Filmmaker Ben Masters Released New Texas Rivers Documentary
Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers, narrated by Ethan Hawke, premiered in theaters this week.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Documentary
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Filmmaker Ben Masters has officially released his latest project, Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers. The documentary, which features narration by Ethan Hawke, debuted in theaters on September 25, 2026.
Why it matters
The project continues the work of Masters and his South Austin-based production company, Fin and Fur Films, to document the state's natural landscape. This release follows the success of his previous conservation-focused documentary work.
Ben Masters has been producing wildlife films for 14 years, with a team of 10 people currently operating out of the South Austin studio.
The players
Ben Masters
He is a filmmaker and the operator of the South Austin production company Fin and Fur Films.
Ethan Hawke
He is an actor who provided the narration for the documentary Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers.
The details
The production team converted rooms in a rental house into edit bays to complete the film. The documentary serves as a follow-up to the 2018 project The River and the Wall, which followed a journey from El Paso to the Gulf.
Timeline
The documentary The River and the Wall was released in 2018.
Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers opened in theaters on September 25, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This project follows the pattern of the 2018 documentary The River and the Wall in its focus on regional conservation themes. The release signals a continued commitment by local production houses to environmental storytelling within the documentary film sector.
The documentary is currently available for viewing in theaters, including locations in San Antonio. Audiences can access the film through these local theatrical screenings.
The takeaway
Filmmaking success often relies on the ability to scale production capabilities within a lean, dedicated team. Aspiring filmmakers can note how Masters utilized unconventional studio spaces to maintain creative control over large-scale documentary projects.
Further reading
Explore more local releases in our Documentary section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Texas Public Radio.
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