Kern Oil Movie

Kern Oil Documentary

The Interviews

Real people. Real stories. The voices behind the Kern County oil legacy that shaped a community and a nation.

Behind the Camera

The People Who Lived It

Over the course of production, the Kern Oil Documentary team sat down with dozens of workers, historians, community leaders, and family members whose lives were shaped by the oil industry in Kern County.

These interviews form the backbone of the film — unscripted, unfiltered accounts of what it meant to work the fields, build a community, and carry on a legacy.

Rickey Bird — Kern Oil Documentary interview
Behind the scenes — Kern Oil interview setup
Film crew on set — Kern Oil Documentary
Interview in progress — Kern Oil Documentary

Photo Gallery

Faces of Kern Oil

Uncle Hal and Rickey Bird — Kern Oil Documentary
Rickey Bird with clapperboard — Kern Oil
Fred Holmes — Kern Oil interview
Tim Hal Bird — Kern Oil interview
Brian Jenkins — Kern Oil interview
BTS — director on set, Kern Oil
Craig Carter — Kern Oil interview
Curtis Cummings — Kern Oil interview
Curtis Noble — Kern Oil interview
Cyrus — Kern Oil interview
Danny — Kern Oil interview
Dave Case — Kern Oil interview
Dave Noerr — Kern Oil interview
Gene Voiland — Kern Oil interview
BTS — camera operator, Kern Oil
Jake Zachry — Kern Oil interview
Jeremy Trophy Ferre — Kern Oil interview
Jim Clifford — Kern Oil interview
John — Kern Oil interview
Josh — Kern Oil interview
Ken Steinke — Kern Oil interview
BTS — interview recording, Kern Oil
Landon Bowen — Kern Oil interview
Lanny Tawzer — Kern Oil interview
Larry Jenkins — Kern Oil interview
Les Clark — Kern Oil interview
Mark Ratzlaff — Kern Oil interview
Michelle — Kern Oil interview
Mike Couch — Kern Oil interview
Nick Orton — Kern Oil interview
BTS — museum interview, Kern Oil
Orlando — Kern Oil interview
Philip Peters — Kern Oil interview
Rickey Bird and David Case — Kern Oil
Rickey Bird and Mayor Karen Goh — Kern Oil
Robin — Kern Oil interview
Ronnie — Kern Oil interview
Tracey — Kern Oil interview
BTS — on location, Kern Oil
BTS — crew on location, Kern Oil
BTS — film crew shooting, Kern Oil
BTS — oil derrick, Kern Oil
BTS — cinematographer, Kern Oil
BTS — on location survey, Kern Oil
BTS — high-rise studio, Kern Oil
BTS — office conversation, Kern Oil
BTS — studio filming, Kern Oil
On set portrait — Kern Oil Documentary
Interview subject — Kern Oil Documentary
Interview subject — Kern Oil Documentary
Interview subject — high-rise window, Kern Oil
Ron Morse — Kern Oil interview
Cody Ream — Kern Oil interview
Bill Hixson — Kern Oil interview
Brandon Carlton — Kern Oil interview

Support the Film

Keep the Story Alive

Your donation helps us continue sharing the untold history of Kern County's oil workers and the community they built. Every contribution makes a difference.

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