Behind the Scenes of HELLBENT: Filming Wild Mustangs with DJI Inspire 3 Drone
- AIRWOLF
- Sep 9
- 5 min read
A Call for Adventure: How Our Journey with HELLBENT Began
In early May, we got a call from director Brooklyn Phillips with a simple question: "Are you down for an adventure?" That’s how our journey began with the feature documentary HELLBENT, directed by Brooklyn Phillips and Sarah Stewart, and produced by Boot Barn and Stept Studios. With cinematographer Max Aldrich behind the lens and camera operator Taylor Finlay in tow, this wasn’t going to be an average shoot. We packed our gear and headed straight to Reno, Nevada, ready to chase down a story that was as wild as the horses we were trying to film — specifically, filming wild mustangs with DJI Inspire 3 to bring this story to life from the air.
Flying After Wild Horses: Our First Attempt
Our first day in the field was tough. The wild horses were incredibly reactive, they spooked easily and would bolt into deep valleys where we’d immediately lose signal. We were flying the Inspire 3, a drone known for its range and reliability, but even that wasn’t enough in such a rugged environment. On one of our last flights of the day, we pushed the battery farther than we ever should have and landed the drone at 5%. That’s a no-go in our world, and it left us feeling like we had failed our team, especially Brooklyn.
The light was fading, and with time running out, the director and cam op decided to go chase ground shots. We hung back, frustrated and defeated, but something told us to keep going.
The Turning Point: Deeper Into the Ranch
Chasing One Last Chance
Our first attempt hadn’t delivered, and we were determined to make it right. Then, just as we were about to call it, we spotted them, a herd of nearly 200 wild mustangs gathered in a valley. But this time, we were above them, perched on a ridgeline. We finally had elevation, and we knew our signal would hold strong.
Getting the Shot
We jumped out of the truck and without hesitation, sent the drone. It was our moment. As the mustangs began to move, we used the drone to gently steer the herd, guiding their path and capturing every second of it. The golden light hit, and the Inspire 3 delivered. The footage was smooth, locked-on, and emotional, something straight out of a Nat Geo documentary. The way the mustangs moved across the land, framed by the setting sun and captured from above, looked more like a cinematic masterpiece than a drone shot. It felt like a breakthrough. We had the footage we came for, and it took so much pressure off going into day two.
Showing the Director: A Moment We’ll Never Forget
When we met back up with team and showed them the footage, Brooklyn nearly cried. You could see it on her face immediately, this was the moment she had envisioned from the beginning. The dust, the light, the mustangs moving together in harmony, it was pure cinematic magic. That moment of relief and pride will stick with us forever. We had gone from doubting ourselves, worried we had blown our one chance, to delivering something that felt like it belonged in the heart of the film. For a few minutes, everything went quiet. Everyone was just... watching. The ranch guide even said, and I quote, "This looks like a motion picture."
We’d gone from thinking we let her down to delivering something that hit everyone on a deep emotional level, and we all felt it.
Day Two: A Tougher Ride
Wild and Unpredictable
The next day, the wild horses didn’t want to cooperate. We even hopped on ATVs to try to get closer, but they stayed at a distance that was just too far, no matter what angle we tried. At one point, our aerial DP Rob rode up front on the ATV for several miles while Wolfgang drove, doing everything we could to close the gap and find a new vantage point. The terrain was rough, the sun was high, and despite our best efforts, the horses kept just out of reach.
Thankfully, having captured that golden footage the day before allowed us to keep our cool and stay flexible. We kept chasing, but nothing came close to what we had already banked.
Why We Chose the DJI Inspire 3
Built for the Wild
We chose the Inspire 3 for this shoot because of its extended range, reliability in remote conditions, and incredible image quality. It allowed us to fly tactically, hold strong signal in tough terrain, and produce footage that held up to the emotional weight of the story. We shot in 8K at 48fps, giving us the flexibility to slow things down without sacrificing cinematic resolution. The detail we captured in the dust trails, the muscle movement of the mustangs, and the changing light across the landscape felt more like a feature film than documentary footage.
When you're chasing wild horses across vast open land with no second chances, you need a drone that can keep up. The Inspire 3 did that and more.
AWARD - WINNING Cinematography at 5 Point Film Festival
HELLBENT premiered on April 18 at the 5 Point Film Festival and went on to win Best Cinematography. It was an incredible honor to be recognized among so many talented filmmakers, and a true testament to the vision and collaboration of the entire team, including director of photography Max Aldrich and cinematographer Taylor Finlay. To see our aerial footage of wild mustangs celebrated in this way was both humbling and unforgettable.
-Mission Accomplished-
Final Thoughts: A Ride Worth Taking
Working on HELLBENT reminded us why we do what we do. The terrain was tough, the wildlife unpredictable, and the stakes high. But in the end, the footage spoke for itself.
We showed up for an adventure. We left with something far more meaningful: a chance to help tell a story that matters.
WATCH HELLBENT HERE! CLICK THE POSTER
Synopsis: Unknown to many Americans, the U.S. is in the midst of a highly politicized crisis surrounding its wild horse populations. Hellbent, a Boot Barn Production, follows a woman at the frontlines of that debate, whose story challenges Americans to set differences aside and talk to each other.
In this poignant short documentary, Jenny Leisuiete, a determined life-long wildlife advocate and a community of people impacted at the frontlines of the issue confront the heartbreaking wild horse overpopulation crisis in America, exploring the delicate balance between preservation and intervention in a battle to protect these iconic creatures and their future.
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