Meet Daniel Bernardi | Professor, Filmmaker, Sailor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniel Bernardi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, what role has risk played in your life or career?
In the world of documentary filmmaking, risk is not just an element—it’s the very essence that propels our narrativesi nto compelling tales. Every decision, from topic selection to source interviews to the use of animation to reveal a past trauma, is a dance with uncertainty, making the journey both thrilling and daunting. While my career has been punctuated by moments of vulnerability, especially when, as a veteran of the Iraq War, unveiling stories from military industrial complex, it’s these bold leaps into the unknown that have crafted the most resonant documentations. Yet, this path of risk-taking is tethered to a profound responsibility: to represent truth irrespective of profit or loss, ensuring every story is told with both fact and heart.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My 25-year tenure in the U.S. Navy Reserves instilled in me discipline and a dedication to service, values I carried into founding El Dorado Films, a beacon for social justice storytelling. While moving between deployments, filmmaking, let alone family presented its challenges, from narrative crafting to funding, my military leadership, which puts people and mission first, coupled with the critical skills gained from teaching cultural theory ensured our stories were both emotive and rooted in societal truths. The journey taught me the value of authenticity, whether in leading a small unit outside Baghdad in 2009, challenging young minds in the classroom at San Francisco State, or spotlighting marginalized tales of the veteran experience in film. I’ve tried to meld the worlds of military, academia, and film to champion overlooked stories, hoping El Dorado Films stands as a sign of transformative storytelling.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Folsom and El Dorado Hills, Northern California, offer a captivating blend of the past and present. I’d begin our adventure with a walk through Folsom’s Historic District, resonating with signs of the Gold Rush era. I’d ensure my friend relish the vistas of Folsom Lake with a morning kayak ride, followed by a wine-tasting session at the verdant vineyards of El Dorado Hills. The region boasts a range of cool experiences, from the trails of Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park to the gourmet delights of the local farm-to-fork restaurants.

We’d soon dive deeper into the local culture with a bike ride along the American River Bike Trail and drink a craft brew at Out of Bounds Brewing Company (I don’t drink, but I get the pleasure of good wine and beer). As the sun sets, I’d look for a music venue either in El Dorado Hills Town Center or elsewhere; (even wonderful Sacramento, a twenty-minute drive. With a mix of shopping at El Dorado Hills Town Center, dining experiences ranging from sushi to steakhouses, and the rich history encapsulated in museums, our time in Folsom and El Dorado Hills will be a fusion of historical richness, outdoor adventures, and modern indulgences. Fun.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to spotlight Jesse Collier Sutterley. Emerging from the Department of History at San Francisco State University as an intern, Jesse might not have been your typical film student, but he unequivocally possessed the trio of attributes essential for an exemplary filmmaker: an innate grasp of storytelling, a discerning creative vision, and the humility to acknowledge his limitations, always prioritizing the supremacy of the best idea. What set him apart was his relentless dedication, not driven by monetary gains but by a genuine focus on the art of documentary storytelling. His belief that passion precedes financial success has proven true. His commitment has always been to the craft, evident in his pivotal role editing two of my feature films. Now, with four directed short films under his belt, all that I produce to his vision, his most recent works—one addressing veteran suicide and the other spotlighting a woman of color’s tragic end in Afghanistan—are poised to garner acclaim, masterfully intertwining truth through story.

Website: https://www.eldoradofilms.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eldoradofilms_/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/19024042/admin/feed/posts/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/veterandoccorps

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veterandocs/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ElDoradoFilms

Image Credits
all photos feature El Dorado Films crew in countries and states across the world.