AMDOCS - Brothers
Set in the Pacific Northwest, three brothers find refuge and redemption from a troubled home through their love of fly fishing for steelhead and the enduring relationships they forge on the river.
Interview with Director Randy Kerr
Watch Brothers here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
In addition to photography and filmmaking, I’ve had a life long love of fly fishing. So when I needed to learn a particular method of fly casting for an upcoming fishing trip to Canada, I was incredibly lucky to bump into a local fishing guide and instructor Tim Burke, who would become the subject and co-producer of the film. As Tim and I got to know each other during our time on the river, he approached me about shooting some images and footage to help promote his guiding business.
But as we became closer friends and he began sharing more of his family’s backstory, it was clear flyfishing was not merely a vocation or pastime for him. His passion for fishing, for steelhead in particular, has been a steady current running through his and his brothers’ otherwise turbulent lives, providing both refuge and redemption from a difficult home during childhood. He and I both recognized there was a universal story of perseverance, commitment, and family that needed to be told in the form of a short film, not only for his and his family’s own reflection but for hope and encouragement to viewers going through similar struggles.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
While the imagery showcases the art of fly fishing in the lush rainforest of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, “Brothers” at its heart is a universal story of perseverance and redemption. Whether it’s struggling through a troubled relationship or making a thousand casts for the chance to connect with a prize fish, the film illustrates the reward of never giving up, never stop casting, and never losing faith.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film
Overcoming the struggles of a childhood home split by alcoholism and divorce, these three brothers sought refuge and stability while fishing together on a nearby river. Nurtured by their grandfather, their love of fishing grew through a tricky adolescence and now as adults they still gather for their love of fishing and to recommit their bond as brothers. The film gives a glimpse of one such day on the river, as the brothers withstand the harsh winter elements of the Pacific Northwest in pursuit of the elusive steelhead. The themes of persevering through circumstances and never losing hope are revealed from this simple example of fishing and are applied to their lives in general.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script, or voiceover in our case, evolved considerably over 9 months. Initially the three brothers and I brainstormed some broad themes, metaphors, and specific visual elements to help shape an ideal shot list for our production time on the river. Like all fisherman we had hopes for warm temps, blue skies, and plenty of fish - but the river had other plans. It rained, it was cold, the wind blew, there were gear failures, and the fishing was slow. The footage we captured was dark, brooding, wet, and repetitive. Not at all the glorious beauty shots I was imagining.
Then came the realization - the footage was correct, my shot list was wrong. The footage captured the precise truth of winter steelheading - and the precise truth of the brothers’ story of struggle and perseverance It was exactly the imagery I needed to establish the tension to be resolved and a great little lesson in documentary making. Be aware of your preconceptions and be willing to abandon them when the more accurate or greater truth presents itself.
While doing the rough cut of the footage, a potential narrative arc began to emerge. Beginning with an introduction of Tim as central character, including a reflective moment with historical images to quickly establish backstory and tension, followed by current ‘day-in-the-life’ portrait of the brothers in their element fishing to illustrate the perseverance on the water and in life, concluding with the resolution of their unbreakable relationship not in spite of their struggles but because of their struggles.
This visual flow then informed Tim’s writing of his voiceover which needed to cover the essential story elements we had previously brainstormed. Tim's prose was scripted as self reflection and had an intimate ’self-talk’ tone, which was very effective in bookending the film as this is a deeply personal piece. But to match the crescendo and building energy of the film’s interior, we needed a more spontaneous and energetic tone in his voice, so I interviewed him off script to elicit responses covering the remaining material. The end result was a blend of scripted introspection and spontaneous interview responses. We felt this expanded the emotional range of the piece and it conveyed a more authentic voice.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We’ve been extremely encouraged by the feedback so far. “Brothers” was a selected short winner in the 2018 Fly Fishing Film Tour so it is being screened at roughly 150 venues as the tour travels the US. We’re incredibly honored the fly fishing community, who we’re apart of, has given its thumbs up. But we’re particularly flattered that festivals and audiences with no connection to fishing or outdoor sports at all have also connected with this film. It has screened at festivals throughout the US, Canada, Ireland, and the UK and has won a few awards so far. I think this speaks to the universally relatable themes we’ve deliberately tried to put front and center. Visually, many have commented on the beautiful nature footage we feature here in the Pacific Northwest and how the activity of spey-casting a 13 foot rod can be a mesmerizing thing to watch.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I would say the feedback has for the most part validated our point of view, in the applicability of the story’s themes and the visual appeal of the footage. It encourages us to look for similar stories to communicate next. We’ve received helpful feedback on missed story opportunities such as including more of the other 2 brothers voice/viewpoint in the story, and explaining why the fish is released in the film and making parallels with that act with the human story.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We are always looking for the next true story to tell in a engaging way, and collaborate with other producers and crew with complementary skills and goals.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
As filmmakers we definitely are interested in critical reviews and feedback on our work and exposure to new audiences. If our work resonates with other producers out there, we would love to speak about working together.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
At the end of the day, we’d like to know that someone after watching our film has renewed hope in restoring and maintaining relationships. If someone is reminded to call a sibling after too many years, remind their parents of their appreciation, or have that difficult talk that’s long overdue, then we’ve been successful. If someone decides to take a hike, pick up that fishing rod, swim in a lake, and protect the wild and beautiful places we still have, then we’ve been successful.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What is your passion? What does it fulfill or compensate in your life? How does (or can) this passion bring you closer to those important to you?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
A wildlife documentary in British Columbia, and other potential outdoor adventure passion stories.
Interview: March 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Brothers
Set in the Pacific Northwest, three brothers find refuge and redemption from a troubled home through their love of fly fishing for steelhead and the enduring relationships they forge on the river.
Length: 5:51
Director: Randy Kerr
Producer: Tim Burke
Writer: Tim Burke
About Randy Kerr, Director:
Seattle photographer and filmmaker Randy Kerr's passion is short documentary films incorporating adventure, story, and music. His work has been featured online in The New York Times, Discovery's Travel Channel, CNN, Communication Arts, B&H Photo, and numerous film festivals.
About Tim Burke, Producer:
Led by the whisper of the river, Seattle fishing guide and storyteller Timothy Thomas Burke has inspired anglers throughout the Pacific Northwest. With creativity, drive, and endless ideas, Timothy has written about his adventures, helped produce films and is an entrepreneur at heart.
Key cast: Tim, David, Seth Burke
Looking for: producers,film festival directors, journalists
Social media handles:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebrothersfilm/
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Upcoming screenings on