The Army barracks at Fort MacArthur is transformed during the course of a weekend.

It's 1950, and Michael Camerieri, a veteran of the Korean War, sits in a stark, dingy hospital ward. The physical wounds he received in battle are healing, but the psychological effects will last a lifetime. His ordeal has been told in private through decades of sleepless nights but, until now, rarely made public.

The time is 2003, not 1950. It's not Michael in the bed, but his son, Joseph. And the makeshift war hospital is actually a movie set from the short film "One of Many," in which Joseph tells the story of the unknown and forgotten heroes of the Korean War, like his father, who recently passed away.

While the stark emotions of loss, inner conflict and heroism resound throughout "One of Many," its making is most remarkable in that the crew, the director, producers, grips and gaffers are working for free. One of the volunteers is producer Peter Michel, a Peninsula resident best known for his work at Cox Communications in Rolling Hills Estates.

A graduate of Chapman College with a master's degree in fine arts, Michel has worked a number of short films in the past, but "One of Many" strikes a particular chord.

"I like 'One of Many' because it's a true story," said Michel. "For most people, the Korean War is the forgotten war."

Joe Camerieri and Michel met about four years ago, when the producer answered an ad in the Hollywood Reporter for a non-paying job. The film has undergone a number of changes since that time, but throughout Michel has proven himself a necessary member of the crew.

"Peter's very valuable," said Joe. "He coordinates all the trucks and the crew, deals with the vendors and does all the paperwork, which I don't have the time for because I'm doing all the creative work. There's a lot of coordination involved. Peter's like my right-hand man."

Finding places to shoot is one of Michel's jobs, and it hasn't been easy given the cost of permits and the crew's budget. But he struck paydirt at Fort MacArthur when the South Bay Young Marines, interested in the story of Camerieri -- who earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in Korea -- donated the land for free for the movie shoot.

Making Movies

The crew had the opportunity to meet Michael Camerieri before he died, which Michel said provided additional inspiration.

"Meeting him was very emotional," he said. "The film becomes more personal for us seeing that there is somebody real attached to the story."

Michel isn't an actor. He enjoys writing and directing, but it's producing that's found a place in his heart.

"Most people really don't know what goes into making a film," he said. "We've got a budget of about $17,000, so we have to make the money last. We've got some effects, but this isn't going to be the 'Matrix.'"

"One of Many" has its share of war scenes, and it's Michel's job to ensure that all the right equipment is on hand. As the actors go over lines and Camerieri directs the next shot, Michel is on his cell phone trying to track down a pair of forgotten lights to clear a path on the set through the afternoon haze.

Earlier in the day, Michel was charged with finding a truck for the grips, obtaining cameras and other equipment and pulling permits from the various cities where the movie is shot. On top of that, it's his job to ensure that the 60-person crew -- not including up to 70 extras -- is well-fed: And all of this has to be done within the limits of the movie's meager budget.

"Organization is the key to making a film, and that's what I find both fun and challenging," he said. "I'm in charge of the set, making sure the crew is under control and getting together all the vehicles. It's more than a full-time job."

Of course, Michel already has a full-time job, producing for Cox just about all of the local government meetings shown on Channel 3, in addition to a part-time job at El Toro Deli on Hawthorne Boulevard. He is also active in local 4-H clubs and mans the office at the Ernie Howlett Tennis Club. When asked his residence, he replied, "Cox studio."

Still, that hasn't stopped him from pursuing his dreams. "One of Many" is the sixth short film he has produced. One of his previous films, "Food for Thought" -- shot at Peninsula High School -- was shown on HBO, starred David Ogden Steirs of "M.A.S.H." fame and won four awards at the Brooklyn International Film Festival. The crew of "One of Many" hopes a major film studio will pick up the rights and turn the short into a feature-length film.

The challenge of short films, Michel said, is having a good story with solid, established characters.

"The main thing is to make sure you have a good story and a good sequence -- a beginning, a middle and an end," he said. "And you have to have good characters from the start.

"And one of the best things about working on a movie set is getting to meet other people in the business," he continued. "You learn something from everyone you meet, and then you take that into your next production. You learn something new at every shoot."

For young people trying to get into film, Michel has these simple words of advice.

"Follow your dreams," he said, "be prepared to work hard and feed your crew well."

The crew of "One of Many" is still looking for funding to help finish the film. For information or to donate to the production email us at Filmfreak1@aol.com.