Duck Dynasty Story Debuts on Big Screen

THE BLIND SHALL SEE

Based on the life of Phil and Kay Robertson, The Blind is a powerful true story of love, hardship, and redemption. It shows never-before-revealed moments from Phil and Kay’s life before fame came calling. While Phil and Kay were the inspiration for the movie, Willie and Korie Robertson helped produce it.
The Blind premieres as a Fathom Event on September 28th. Viewers can go to www.TheBlindMovie.com to check local listings and order tickets. 

DOWN IN THE BAYOU

Phil grew up one of seven kids in the 1950s in Louisiana. They never had new cars, nice clothes, or lived in extravagant homes. For the most part, their family was happy, but his mother struggled with manic depressive disorder and spent some time in mental facilities. When their father was away for work, Phil helped take care of his siblings and learned to live off the land by hunting and fishing. 

When Phil met Kay in high school, he was the quarterback of the football team and she was a cheerleader. He was in 10th grade and she was in ninth. It wasn’t long before Phil took Kay on his hunting expeditions. Her father, who died when she was 14, loved to hunt and fish so Kay was naturally drawn to Phil. When he got a football scholarship to Louisiana Tech, they rented an apartment. On days when he didn’t have class, Phil would hunt and fish. His interest in football was waning. “My interest in football was secondary to ducks,” says Phil. “But it was paying for my education.” (The backup quarterback was Terry Bradshaw.) After college, Phil took a job in Arkansas teaching tenth-grade English and Physical Education, but still went hunting, drinking, and running wild. By then, Phil and Kay had three sons, and Phil’s only worries were how many ducks he could kill and when his next drink was coming.  

After resigning from his teaching position, Phil took a job managing a bar. Kay worked as the barmaid to make sure he stayed out of trouble and watched him slowly drink their lives away. Kay hit rock bottom. One night, Phil accused her of cheating (but she hadn’t) and she didn’t know how to fix their marriage.

The next day, she was watching a TV show and called the number on the screen to meet with the preacher, Bill Smith. The preacher shared the gospel with Kay and she gave her life to the Lord. Kay tolerated Phil’s behavior because she knew God would help her through it. One night, Phil called Kay a Bible thumper and holy roller. He accused her of cheating again. Kay left that night with the boys for three months. One afternoon, Phil showed up in the parking lot where Kay was working. He wanted his family back. Kay told him to meet her at her apartment and invited her preacher over too. The preacher studied the Bible with Phil for several hours. The next day, Phil, then 28, gave his life to the Lord and was baptized! Phil started going to church three times a week, studied the Bible the other nights, and took another job teaching at a Christian school. “It was about 5 years after I was baptized before the pull of sin finally stopped,” says Phil.  

After a couple of years, Phil wanted to return to hunting and fishing so they moved to Louisiana and Phil started a commercial fishing business. They purchased 6 acres of land just off the Ouachita River. "When I saw the site…," says Phil, "I knew it would launch my career as a commercial fisherman and it was where I would teach my sons the survival skills I learned from my father.” It didn’t take long for Phil to become profitable. While the fishing business was lucrative, Phil didn’t believe that was his calling in life. He kept going back to a memorable hunting trip he made with his friend, Al Bolen, a few years earlier.

A large flock of mallard ducks had flown high above them and Phil hit them with a long, hailing call. The flock turned and circled, landing in the water directly in front of them, in perfect gun range. When the shooting was over, Big Al said, "You weren’t calling those ducks, you were commanding them!” Al knew Phil tweaked his duck calls and urged him to make his own and sell them. Al came up with a name: Duck Commander.  

BACKGROUND BIO’S

Phil Robertson starred in the popular TV series "Duck Dynasty" and currently hosts the 2023 K-LOVE Podcast of the Year, "Unashamed with Phil & Jase Robertson." He is a professional hunter who invented his duck call and founded Duck Commander. Phil is also the New York Times bestselling author of "Uncanceled," "Jesus Politics," "The Theft of America’s Soul," "UnPHILtered," and "Happy, Happy, Happy." Phil and his wife, Kay, live in West Monroe, Louisiana, where he teaches a class at church every Sunday. They have five children and more than 25 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Miss Kay Robertson is the beloved backbone and funny bone of the Robertson family and star of the hit TV series "Duck Dynasty." She married her pioneer man, Phil Robertson, and has four sons, one daughter, and more than 25 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Kay is a New York Times best-selling author of several books and frequently appears on the "Duck Call Room" and "Unashamed" podcasts. She loves to cook for her family, feed her neighbors, and care for women in need.

Willie Robertson is the CEO of Duck Commander and Buck Commander and star of A&E’s "Duck Dynasty." Robertson has expanded his family companies from a living room operation to a multi-million-dollar enterprise and destination for all things outdoors. He is the executive producer of A&E’s "Duck Dynasty" and "Buck Commander" on the Outdoor Channel, as well as a New York Times best-selling author of "The Duck Commander Family: How Faith, Family, and Ducks Built a Dynasty," "American Hunter," "American Fisherman," and "American Entrepreneur." Willie is married to Korie Robertson and is the father of six. His story is a remarkable example of entrepreneurship and dedication built on faith, family, and hard work.

Korie Robertson is a New York Times best-selling author, star of A&E’s Duck Dynasty, and most recently At Home with the Robertsons on Facebook Watch. She works in the family business, Duck Commander, and is co-owner of Tread Lively Productions working to produce more hopeful, faith, and family-friendly entertainment through podcasting, film, and reality and scripted television. Korie is passionate about following Jesus, motherhood, adoption, caring for children, and strengthening families around the world. She also enjoys travel, tennis, books, and teaching art in the summer at Camp Ch-Yo-Ca. Korie loves doing life with her husband, Willie, their six children, and five grandkids in their hometown of West Monroe, Louisiana. Writing credits include: The Duck Commander Family: How Faith, Family, and Ducks Built a Dynasty, Duck Commander Devotions for Kids, and Strong and Kind: Raising Kids of Character.

Purchase tickets for The Blind here: TheBlindMovie.com, and find out more about the family's business at Duck Commander.