Daniel Bernardi

Last updated
Daniel Bernardi
Born (1964-06-16) June 16, 1964 (age 61)
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Alma mater University of Arizona, UCLA
SpouseHelen Na
Scientific career
Fields media studies, cultural studies,
narrative theory, documentary film, critical race theory
Institutions San Francisco State University, United States Navy Reserves, El Dorado Films

Daniel Leonard Bernardi (born June 16, 1964) is a professor of Cinema at San Francisco State University, founder and President of El Dorado Films and a retired Commander in the United States Navy Reserve. Bernardi earned a Bachelor of Arts in Radio-TV (1984) and a Masters of Arts in Media Arts (1988) from the University of Arizona. He went on to earn a PhD in Film and Television Studies from UCLA (1994), completed a University of California postdoctoral research fellowship in 1997, and earned a Master of Public Administration from SFSU in 2023.

Contents

Early life

Bernardi was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico to Leonard Bernardi and Giga Bernardi (née Soto), June 16, 1964. Shortly thereafter, the Bernardis moved to their hometown of New York, then eventually relocated to Tucson, Arizona for Giga's asthma. His parents divorced when Bernardi was six years old, and his mother married Cordell R. Carter when Bernardi was thirteen. Following his graduation from high school in 1982, Bernardi joined the United States Navy.

Military career

Bernardi’s initial stint in the military ended shortly after it began, but out of a desire to live up to the tradition of military service established by his father, who served in the United States Air Force, and stepfather, who served in the United States Marine Corps, he decided to enlist again. After receiving a congressional waiver, Bernardi joined the United States Navy Reserve as an intelligence specialist while engaged in his post-doctoral studies (1997). During his second stint in the Navy, Bernardi learned about commissioning opportunities within the service and chose to transition from the intelligence community as an enlisted Sailor to the public affairs restricted line as a commissioned officer. During his service, Bernardi served as Public Affairs Officer Joint Transportation Reserve Unit (JTRU) 2015-2018, Executive Officer/Acting Commanding Officer U.S. Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet 2018-2019, Public Affairs Officer Naval Information Warfare Systems Command NR NAVWAR HQ and participated in a tour of duty in Iraq (which precluded his ability to accept a Fulbright fellowship in 2009), where he trained Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) and Emergency Response Brigade (ERB) Soldiers on combat camera and media operations, managed US media embeds, including CNN, NBC, AP, US Army and US Navy journalists and photographers. Following his tour in Iraq, Bernardi was the mission public affairs officer for the 2011 iteration of Pacific Partnership, an annual humanitarian assistance initiative sponsored by the United States Pacific Fleet. Bernardi managed a team of military (U.S., Australian and New Zealand) and NGO (Project HOPE) photographers, videographers and writers assigned to document and report on the mission. During his final tour, Bernardi also served at Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) in 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic.

Education

Bernardi began his collegiate career studying acting at the University of Arizona and entered a feminist film theory course during his junior year. During his exploration of cinema-based semiotics and themes, he learned there was little to no exploration of race in cinema-related academics. The university offered Bernardi a grant to pursue his academic interest in racial explorations of cinema as a graduate student. Following his master’s program, Bernardi relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actor, worked with the Center Theater Group, found he missed film theory, and began working toward a doctorate.

Academic career

Bernardi has taught film, television and new media at UC Riverside (1997–1998), UCLA (1999-2000), Arizona State University (1999-2011), and SFSU (2011–Present). He was awarded a Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship (1994), a UC President's Post-Doctoral Fellowship (1995–1997), and a Fulbright Fellowship (2009). Nonetheless, his deployment to Iraq prevented his acceptance of the Fulbright Fellowship. From 1998 to 2000, he worked for the Sci-Fi Channel as a consultant, writer and producer/host of the web feature Future Now (since deleted).

Since his years at UCLA, Daniel L. Bernardi has earned a reputation of notoriety among the more avid Star Trek fans due to his writings about the role of race in the films, especially through his 1998 book Star Trek and History: Race-ing Toward a White Future". [1]

Following his tour in Iraq and the South Pacific, Bernardi, working with a larger research team including H. L. (Bud) Goodall Jr., received a $1.6 million renewable grant from the Office of Naval Research to catalogue and study the impact rumors have on counterinsurgency operations. The aim of the project is for expeditionary forces to have access to these narratives and to work against them through the team's analysis.

