Field Notes
El Dorado Films interviews many people in the course of making a film. What they recount on camera is almost always intriguing, but for any number of reasons doesn’t always make the final cut of the film. We don’t like leaving interesting ideas on the cutting room floor, so we offer their stories in one-minute shorts from the field.
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Outtake: Resilience - First Half Semester
From Resilience: The Kim LeBel Story, Amber, Kim's granddaughter, tells Kim and Michele about how dismissing mandatory sexual harassment training in college quickly turned into a harsh reality when she experienced harassment herself within her first semester.
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Outtake: Resilience - Figuring it Out
From Resilience: The Kim LeBel Story, Kim and Michelle recall the frantic efforts of Kim's family went through to locate her in Germany right after getting notified she was shot, reflecting on their determination and the emotional bond they shared amidst uncertainty.
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Outtake: Resilience - Tell It
From Resilience: The Kim LeBel Story, Kim reflects on defying military culture to reclaim her identity, while sharing the powerful advice from a chaplain that healing comes from speaking out and helping others do the same.
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Outtake: Resilience - Ugliness
From Resilience: The Kim LeBel Story, Kim recounts the daily struggles of facing harassment while working in a male-dominated military environment, emphasizing the importance of standing up for her dignity and rights amidst inappropriate behavior.
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Outtake: Resilience - Babysitters
From Resilience: The Kim LeBel Story, Kim recounts the overwhelming challenges of balancing military service and childcare, facing burnout and reprimand while navigating a system that left her struggling to care for her children.
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Field Notes: Ultimate Sacrifices - Abandoning MIAs
War skeptic Timothy Hughey recounts his involvement in the joint military commission during the Vietnam War, revealing moral complexities.
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Field Notes: San Antonio National - Serve Those Who Served Us
Ernesto Jose Cantú, Air Force veteran turned gardener at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, meticulously tends to headstones, creating a serene space to honor and appreciate the service of the fallen.
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Field Notes: Miramar National - My Burial Place
At Miramar National Cemetery, volunteers, personally connected to the interred, dedicate themselves to ensuring quality care for veterans and their families, managing front desk operations, and maintaining gravesites with a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to honoring their service.
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Field Notes: Cape Canaveral National - First Burials
As the director of Cape Canaveral National Cemetery from 2014 to 2021, Don Murphy passionately transformed the property into a National Cemetery, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to honoring veterans through dedicated service from its inception to the first internments and beyond.
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Field Notes: Cape Canaveral National - Meeting the Families
As a Cemetery Representative at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, Luis Albarracin, a retired U.S. Navy member, finds deep meaning in engaging with families, capturing veterans' unique stories, and ensuring they receive the highest honors, thereby preserving their legacy for future generations.
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Field Notes: Cape Canaveral National - Landscaping
Edward Calderon, KCON National Cemetery's devoted maintenance worker, blends personal military legacy with professional commitment, preserving a sacred space for veterans.
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Field Notes: Cape Canaveral National - Caisson Team
Tom Fitzgerald honors veterans by facilitating traditional caisson escorts at the nearby National Cemetery, acknowledging the profound dedication and sacrifice of those who served the nation, and embodying universal gratitude through his heartfelt tributes.
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Field Notes: Cape Canaveral National - Cemetery Representative
Andrea Dockstader, a retired Chief Navy Officer, channels her service into a fulfilling role as a Cemetery Representative at National Cemeteries, finding profound satisfaction in aiding families and ensuring veterans receive dignified, cost-free burials, thereby continuing her commitment to honor...
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Field Notes: Velda - Light Skinned Baby
From "Velda: A Mother's Story of Suicide", Velda Dobson shares a vivid memory of her son Michael's birth, marked by the hospital's reaction to his interracial appearance.
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Field Notes: Velda - Flowers for Mom
From Velda: A Mother's Story of Suicide, Velda Dobson tenderly recalls her son Michael's loving gesture of bringing her irises, a small act that filled their home with warmth and pride before his tragic passing.
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Field Notes: Ultimate Sacrifices - Post 9/11 Drill Sergeant
Drill Sergeant Cat Harris leads dedicated professionals-turned-recruits through intense military training, revealing a rewarding era where careers seamlessly transform into service.
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Field Notes: Ultimate Sacrifices - OPTEMPO
Drill Sergeant Cat Harris unveils the relentless 'optempo' in military life, spotlighting the overlooked heroes in the rear's demanding operations.
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Field Notes: Ruiz - Pranking the Teacher
Friends Tevin and Kcey cherish a bond built on lightheartedness, indulging in playful pranks and creating lasting memories through laughter.
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Field Notes: Ruiz - Kcey at the Yard House
In the heart of Atlanta's Atlantic Station, Tevin and Kcey forged an enduring bond, exploring youthful adventures and laughter-filled escapades.
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Field Notes: Ruiz - Jokes, Music and Tech School
Jazz Krebs recounts forging a deep and unexpected friendship with Kcey, a fellow airwoman, through shared laughter and music.
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Field Notes: Riverside National - More than Graves
Riverside National Cemetery, embraced by a supportive community, stands uniquely adorned with a Medal of Honor memorial, embodying valor and remembrance beyond internments.
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Outtake: Resilience - Wrong Upbringing
From Resilience: The Kim LeBel Story, Kim reflects on her transformation after being saved by the very man her family taught her to fear, confronting the prejudice she was raised with and finding humanity in unexpected places.
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Field Notes: Golden Gate National - Learning about Veterans
National Cemetery Director Kathleen McCall cherishes uncovering the diverse histories of veterans, offering poignant insights into community heritage.
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Field Notes: Remembering Port Chicago - Black Empowerment
Junior Kathleen Hill at Ygnacio Valley High School crafts a poignant artwork with cowrie shells, symbolizing Port Chicago's sacrifices and community strength for future reflection and empowerment.