The producer and cinematographer of “Genghis Blues,” a 1999 film that won Sundance Film Festival’s audience award, San Francisco International Film Festival’s Golden Gate Award and was nominated for an Academy Award, Belic said he was compelled to make “Beyond the Call” after meeting Artis.

“We did what was supposed to be a two-hour interview and ended up being six hours. At three in the morning, I knew then and there it would be my next film,” Belic said.

In 1995, the three former soldiers formed Knightbridge International. Under their motto, “high adventure and service to humanity,” they have delivered life-saving supplies in such war-torn places as Afghanistan, Albania, Chechnya, Cambodia, Rwanda and the Philippines in spite of the dangers of bombs, bullets and landmines.

“For me, this film is my offering to this country to create a dialogue by which we can slowly make our way out of this dismal place we’re in now in terms of public discourse,” Belic said. “These three guys not only see the path to true peace and camaraderie and brotherhood, but risk their lives when most Americans are chilling, relaxing. They’re saying, ‘Look. There is a third path. It’s not that you’re here with us or against us. You can feel compassion. You can be moved by humanity.’”

To make the film, Belic traveled with Artis, Laws and Ratterman, facing middle-of-the-night checkpoints and AK-47s shoved in his face while instructions were screamed in an unknown language. As war raged around them, Belic saw the men deliver supplies to those who lived amidst the fighting.

Keeping a low profile while traveling was crucial.

“It was very, very low key so that if people saw us, they couldn’t mark us immediately,” Belic said. “In situations where a split-second decision can make the difference between life and death, they had to pause and assess who we were. That would give time to either engage them in an endearing process or get the hell out.”

Even more important was the trust between those with whom Belic traveled.

“In places like that, the old saying that you’re only as strong as your weakest link is a life and death comment,” he said. “I trusted these guys and they trusted me.”

Artis, Laws and Ratterman gave “Beyond the Call” their stamp of approval.

“I have seen if several times, as have (Jim) Laws and Walt and we all agree that Adrian did a great job with a very hard-to-grasp story. He should be getting more awards than he is,” Artis said, adding, “Guess we ain’t cute enough for the judges.”

Political changes within the U.S. since Belic began the film have impacted its acceptance at home, as well as abroad.

“I thought these guys were old throwbacks to the American spirit, what made this country great. Not just powerful. It was the idea of seeing a problem, getting a couple buddies together, go fix it and have a good time doing it,” he said. “I thought this film would play well in the United States and also around the world, but, holy crap, it is so hard to get a screening outside the U.S. for this film. Even inside the U.S. We’ve been rejected by some of the most progressive festivals.”

However, he was encouraged at a recent screening in New York when the director of the Jakarta Indonesia International Film Festival made arrangements to show Belic’s film.

“That is the largest Muslim country in the world, and they have decided to show a film about three good old boys, shit-kicking Americans who wear the America flag on their arms when they do their work to try to help,” Belic said. “This is by far the greatest screening of the film.”

In spite of his criticisms of the United State’s current political climate, Belic is sure of one thing.

“The reason I’m in this country is because I know this is a great country and have hope that we will weather this brutal storm of insanity and come out stronger and better,” he said.