The Herald sat down with director Amy Serrano from Florida and associate producer Helen Dorado Alessi, of Island Park to discuss the making of AIRMAN, a documentary about Louisiana’s last Tuskegee Airman, Calvin G. Moret. A behind-the-scenes screening of the project will take place at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Jan. 12 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free with reservation.
Q:What is the goal of the AIRMAN project?
A:Serrano:The project requires approximately $500,000 to complete. The budget covers filming, travel, archival research, post-production, and preparing the film for festivals, streaming platforms, and educational distribution. High-quality documentaries that reach wide audiences require professional-level funding to meet industry standards.
A: Alessi:AIRMAN is designed as a multi-platform educational project. In addition to festival and streaming releases, it will include school study guides, community engagement programs, and an online archive for students and educators. The goal is not just to tell a story, but to create lasting educational resources that bring people together and preserve histor
Q:What will audiences see in the 21-minute preview of AIRMAN?
A: Serrano: This is a 21-minute behind-the-scenes look at the making of AIRMAN. I would say it’s highly educational because it gives you a background on the Tuskegee Airmen history. You will learn so much about the role of the Airmen in World War II, within the Civil Rights Movement and how their success was won through merit and hard work. There are tidbits of interviews with Mr. Moret — he’s a very respected man, a very singular man. He’s an important storyteller for the Tuskegee Airmen.
A: Alessi: You’re also going to meet Mr. Moret, and his lovely wife at the end of the film, and you’ll hear him singing.
Q:Who was Calvin G. Moret, and why is his story central to the film?
A: Serrano: Calvin G. Moret was a Tuskegee Airman and a powerful storyteller whose life embodied resilience, love, and integrity. He helped desegregate the U.S. military and remained deeply committed to unity despite experiencing discrimination. I spent the last three years of his life documenting his story, capturing personal moments, public talks, and reflections even his own family hadn’t heard before.
Q:Were you with him the last three years of his life personally?
A: Serrano: I met him and we thought it would just be one interview on a Friday morning. I remember telling my then-fiancé that I’d be home by 1 p.m. for lunch — but I stayed until 8 p.m. I followed him with my camera on road trips — we flew together three times with his children. His daughter said in an interview, “Amy got to know Dad better than we did.” I have three years’ worth of material to shape into a 90-minute documentary on Mr. Moret and the Tuskegee Airmen.
Q: Why is this documentary considered urgent right now?
A: Hellen: It has an educational component for schools and nonprofit organizations. We need more examples of people who are just the best — people who show courage, who show love. My job is to tell people the reality that there are only so many trusted messengers. And when you get to hear the words from Mr. Moret’s own mouth, and his thoughts on truth and integrity, it matters.
Q:What kind of footage and interviews did you gather?
A: Serrano: We’re entering phase two of interviews now. We’re speaking with people he impacted personally and those carrying on the Airman legacy — including Black Pilots of America. We’re also talking to historians, journalists, and others he influenced.
Q:What kind of questions did you ask those interviewees?
A: Serrano: We just completed five interviews. I always end with two questions: “What was Calvin G. Moret’s legacy?” and “What made him extraordinary?” One man broke down crying just talking about him. From Black pilots to a journalist who once challenged David Duke on air, the answers were remarkably consistent.
