U.S. military veterans explore how art, poetry, and performance carry what service leaves behind, testing whether creativity can become a shared language for memory, endurance, and transformation after war
Moving Like Pond Water is a documentary that listens closely to veterans who turn to creative practice after military service—not to explain their experiences, but to live alongside them. Through interviews, spoken-word performance, visual art, animation, and archival memory, the film traces how transformation unfolds slowly, quietly, and collectively.
The phrase “moving like pond water,” a military term for slow movement, becomes a guiding metaphor: not delay, but endurance; not stagnation, but depth.
This film was inspired and supported by Joshua Tree based- Mil-Tree Veterans project.
Director's Vision
My parents met while serving in World War II—my father in the Marines, my mother in the Navy. They returned home to a silence around the wounds of war, long before PTSD had a name. Growing up inside that quiet taught me that art often speaks where language fails.
Moving Like Pond Water emerges from that inheritance. It is not a film about proving or explaining veterans’ stories, but about holding space for them, allowing creativity to exist as continuation, not cure. This project is both personal and collective, shaped through deep collaboration with veterans who choose creation as a way of remaining in conversation with their lives.
~Cheryl Bookout, Director/Writer/Producer
WINNING AWARDS
- The American Documentary Film Fund with independent American filmmakers who compete for financing for new projects as well as works in progress.
- The International Independent Film Awards based in Encino, CA is dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the many talented independent filmmakers and artists from around the world who share their visions in a powerful, creative and entertaining way.
- Thank you for submitting Moving Like Pond Water to the Cordillera International Film Festival’s PitchFest! Competition. We loved your project, and while it was not selected as a Finalist, we are thrilled to let you know it was one of our Top 25 projects and is officially recognized as a PitchFest! Semi-Finalist—an accomplishment achieved by very few submissions.
- Arts Connection, The Arts Council of San Bernardino County, and their partnership with US Bank made this 2025 grant possible. Artists receive direct funding to bring to life projects that spark community connection, celebrate cultural storytelling, and inspire creative innovation. These artists remind us how creativity builds bridges and how local art shapes the heartbeat of the place we call home.
A FEW OF OUR ON-CAMERA INTERVIEWS
Foster Corder, Veteran & Filmmaker
On August 8th we had the privilege to have a conversation with filmmaker and U.S. Military Veteran Foster V. Corder. Foster shard with us that his military service saved his life! He joined the service on November 11, 1971 by forging his birth certificate at the age of 15 to get away from a street gang on the south side of Chicago. Foster relates that 95% of the black men who grew up in his neighborhood are either dead, incarcerated or paralyzed from gang violence. Foster decided to forge his birth certificate and join the Navy when he, his brother and five of their friends were hog tied while 20 men beat them for about four hours. He knew he needed to get away from Chicago and that was the last straw.
Foster’s interview is compelling and full of surprises as it creates a visual path that led to his career as a successful filmmaker with over 127 credits on his IMDb profile.
Colonel Grethe Cammermeyer
We did it AND it was an amazing 2 day film shoot with Colonel Grethe Cammermeyer and her lovely and talented artist wife Diane! There are no words to express the gratitude for the gracious generosity and kindness shown to our entire film crew by Colonel Cammermeyer! This has been one of the greatest highlights of our filmmaking journey and we can't wait to share the results with you!
"Serving in Silence"
Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer was the subject of the 1995 film “Serving in Silence” starring Glenn Close. The Colonel’s story is remarkable. In 1988, as part of military security clearance she disclosed she was a lesbian. By regulation, homosexuality was incompatible with military service. Colonel Cammermeyer was discharged from the military after 25 year. She challenged her discharge and in federal court, won and was reinstated. Colonel Cammermeyer continues her work as an advocate for social justice.
Serving in Silence was the first made-for-television film Barbra Streisand executive produced (along with Glenn Close, Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, and Barwood Films’Cis Corman). It aired February 6, 1995.
Michael Aschbrenner, Veteran & Artist
Vietnam Veteran of the Army’s 101st Airborne, Michael Aschenbrenner, recounts surviving an injury during combat, binding his broken bones with strips of his uniform until rescued. Now a renowned glass artist, he shares how art classes during his year-long VA rehabilitation inspired his collection, Damaged Bones, featured at The Met in New York. On-camera interview and cinema vérité captures Michael in his home and glass studio, blending his past and present through art.
Wall of Faces Museum
On October 5, 2024 it was with extreme honor our film team visited the Wall of Faces and came away with an incredible segment to include in Moving Like Pond Water.
It started as a temporary exhibit, opening on July 4, 2016 after former President Barack Obama asked communities to honor Vietnam veterans in 2012.
Veteran and Museum Co-Founder Hector Leon explained, “The way we started is we were going through the high school annuals, and were saying, ‘Okay, well, this guy, this guy was in...' and then we started asking the folks for help. And little by little, it just grew.”
The museum has expanded beyond just Vietnam veterans. It now highlights all those from Douglas who have served in the U.S. military.
Co-founder Ginny Jordan shared with us, “Basically as long as a man’s story is told they do not die, so you tell their story.”
She and other volunteers have spent the last seven years doing just that.
The Wall of Faces Museum is sharing stories of about 800 veterans who are from the town. This museum is located in the Gadsen Hotel, Douglas, Arizona.
Photo: Wall of Faces Museum with Ginny Jordan (left), Veteran Hector Leon (center) and Veteran Yolanda Gastelum Nora (right)
Photo: Gadsen Hotel Lobby with Veteram Yolanda Gastelum Nora (left) Vector Hector Leon (center), Ginny Jordan (right)
Fun Fact: Hector shares his fictional stories on his Facebook page @HectorFLeon
WHERE WE ARE IN THE FILMMAKING PROCESS
The entire film team is dedicated to Moving Like Pond Water with the goal of creating ripples of change by encouraging neighborhoods to produce creative arts programs for Veterans and a holistic approach to social justice and overlapping health issues.
Research & Development began in February 2023 and principal photography launched on January 17, 2024. To-date we have filmed approximately 21 location interviews, 6 performances, 4 Veterans art workshops, plus drone footage and cinéma vérité relevant to the interviews. We look forward to keeping you updated on our filmmaking journey.
IDA is our Fiscal Sponsor which means your contribution will get a receipt for your tax records!
Thank You to our Seed&Spark Supporters!
Moving Like Pond Water is supported in part by a California Arts Council Creative Corps grant award!
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