The Water Drum is more than a symbol, it's the guiding force behind our commitment to telling stories that resonate.

A woman being filmed during an interview, with two men operating cameras, in a studio with a red background.
Glitched landscape featuring a river, trees, hills, mountains, and a partly cloudy sky.

The Water Drum is an instrument rooted in ceremony, rhythm, and connection. Its sound mirrors the beating of the human heart and the natural cadence of life itself. For us, it is a reminder that stories are not manufactured. They are uncovered.

Every project begins the same way: by listening. We honor the people and places at the center of each story, collaborating closely with our partners to create work that feels human, intentional, and built to last beyond a single moment or campaign.

As a Cherokee-owned company, we carry forward a tradition of storytelling rooted in observation, memory, and respect. At its core, our work is about connection between people, places, and moments that might otherwise go unseen. We believe the best stories don’t just inform or promote. They stay with you.

Christopher Hunt

Christopher Hunt is an award-winning Cherokee filmmaker known for immersive, character-driven storytelling. His debut feature, EDDIE: The Cost of Greatness, was released by Lionsgate Films and premiered nationally on ESPN, where it was praised as "one of the best sports documentaries" by ESPN's Myron Medcalf. His recent work includes Life's Ballet: A Gift to Borrow, which premiered at the 2025 deadCenter Film Festival, and The Accelerator: The Robert Wilson Story, chronicling the origins of proton therapy.

Hunt's approach blends vérité filmmaking with cinematic interviews and thoughtful use of archival material, creating films that resonate emotionally while honoring real people and real work. His branded work includes directing Oklahoma State University's national public service announcement, flagship admissions film, and college-specific campaigns, as well as projects for Mevion Medical Systems and the Grand River Dam Authority.

Based in Austin, Texas, Hunt founded Waterdrum Films to create a studio rooted in documentary craft and human-centered storytelling. His work has screened at film festivals across the country and been broadcast nationally.

A man with glasses, a beard, wearing a navy blue shirt, ripped gray jeans, and hiking boots, sits on a white armchair in a minimalistic room with white walls and light-colored wooden flooring.