Filmmaker Coyote Peterson has gathered a team of prominent experts in wildlife to forensically recount the near-fatal bear encounter that college wrestlers Kendell Cummings, Brady Lowry, Orrin Jackson, and August Harrison endured near Cody, Wyoming, in October 2022.
Bear Grylls of The Natural Studios and Casey Anderson of Vision Hawk Films are contributing their expertise in wilderness survival. Peterson and Anderson will also appear in the film titled That Bear Kid as co-hosts. Variety first reported the news.
Presently in the post-production phase, That Bear Kid is slated for submission to film festivals later this year. The film represents a collaborative effort between Peterson’s Brave Wilderness and Roland Kassis and Alyssa Schroeter's Brevity Films. Ita Kennedy and Beau Sedivy also serve as producers on the documentary.
While media has frequently depicted bears as menacing creatures, That Bear Kid will delve into the complexities of human-wildlife conflict when national parks are becoming more and more popular.
Peterson stated, “Nature can turn brutal when its boundaries are tested, and it can become deadly if those boundaries are pushed too far. A key objective of That Bear Kid is to challenge negative stereotypes and bolster conservation efforts for animals that are often misunderstood.”
Kassis and Schroeter of Brevity Films commented, “When Coyote Peterson declares, ‘This story needs to be told, and I need to direct it,’ the decision for Brevity to partner with Brave Wilderness and Bear Grylls became immediately clear. We were not only deeply moved by the bravery and self-awareness of these young men, but we also admire the conservation work Brave Wilderness has accomplished by making wildlife content engaging and accessible to a global audience. We are eager to see them apply this same approach to That Bear Kid.”
Grylls, serving as an executive on the project, remarked, “This film not only captures the raw and persistent human instinct for survival but also underscores the intricate relationship between humans and wildlife. Our aim is to reshape public perception, emphasise the inherent nobility of these animals, and foster a deeper conversation about conservation and coexistence. Coyote, Casey, and the entire team have done exceptional work, and I believe this film will leave a significant and lasting impression on all who view it.”
The executive producers for That Bear Kid include Beau Sedivy and Ita Kennedy for Peterson’s Brave Wilderness, Kassis and Schroeter for Brevity Films, Anderson for Vision Hawk Films, as well as Grylls and Delbert Shoopman for The Natural Studios.