KERN OIL: Kern Oil is a documentary that explores the history, people, and future of California’s oil industry through the lens of Kern County—the energy-producing heart of the state. Featuring interviews with workers, industry leaders, historians, and community members, the film examines California’s continued dependence on oil, the challenges facing local production, and the impact energy policies have on the families and communities that help power the state. More than a story about oil, Kern Oil is a story about people, jobs, and the debate over where California’s energy should come from.

Director RICKEY BIRD statement:

I am a third-generation oilfield worker. My father spent his life in the oilfields, and like many families in Kern County, our lives were shaped by an industry that most people never see. Growing up, I watched firsthand the sacrifices, hard work, and pride that came with providing energy for California.

After losing my father, I began thinking about how many stories like his would eventually be forgotten. The men and women who spent decades working in the fields, the families who built their lives around the industry, and the communities that grew because of it rarely have the opportunity to tell their side of the story.

That’s why I made Kern Oil.