(GayWebSource.com – Gay Media & Press Network) – Posted by Doug Magditch – HisBigD.com

Robert Camina always wanted to be a storyteller. Sure, he has an MBA in marketing. He even tried to start a career in marketing, but it wasn’t what he loved.

Camina is a filmmaker.

“I wanted to be a storyteller and engage audiences with compelling stories of the human spirit,” said Camina.

In 2009, Camina premiered his second official short film, “Martini the Movie.” The musical comedy has received accolades. They are impressive awards, but they aren’t what will define Camina’s career.

Camina thought he’d stay in the ‘musical comedy’ genre. That is, until a few days after he premiered “Martini the Movie” at Q Cinema in Fort Worth.

“Q Cinema had their after-party, after that film, at a bar that had not quite opened up yet. Brand-new to Fort Worth, it was called the ‘Rainbow Lounge.’ Little did any of us know how much that bar would have an impact on our lives,” said Camina.

Less than two weeks after the Rainbow Lounge’s official opening, Fort Worth police officers and Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission (TABC) agents raided it. Several customers were arrested for public intoxication. One customer, Chad Gibson, received a $400,000 settlement for injuries he received during the raid.

Coincidentally, the raid was on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which are considered by most as the beginning of the ‘gay rights’ movement.

The raid happened at a time when Camina wasn’t sure what was next for his career.

“When the Rainbow Lounge raid happened, I wasn’t working on a specific project, but all my equipment was charged up and still at my fingertips, so I was able to grab that and start documenting it,” said Camina.

As a first-time documentarian, Camina had no idea where the film would take him. In fact, when he was finished with it, he still didn’t know it would become what it did. This is my March, 2012 interview with Camina, for CW33 News, days before the world premiere of “Raid of the Rainbow Lounge.”

“It’s taken me on journeys that I never would have imagined,” said Camina.

Camina has been able to travel all over the country with “Raid of the Rainbow Lounge.” He even got to shake hands with President Barack Obama at the President’s LGBT pride month reception in 2012.

“That was a very surreal moment for me and a highlight and an honor to be there,” said Camina.

So, what’s next for Camina? Like any other go-getter, he has plans. However, like “Raid of the Rainbow Lounge,” those plans kind of fell into his lap. His original plan was to do the “Raid of the Rainbow Lounge” and then go back to comedy.

“It sort of defined my life for the last two years,” said Camina, referring to his last documentary.

However, his success has people calling. The associate producer on his new project, “Upstairs Inferno,” hunted Camina down because he felt he’d be the best person to tell the story. “Upstairs Inferno” is about the 1973 fire at the Upstairs Lounge in New Orleans.

“This incredibly heart-breaking story of the Upstairs Lounge fire was brought to my attention. It’s the largest gay mass-murder in US history and few people know about it,”  said Camina.

Camina is hoping to have “Upstairs Inferno” completed in 2014.

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