Family, Permit, and Pure Instinct: The Story Behind Silent Spotter

From: beattie_outdoor_productions

We caught up with the creators behind Silent Spotter, a film that dives into the extraordinary life of Tommy Batun—a deaf and mute fly-fishing guide from Xcalak, Mexico. The film blends breathtaking permit fishing sequences with a deeper story of family, resilience, and Tommy’s innovative approach to guiding. Here’s a look at the journey behind the film and what makes it stand out in the world of fly fishing storytelling.

Narrated by Jesse Colten with humor and a bit of self-awareness, the film isn’t your typical fishing story. It’s got stunning visuals, sure, but it’s also about what happens when you look beyond the fish and really get to know the people and places that make the experience special.

What inspired you to tell Tommy’s story and focus on how his disability shapes his approach to saltwater fly fishing?

Honestly, we kind of stumbled into it. I was chatting with Jesse from Xflats Lodge in the Cancun airport, just swapping fishing stories, and he mentioned this permit fishery in Xcalak. The permit were eating floating crabs washed in with the sargassum, which is pretty rare and cool—catching permit on a dry fly is, like, bucket-list stuff for a lot of anglers.

At first, that was the story we thought we were telling. But then we heard about Tommy—a young guide, incredible fly tier, apprenticing under his dad—and that he’s deaf. That’s when everything shifted.

The more we thought about it, the more questions came up. Saltwater fly fishing is all about communication—spotting fish, calling distances, directions, reacting fast. How does someone do that without speaking or hearing? The challenge of it was fascinating.

What really hooked us wasn’t about Tommy’s disability, though. It was how he’s created this entirely different way of doing things. His story isn’t about overcoming—it’s about rethinking and innovating. That’s what made it so exciting to tell.

Photo from: ARIAN STEVENS

The film explores themes of family, resilience, and overcoming physical and cultural barriers. How did you approach blending these deeper themes with the stunning permit fishing sequences, and what do you hope audiences take away from this?

It’s always a balancing act, right? Some people want nothing but fishing—fish, fish, fish. Others want a strong story with depth. We tried to do both.

Tommy’s relationship with his dad, Alejandro, is the heart of the film. Watching them work together on the water is so subtle and beautiful. There’s no big speeches or anything—it’s all about how they move, how they communicate without words. That adds so much depth to the fishing scenes because it’s not just about catching a permit; it’s about how they’re catching it.

Photo from: ARIAN STEVENS

And then there’s the permit fishing itself. If you’re not into fly fishing, you might not get how rare and difficult it is to catch a permit on a floating crab. So, we had to give it context. Once you understand what’s happening, those moments hit so much harder.

What do I want people to take away? Enjoyment. I want them to enjoy the film and have fun watching it. To smile while they watch it. Also, I hope they walk away feeling connected—to the people, the place, and the idea that fishing is more than just a sport. It’s about relationships, creativity, and finding joy in the process.

You’ve received praise for the film’s fresh perspective on fly fishing storytelling. What makes Silent Spotter stand out from traditional fishing films, and how did you challenge conventional fishing film tropes throughout the production process?

One thing we didn’t want was another cookie-cutter fishing film. Jesse even says in the narration, “Let me fish-splain this to you...” We leaned into that self-awareness because, let’s be real, there are a lot of fishing films out there that feel like polished ads.

But the real challenge was figuring out how to tell Tommy’s story. He doesn’t speak, so how do we let him take center stage? Jesse became the narrator, but we knew we had to acknowledge that it’s kind of odd—this gringo from Colorado telling the story of a Mexican guide. Instead of ignoring it, we embraced it. Jesse’s humor and honesty made it work.

The other thing is, we didn’t take ourselves too seriously. Fishing can get really intense—especially saltwater fishing—but at the end of the day, it’s supposed to be fun. We made sure to keep it playful, with some fast-paced, almost Ryan Reynolds-style humor, because we wanted people to laugh, smile, and just enjoy the ride.

With breathtaking cinematography and a unique storyline, Silent Spotter has sparked conversations across both the fishing and filmmaking communities. How do you think the film will influence the future of fly fishing films and outdoor media in general?

Photo from: ARIAN STEVENS

I don’t know if it’s going to change the genre, but I do hope it gets people thinking. Outdoor media, especially fishing films, can get pretty repetitive—beautiful shots of water, big fish, maybe a little drama. That’s great, but we wanted to dig deeper.

We tried to be honest about the genre’s tropes. Jesse even jokes, “We’ve all seen enough lodge films,” and he owns a lodge! By calling that out, we were saying, “Let’s push this further.”

Whether or not it influences other filmmakers, who knows? For us, it’s about making something that feels real and fun. If that resonates with people, then we’ve done our job.

Silent Spotter showcases some of the most jaw-dropping permit fishing sequences. What were some of the most memorable or challenging moments from filming these sequences, and how did you ensure they captured Tommy’s skill and passion for fly fishing?

Permit fishing is brutal. They’re hard to see, hard to catch, and even harder to film. We spent a week out there and caught one fish. The light was bad, so the footage didn’t even make the final cut.

We sent another crew, and they hit the jackpot—great weather, cooperative fish, the works. But even then, tracking a fly on the flats with all that glare? It’s a nightmare. The team crushed it, though.

Tommy’s passion comes through in everything he does. He’s covered in permit tattoos, he lives and breathes fishing—it’s his whole world. Capturing that wasn’t about what he said but how he acted. Watching him on the water, the way he lights up when he’s guiding, that’s what we wanted to show.

Photo from: ARIAN STEVENS

Q: Now that Silent Spotter is making its way through the International Fly Fishing Film Festival, what’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or new directions you’re excited to explore in the world of filmmaking?

We’re taking Silent Spotter back to Mexico for what we’re calling the “Roots Tour.” A lot of films like this never make it back to the communities where they were shot, and that didn’t sit right with us. Showing it to the people who lived it feels like closing the loop.

We’re also promoting another film, The Hardway, and gearing up for new projects. If anyone out there has a great story idea, hit us up. We’re always looking for fresh perspectives and unique narratives.

At the end of the day, we just want to keep telling stories that matter—and have fun doing it.