Veteran Documentary Corps (2012–present)

Inspired by his own experiences, in 2012, Bernardi launched the Veteran Documentary Corps [2] (VDC), a documentary project founded by donations and grants, the VA and National Cemetery Administration including. VDC produces and exhibits short documentaries on the struggles and successes of veterans from across the world. The Veteran Documentary Corps has produced and distributed more than fifty short documentaries on veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the fall-out of the former "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and a range of other topics. Bernardi contributes to the project both as filmmaker and producer, and all the films are made by professional filmmakers including Jesse Moss, Andrés Gallegos, Silvia Turchin, Eliciana Nascimento, among others. [3]

The Veteran Documentary Corps was met with wide acclaim and was received positively from veterans and the general public alike. Following these successes, Bernardi created in 2018 El Dorado Films, the distributor of Veteran Documentary Corps (VDC) films. Similarly, El Dorado Films is a specialized filmmaking collective that works across the U.S. and around the world to craft compelling documentaries, shorts, and commercials, which offers also an online streaming platform.

Daniel Bernardi's documentaries have received a wide international reception on the international film festival circuit and won many prizes. In 2023 two of his latest documentaries on women in the military: [4] Time for Change: Kathy Bruyere and Ultimate Sacrifices: Cpt. Jennifer Moreno screened at the opening night of the 2023 GI Film Festival San Diego. [5] His 2023 film, Triumph Over Prejudice: The Montford Point Marines, opened the 2025 'Best of the Fest' GI Film Festival in Washington, D.C. [6]

Bibliography

Authored works

Edited collections


Bernardi's interest in the representation of race is still present and he actively writes for American newspapers on contemporary films, such as the upcoming biopic on Leonard Bernstein 'Maestro'. [17]

Filmography

Director

FilmYearFormatDistribution
Tim Kochis: Purple Heart 2013ShortAmazon, ProQuest, Kanopy, InfoBase, AlexanderStreet
Michael Blackwell: Combat Camera 2014ShortAmazon, ProQuest, Kanopy, InfoBase, AlexanderStreet, PBS Plus
Ralph Rush: Concentration Camp Liberator 2015ShortAmazon, ProQuest, Kanopy, InfoBase, AlexanderStreet
Jack Ensch: Hanoi Hilton POW 2016ShortAmazon, ProQuest, InfoBase, AlexanderStreet
The American War 2018FeatureProQuest, Kanopy, InfoBase, AlexanderStreet
Noble Sissle Jr.: Am I Still Going to Vietnam? 2018ShortAmazon, ProQuest, InfoBase, AlexanderStreet
Noble Sissle's Syncopated Ragtime 2018ShortAmazon, ProQuest, Kanopy, InfoBase, AlexanderStreet
The War to End All Wars… and its American Veterans 2019FeatureProQuest, Kanopy, InfoBase, Video Elephant, AlexanderStreet
The Forgotten War 2020FeatureAmazon, ProQuest, Kanopy, InfoBase, Video Elephant, AlexanderStreet
Ionosphere: Dr. Eliana Nossa 2020ShortProQuest, InfoBase, AlexanderStreet,
Near Earth Asteroids: Dr. Anne Virkki 2020ShortProQuest, InfoBase, AlexanderStreet
Buck Southworth: U.S. Air Force Flight Crew 2021ShortAmazon, ProQuest, InfoBase, Video Elephant, AlexanderStreet
Navigator: Lt. Col. Ken Murray 2022ShortProQuest, AlexanderStreet
Solar Weather: Dr. Alessandra Pacini 2022ShortProQuest, InfoBase, AlexanderStreet
Time for Change: Kathy Bruyere 2022ShortAmazon, ProQuest, AlexanderStreet
Ultimate Sacrifices: CPT. Jennifer Moreno 2022FeatureAmazon, ProQuest, InfoBase, AlexanderStreet
The Architect: A Montford Point Marine 2023ShortAmazon, ProQuest, AlexanderStreet
Conte: Transitioning Politics 2023ShortAmazon, ProQuest, AlexanderStreet
The Jock: A Montford Point Marine 2023ShortAmazon, ProQuest, AlexanderStreet
Triumph Over Prejudice: The Montford Point Marines 2023FeatureInfoBase
You Don't Know Jack: A Montford Point Marine 2023ShortAmazon, ProQuest, AlexanderStreet
Hope: In the Aftermath of War 2025ShortProQuest, InfoBase
Resilience: The Kim LeBel Story 2025ShortProQuest, InfoBase

