Character-Driven: Cindy Meehl on Buck Brannaman
How did you first find the main character of your film?
I first met Buck at one of his clinics. I had a difficult horse that needed more help than I could give her and I need more “tools” to work with her. A good friend of mine had been encouraging me to go see him at a clinic.
What made you believe Buck would be a compelling focus for a film?
I was amazed at this man’s ability and fascinated with the way he approached animals and life. It was about five years later that I actually went back to another clinic in Texas and was immediately in awe of what he was teaching that I felt was not represented enough in the horse world, but even more profound was the way he always seemed to inspire those around him to improve their lives on every level. He seemed to just “raise the bar” on dealing with life’s difficulties. I was inspired to make this film because I knew it would have a very strong impact on people if I could truly capture him and his life on film.
I also felt that Buck’s richly textured world of horses, riders, hand tooled leather, wide brimmed hats and big sky country would create a visually stunning backdrop for this story.
Was there anything surprising you hadn't expected about Buck you discovered over the course of shooting?
I was truly impressed with how he has an incredible ability to continually endure some harsh environmental conditions and still maintain incredible focus and never just “phone it in.” I watch him in brutally hot and often freezing temps and he gives 150% to every clinic and is always humorous and at the same time clearly very intelligent. He never complains and teaches for about 8 hours a day from the back of a horse. It makes you tougher to be around him as anything you may normally think is hard suddenly looks rather insignificant compared to what he goes through and has gone through in the past. I knew going into the film what he did for a living, but actually traveling with him and really seeing what a day in the life of Buck Brannaman looks like, would humble most anybody.
Coming from a creative background in fashion and art, Cindy Meehl ran her own clothing label Sasha, Cindy and Phil as well as Cindy Hughes Designs all through the '80s. She began fine art painting in the '90s. She has now transferred her art from a canvas to a screen. She founded Cedar Creek Productions, LLC in 2008. The film company has traveled from North Carolina, on to Tacoma Washington, France, Wyoming, California, Montana and Texas to film the legendary Buck Brannaman. Cindy is currently in development on a new documentary project. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, writer Brian Meehl, two daughters, four dogs and two horses.
