The making of “Louder Than Guns” has been an impact focused project from its inception, when Ketch Secor, David Greene, and Doug Pray decided to film conversations in the communities Old Crow Medicine Show performed in. They asked producers Stephanie Meurer and Ashley York to help make the production happen, and brought 2 cameras to Owensboro, KY, Chicago, IL, Missoula MT, and Ketch’s hometown, Nashville, TN, where the story began—tragically—with the Covenant School shooting in March of 2023. In each location, the filmmakers recruited citizens from all walks of life and, more importantly, representing different political persuasions, trying to get a realistic cross section of gun owners, non-gun owners, those outspoken on the issue and those who’ve never spoken about it. Through word of mouth, cold-calling, meeting people on the street or at Old Crow shows, it was made clear that they were inviting folks to participate in an open-minded, respectful conversation where, regardless of their viewpoint, they’d be listened to. There were four larger “roundtable” type meetings with 10-15 people, plus Ketch, David, and sometimes Old Crow members Mike Harris or Dante Pope. The first film shoot was in June 2023 in Owensboro, KY, at a barbeque restaurant. In Chicago, folks formed an intimate circle in a church, in Missoula at the public library, and in Nashville, a local restaurant. Before the cameras rolled, director Doug Pray would assure the participants, “this isn’t reality TV nor social media... we’re not here for the drama of disagreement or entertaining conflict.” He’d urge them to listen, consider other points of view, but also speak honestly about their opinions and why they came to them. Ketch and David would share their background and how they came to this table, others would introduce themselves and the talking got underway. In between these gatherings, Ketch and David had conversations with smaller groups or individuals too: gun store owners, a group at an inner-city barbershop, ten junior high-school students, three ex-incarcerated men at a half-way house, and three Covenant School parents whose children survived the attack but lived the tragedy. In one scene, Ketch, David, and his bandmates Morgan Jahnig and Mike Harris play back the multi-track recording of “Louder Than Guns” at Old Crow’s recording studio, and talk about the impact of the song and their frustration at today’s bigger country-music stars who seem unwilling to speak out about school shootings and safety, for fear they’d lose their audience. The live performances by Old Crow Medicine show, which provide a joyful break from the narrative, or comment upon it, were filmed at the ROMP Music Festival in Owensboro, KY, The Kettlehouse Amphitheater in Bonner, MT, and at The Salt Shed in Chicago. Cinematographers Anika Kan Grevstad, Josua Fischer, or others were joined by Doug Pray for 3-camera coverage of each show. Music composer John Fee provided a beautifully subtle score which helps weave together the narrative with Old Crow’s music, which is also heard throughout the film. “Louder Than Guns” was made in affiliation with Special Order, who provided film production and post-production services. All color and sound finishing was performed at Banana Post in Burbank, CA. Our fiscal sponsor is The Film Collaborative. The film had its world premiere as the Gala Centerpiece at the 33rd Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival in Hot Springs Arkansas. At the Nashville Film Festival, the film played to a home-town crowd of Covenant School parents, other participants in the documentary, and Nashvillians. The filmmakers will release the film widely (theatrical, broadcast, streaming) in 2026 in conjunction with a social-impact campaign that seeks to recreate the type of conversations filmed in “Louder Than Guns.”

The goal is to use the film as a tool to generate a healthy discussion in this country and to move the needle on gun violence in the name of public safety.