Producer

FilmDirectorYear
David Gan: The Front LinesDavid Washburn2012
John Heroux: Gulf War Fighter PilotDavid Washburn2012
Bobby Hollingsworth: Army CIDSilvia Turchin2013
Casey Conklin: Ranger BattalionAdan Pulido2013
Jack Lyon: Veterans Serving VeteransJohn Giannini2013
Julie Mendez: From PTSD to ArtSilvia Turchin2013
Scott Castle: Battle of FallujahSilvia Turchin2013
Zoe Dunning: Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"Silvia Turchin2013
Aldo Giannini: Pacific TheatreJohn Giannini2014
Giorgio Mattia: From Kosovo to IraqMaria Luisa Forenza2014
John Baumhackl: Chemical MemoriesAdan Pulido2014
Tiffany McKinley: SailorDavid Washburn2014
Hank Sciaroni: Shot DownRobert Barbarino2015
Joel Hunt: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)Valerie Soe2015
Tian Soepangat: Muslim SailorDavid Washburn2015
Adele Shimanoff: U.S. MarineHannah Anderson2016
Jackie Speier: Sexual Assault in the MilitaryJennifer Hammett2016
Abina and the Important MenSoumyaa Behrens2017
Admiral Chester NimitzAlexander Zane Irwin2017
Brevet Major Pauline Cushman-Fryer: Civil War SpyAllyce Ondricka2017
Buffalo Soldiers, Victorio and Manifest DestinyAlexander Zane Irwin2017
Cpl. Richard Carlson: A Brother's LossAndrés Gallegos2017
Fighting Fred FunstonAndrés Gallegos2017
John Stevens: Storming the BeachJesse Moss2017
Lt. Cmdr. Che Barnes: Fallen BrotherAlexander Zane Irwin2017
Nisei Soldiers: Japanese American G.I. JoesAlexander Zane Irwin2017
PFC Benjamin Tollefson: A Mom's LossAndrés Gallegos2017
Pride of the Buffalo SoldierAllyce Ondricka2017
Remembering Port ChicagoAlexander Zane Irwin2017
Rory Fanning: From Ranger to ResisterMichael Behrens2017
Fighter Pilots of VietnamCarolina Gratianne2018
John Henry Balch: Congressional Medal of HonorSreang Hok2018
Madame Mars: Women and the Quest for Worlds BeyondJan Millsapps2018
Major Raoul Lufbery: Fighter AceAlexander Zane Irwin2018
Nurse Helen Fairchild: Killed in Action?Eliciana Nascimento [18] 2018
Samuel Wilder King: Fighting for StatehoodCarolina Gratianne2018
Guy Hircefeld: A Guy with a CameraAndrés Gallegos2019
Leo Patrick McArdle: Veterans Helping VeteransAllyce Ondricka2019
Objector [19] Molly Stuart2019
Alene B. Duerk: The First Woman AdmiralEliciana Nascimento2020
Frank Maselskis: From WWII POW to Chosin Reservoir SurvivorAndrés Gallegos2020
Ralph Parr: Fighter Ace of the Twentieth CenturyAlexander Zane Irwin2020
Rudy Hernandez: Congressional Medal of HonorDavid de Rozas2020
Pam Roark: Iraq War NurseNatalya Sharapova2020
The Bataan Death MarchJesse Sutterley2021
Foghorn: Child Actor, Veteran, FriendDiana Sánchez2021
Immigrant Service: Focus on Jesus DuranAndrés Gallegos2021
Vincent Faulls: A Collection of My FatherJesse Sutterley2021
Who is Weary Willie?Constanza Hevia2021
From Mexico to Vietnam: A Chicano StoryAndrés Gallegos2022
Merchant Marine Paul Goercke and the Alexander Hamilton PostAlexander Zane Irwin2022
Baptiste Garnier and the Indian WarsSean Restivo2023
Black Women and World War II: The 6888th Central Postal Directory BattalionGina Gelphman2023
Buffalo Soldiers: George Jordan and the Indian WarsJosh Cardenas2023
Carson Bigbee: The Pirate of America's PastimeRobert Barbarino2023
The Chaplain: MAJ Brenda ThreattJesse Sutterley2023
Decoding Jean: Secrets of WWIIHannah Anderson2023
Do Ask, Do Tell: The Linda Campbell Story [20] Birdy Hung2023
Gianmarco Bellini: Gulf War POWMaria Luisa Forenza2023
The Gunnery: A Montford Point MarineJesse Sutterley2023
RuizJesse Sutterley2023
The Singer: A Montford Point MarineEliciana Nascimento2023
The Sioux: From Red Cloud to Wounded KneeSean Restivo2023
Velda: A Mother's Story of SuicideJesse Sutterley2023
All Equal!Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Diop2024
Generations of Service: The LaShaunda Jackson StoryGina Gelphman2024
In Honor of Adrianna: A Warrior's Love StoryCaitlin Williams2024

