When I first started filming The Dockman, I had no idea where it would lead.

What began as an idea to document the life of a dock builder has evolved into a true docu-reality series, and today I’m excited to finally say that Season 2 – The Dockman: Rises Again is officially streaming on Amazon Prime Video as an Amazon Prime Original.

As the producer, director, editor, and cinematographer of the series, Season 2 was one of the most rewarding—and unpredictable—projects I’ve ever worked on.

That’s because, for the most part- The Dockman isn’t scripted.

I like to describe the show as docu-reality. We document reality as it unfolds. We know where we’re headed for the next dock installation or boat lift project, but beyond that, very little is planned. We film in a true run-and-gun style, following whatever happens throughout the day. Sometimes it’s a difficult dock install. Sometimes it’s an unexpected mechanical problem. Sometimes it’s an adventure that no one saw coming.

And if you know Jerry Wilson, you know there’s almost always an adventure.

That unpredictability is what makes the series so much fun to produce.

During Season 2, I traveled across Michigan with Jerry “The Dockman” Wilson, Garrick Wilson, and the Waters Edge Dock & Hoist crew, filming everywhere from Teal Lake in Negaunee in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Beaver Island, Watersmeet, Elizabeth Lake, and countless waterfront properties in between. Every location had its own story, its own challenges, and its own personalities.

Some days meant long hours on the road, other days meant documenting dock installations with cameras, filming from shore, climbing onto equipment, or simply trying to stay one step ahead of whatever Jerry decided to do next. Those are the moments that make the show feel authentic, because nothing is manufactured. The audience experiences the day almost exactly as I did behind the camera.

One of my favorite parts of producing The Dockman has been working alongside Jerry and his brother, Garrick. Their personalities are genuine, their work ethic is incredible, and together they’ve created moments that simply couldn’t be scripted. Season 2 was no different. Some of my favorite scenes weren’t planned—they just happened, and fortunately, I had the camera rolling.

That’s always been my goal as a filmmaker.

I don’t want to create reality—I want to document it. And encourage it a little. 😉

When people ask what kind of filmmaker I am, this series probably explains it better than I ever could. Figuring it out as you got along is part of this process. Always learning. I love telling stories that are real. Stories where the audience feels like they’re riding along with us, instead of watching from a distance. The Dockman has become exactly that.

None of this would have been possible without Waters Edge Dock & Hoist, whose belief in the project made another season possible. I’m also incredibly grateful to Jerry and Garrick Wilson, the entire Waters Edge crew, SunWalk Superior Surfaces, Great Lakes Lift & Dock, Deatons Dock, Rocket Dock, Matt and Sara from Beaver Island Property Services, Sabrina, and everyone else who opened their businesses, properties, and lives to the cameras throughout production.

I’d also like to thank my partners at Breaker Digital Marketing, who worked alongside me on Seasons 1 and 2 to help distribute the series nationally. Seeing a project that started here in Michigan premiere on Amazon Prime Video is something I’ll never take for granted. Next we’re hoping for a Tubi release, so everyone can watch for free!

Season 2 is available now on Amazon Prime Video, and I will be a memorable season for me. 

If you’ve been following The Dockman from the beginning, thank you for supporting independent filmmaking and this crazy adventure we’ve been fortunate enough to capture. And if this is your first introduction to the series, I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I enjoyed filming it.

I’ll see you in Season 3.

– Brandon Damon