New film honors Sarasota victim of Pulse nightclub massacre

Edward Sotomayor was one of the 49 people killed in the Pulse nightclub massacre.

The 34-year-old Sarasota man was described as everybody's best friend, and now he's the subject of a documentary.

"Eddie was the first name that you heard released out of the Pulse tragedy on June 12, 2016," said producer and director Sandi Hulon with St. Pete Productions.

Hulon never met Eddie, but she said she feels like she did.

"I got a phone call to go and film a memorial service, but I thought it was going to be a candlelight vigil," Hulon said. "And it ended up being Eddie's actual funeral."

Hulon captured the public memorial service in Sarasota. About 700 people attended.

She then went to St. Petersburg to film the Pride Parade.

"We were walking, and as I came around the corner I saw so much love and support for Eddie," said Hulon. "Like a wall of just love and emotion. I knew that if something like that touches my heart, it's like I've got something else to do here. This is a gift."

Hulon felt and witnessed a lot of emotion that very long day, while capturing an overwhelming amount of footage. The project developed into a documentary.

"The name of it is 'One of 49: A Revolution of Love,' and it's the Eddie Sotomayor story," Hulon said.

St. Pete Productions has released a trailer, showing video and pictures from that day and from Eddie's life. This is an excerpt:

"The documentary is being prepared that is going to tell the story of Eddie and the tragic events from Pulse, but more importantly from Eddie's life and what happened after the attacks. We're going to learn about all of the wonderful and miraculous things that came from that love.

"We are going to from this tragedy learn there is a great gift for all of us, and that is the love that we have learned from Edward Sotomayor."

Eddie's first cousin, Jennifer Graney, is one of several relatives in the documentary.

"We feel like it needs to be done. You know, he touched a lot of people," said Graney.

A number of loved ones share stories and memories in the documentary, including Eddie’s partner, co-workers and friends.

"I hope the documentary is able to highlight that love and kindness touches everyone, and that was something that Eddie was really pushing for at this point in his life," said Graney. "At the point that he was taken from us, that's where he was."

Hulon hopes to have the documentary finished in August.

"When people see this documentary, my biggest hope is that people walk away and they feel -- really feel -- love and a peace of mind," Hulon said.

This story was originally published June 13, 2017 at 11:01 AM with the headline "New film honors Sarasota victim of Pulse nightclub massacre."