people who’ve helped make this film possible.
Director @bencmasters
Producer @josh_winkler
Editor @samklatt Assistant Editor @chetstefan
Principal Cinematography @austintorios, Alan Clampitt, @skipswildlife @lianydes @patrickhthrash @shannonvandivier @ryan.forktailed
Additional Editing @charliedees
Original Score by @noahsorota
Score Performed by @dallaschambersymphony
Color @alex_winker
Sound Design @stuckonon
Animation Studio @stockyardvfx Poster @pentagramdesign

The film premieres September 22 in Dallas with a live performance by the @dallaschambersymphony, followed by a statewide theatrical run beginning September 25. Available digitally October 27.

With support from: @poncho_outdoors @kinglandwater @texaswaterfoundation @ckwri_official @eastfoundation @americanrivers @nature_tx @kinglandwater

#DeepInTheHeart2 #TexasRivers #DeepInTheHeartFilm by @bencmasters

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Coming to Texas Theaters September 25!

Narrated by @ethanhawke, “Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers” is a celebration of the springs, creeks, rivers, and bays that define the Lone Star State. From the rugged Rio Grande to the thriving waters of the Sabine and Neches, the film encounters resilient otter families, strutting turkeys, and mysterious Alligator Snapping Turtles along the way.

Produced in partnership with @heb, @texanbynature, and @texasparkswildlifefoundation, the wildlife sequences took over three years to film, features never-before-seen footage, and showcases music performed by the @dallaschambersymphony.

We’re immensely grateful for the hundreds of people who’ve helped make this film possible.
Director @bencmasters
Producer @josh_winkler
Editor @samklatt Assistant Editor @chetstefan
Cinematography @austintorios, Alan Clampitt, @skipswildlife @lianydes @patrickhthrash @shannonvandivier @ryan.forktailed
Additional Editing @charliedees
Original Score by @noahsorota
Score Performed by @dallaschambersymphony
Color @alex_winker
Sound Design @stuckonon
Animation Studio
@stockyardvfx
Poster @pentagramdesign

The film will premiere on September 22nd in Dallas with a live performance by the @dallaschambersymphony, followed by a statewide theatrical run September 25th. Available digitally October 27th.

With support from: @poncho_outdoors @texaswaterfoundation @ckwri_official @eastfoundation @americanrivers @nature_tx @shumlaarchaeologicalcenter by @bencmasters

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In addition to the devastation to communities, the flooding along the Guadalupe in ‘25 and ‘26 has really wrecked the river. Old cypress and sycamore forests were taken out, tons of topsoil washed away, and there’s still a tremendous amount of debris and trash. The good news is that there’s a lot of folks working hard to restore the river. If you’re want to help out, there’s volunteer opportunities to plant trees, spread native grasses, and do river cleanups through the @kerrcountyriverfoundation @hillcountryalliance @sabgtx and @hunt_preservation_society. You can also pitch in to the @cftexashillcountry Hope For The Guadalupe fund. Our friends at @poncho_outdoors also made these great hats and shirts with proceeds to benefit restoration efforts.

To all of you that have helped, Thank You!🙏 by @bencmasters

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Hallelujah!!! Big Bend wall construction has been temporarily halted. A federal judge issued an emergency injunction to block construction while the court considers a lawsuit filed by the @centerforbiodiv challenging the waiver of laws to fast track construction.

It seems as if common sense is having a moment! Republican Sheriffs, Local Border Patrol Leaders, Republican Judges, Landowners, Tourists, Guides, State Reps, Businesses and the vast majority of people who’ve ever been to the Big Bend are enraged at the concept of a wall that would destroy Texas’ largest public lands and block us from our river. A wall here is completely unnecessary because of the terrain and in my opinion, the pinnacle of federal overreach and government waste.

While millions of people spoke up against the Big Bend Wall and called their reps, there are some individuals who stopped everything in their lives and dedicated all of their time, energy, and resources into fighting it. They are David vs. Goliath heroes in my book. In particular, thank you @ntlnwmn @laiken_jordahl @kenzeliz @hillaryfierce @bigbendfarflung @angellexpeditions @clarabensen @annaclairebeasley @centerforbiodiv and @nobigbendwall for your leadership, bravery, and keeping us informed. We are all indebted!

I hope common sense continues to prevail and Big Bend border wall plans are scrapped forever. @governorabbot @sentedcruz @johncoryn, please use your power and influence to further halt the wall on our beloved Texas public lands. by @bencmasters

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Ben Masters says he loves “hanging out with wild animals in cool places,” so he found a way to make that his job. One of Texas’s preeminent nature documentarians, the Amarillo native, who studied wildlife biology at Texas A&M University, made his feature-length directorial debut with 2019’s award-winning ‘The River and the Wall,’ in which he and some buddies traversed the Rio Grande from El Paso to the Gulf of Mexico. Three years later he released ‘Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story,’ which adapted the ‘Planet Earth' approach to our state’s unique geography, complete with Matthew McConaughey delivering the words “Guadalupe bass” with a gravitas Sir David Attenborough could only dream of. 🐟

A sequel, ‘Deep in the Heart 2: A Texas River Story,’ narrated by Austin native Ethan Hawke, arrived in theaters across the state September 25 and will be available to stream October 27. It depicts all of Texas’s major river basins, including the Rio Grande. Read our full interview with Masters at the link in our bio.