Selected publications

References

  1. ↑ Rado, Alicia Di (1995-03-15). "Trekking Through College : Classes Explore Modern Society Using the World of 'Star Trek'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  2. ↑ "Veteran Documentary Corps | College of Liberal & Creative Arts". lca.sfsu.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  3. ↑ "Filmmakers – El Dorado Films" . Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  4. ↑ "Documentaries recognize sacrifice, achievement of military women". KPBS Public Media. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  5. ↑ Coddon, David L. (2023-05-12). "Director keeps stories of military women alive at GI Film Festival San Diego". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  6. ↑ Informer, D. Kevin McNeir, Special to The (2025-11-03). "GI Film Festival Returns to Washington, D.C., Featuring 13 Films Named 'Best of the Fest'". The Washington Informer. Retrieved 2025-11-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ "Off the Page: Screenwriting in the Era of Media Convergence Available Now for Courses". UC Press Blog. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  8. ↑ Bernardi, Daniel Leonard, Pauline Hope Cheong, Chris Lundry, and Scott W. Ruston. Narrative Landmines: Rumors, Islamist Extremism, and the Struggle for Strategic Influence. Rutgers University Press, 2012. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt5hjdvd.
  9. ↑ "How a couple saved 'Star Trek' while living in Oakland". KALW. 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  10. ↑ Bernardi, Daniel. 1998. Star Trek and History: Race-Ing Toward a White Future. Springer Science & Business.
  11. ↑ Bernardi, Daniel, and Michael Green. 2017. Race in American Film: Voices and Visions That Shaped a Nation. Greenwood.
  12. ↑ Bernardi, Daniel, Murray Pomerance, and Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. 2013. Hollywood’s Chosen People: The Jewish Experience in American Cinema.
  13. ↑ Bernardi, Daniel. 2009. Filming Difference: Actors, Directors, Producers, and Writers on Gender, Race, and Sexuality in Film. University of Texas Press.
  14. ↑ Bernardi, Daniel.2008. The Persistence of Whiteness: Race and Contemporary Hollywood Cinema. Taylor & Francis.
  15. ↑ Bernardi, Daniel.2001. Classic Hollywood, Classic Whiteness. U of Minnesota Press.
  16. ↑ Bernardi, Daniel. 1996. The Birth of Whiteness: Race and the Emergence of U.S. Cinema. Rutgers University Press.
  17. ↑ "Opinion | Why it's too soon to accuse Bradley Cooper's "Maestro" of "Jewface"". MSNBC.com. 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
  18. ↑ "Eliciana Nascimento | Director, Editor, Writer". IMDb .
  19. ↑ Felperin, Leslie (2021-05-10). "Objector review – Israeli anti-occupation documentary wears its politics on its sleeve". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  20. ↑ "Do Ask, do Tell: The Linda Campbell Story". IMDb .
  21. ↑ Bernardi, D. (1996). The Birth of Whiteness: Race and the Emergence of U.S. Cinema. Rutgers University Press.
  22. ↑ Bernardi, D. (1998b). Star Trek and History: Race-ing Toward a White Future. Springer Science & Business.
  23. ↑ "Where's the Beef? – Flow". 2005-04-01. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  24. ↑ "Narrative Landmines | Small Wars Journal". smallwarsjournal.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  25. ↑ "Audiomack | Free Music Sharing and Discovery". audiomack.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  26. ↑ "Trekdom - Star Trek Fanzine: Prof. Daniel Bernardi on Star Trek and Race". Trekdom - Star Trek Fanzine. 2007-06-25. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  27. ↑ "Federal News Network | Breaking Federal News & Information | Helping feds meet their mission". Federal News Network. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  28. ↑ Hammel, Paul (2024-05-27). "Bellevue woman's unspoken heroism during World War II may soon become a full-length film • Nebraska Examiner". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  29. ↑ "'Serial' Season 4: Guantánamo". The New York Times. 2024-03-21. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-07-03.
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