📸: Andrea Mendoza by @bencmasters

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Texas Rivers is still showing in select theaters across the state! Read on to find a theater near you or hit the link in our bio for more info!

Narrated by @ethanhawke, Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers is an inspiring wildlife movie that showcases the beauty and connectivity of our springs, creeks, rivers, and bays.

#DeepInTheHeart2 #TexasRivers #DeepInTheHeartFilm by @bencmasters

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Below the surface… lurks a reptile that has existed for 90 million years. An animal… with a bite force stronger than a bear!

Catch “Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers” narrated by @ethanhawke on the big screen. The movie is currently playing in multiple theaters in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, New Braunfels, Round Rock, San Angelo, and more. Link in Bio for tickets.

Huge thanks to all our fans, partners, and filmmakers for making the opening week a huge success!
@texasparkswildlifefoundation @texanbynature @texasturtlesorg
@heb @poncho_outdoors @americanrivers @kinglandwater @texaswaterfoundation @nature_tx @skipswildlife @josh_winkler @stuckonon @alex_winker @austintorios @noahsorota by @bencmasters

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16 days ago

Independent filmmaker and wildlife biologist Ben Masters (@bencmasters), founder of Fin & Fur Films (@finandfurfilms), joins the Rewilding Earth Podcast to discuss his journey from riding wild mustangs across the Continental Divide for “Unbranded” to capturing cinematic, Planet Earth-style natural history right here in North America.

We dig into his latest feature, “Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers” (narrated by @ethanhawke), what it takes to spend months in the field tracking secretive predators, and why long-term conservation in a state that is 95 percent privately owned requires 100-year thinking and multi-generational ranch stewardship.

Texas is a land shaped by water; its rivers are the arteries that deliver life and nourish ecosystems. “Deep in the Heart 2” brings us otters making a comeback, mountain lions on the prowl, mesmerizing underwater footage of an alligator snapping turtle, and a river rewilding success story that you have to see and hear to believe.

Ben’s sincerest hope is that the movie inspires millions of Texans to float, love, and protect the thousands of miles of incredible rivers, countless springs and creeks, and fertile bays and estuaries that are the lifeblood of the Lone Star State. There’s love and passion in every frame, a vibrant cast of animal characters, and a meaningful call for conservation action.

Link in bio!

All photos courtesy of Fin & Fur Films

#podcast #rivers #film #watersheds #nature by @bencmasters

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Less than a month away 🗓️

Deep In The Heart 2: Texas Rivers is coming to your home October 27

Pre-Order today on AppleTV, Fandango, or Amazon Prime by @bencmasters

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Some favorite frames in TEXAS RIVERS.

There was years worth of hustle that went into these images. For example, @patrickhthrash and @austintorios spent 200+ days following mountain lions in West Texas to get Texas' first-ever lion predation on camera, @lianydes spent weeks in a blind filming the gobbler strut drama, @skipswildlife spent nearly 4 months to get the perfect Alligator Snapping Turtle shot, and @shannonvandivier searched the bays to find the ultimate oyster reef. They shot through hurricanes, floods, all-night vigils, summer heat, tick infested thornscrub, snow storms and waded through boggiest marshes in East Texas.

I'd say their hard work paid off!

Cinematography team, it's an honor to work with you. My feelings still get a little bit hurt now that you're footage consistently looks better than mine... but that's a great problem to have! In addition to the shooters, each of these frames had landowners, ranchers, biologists and folks helping us along the way. For that, I'm immensely grateful.

Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers is in theaters now. Do yourself a favor and go watch the masterful craft of these excellent wildlife cinematographers!

Cinematography @austintorios, @skipswildlife @lianydes @patrickhthrash @shannonvandivier @ryan.forktailed @thetexasnaturalist @rockets_and_animals @denvermillerpics @dustin_farrell @erichrossschlegel @freshwatersillustrated @joeyschapman @mikeolbinski

Color: @alex_winker

With support from: @heb @texanbynature @texasparkswildlifefoundation @americanrivers @poncho_outdoors @kinglandwater @texaswaterfoundation @ckwri_official @eastfoundation @americanrivers @nature_tx @shumlaarcheologycenter @meadowsfoundation @shield.ranch and many others.

THANK YOU ALL! by @bencmasters

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Giveaway!!! Tag two friends who need to see Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers, in theaters this weekend.

Winner will be randomly selected to win a shirt and hat from @poncho_outdoors, along with a custom bolo from @andtheminotaur, all created specifically for the film.

And if you want a guaranteed Deep in the Heart 2 shirt or hat, you can find them at deepintheheartwildlife.com. Proceeds from Poncho shirts and hats will benefit Texas river restoration efforts through the @hillcountryalliance @sabgtx @kerrcountyriverfoundation @hunt_preservation_society and @cftexashillcountry

Thanks for supporting the good cause y’all. Good luck! See you in theaters! You can find tickets at Fandango or link in bio.

#DeepInTheHeart2 #TexasRivers #DeepInTheHeartFilm by @bencmasters

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