In August 2017, POV asked Raising Bertie filmmaker Margaret Byrne what's happened since the cameras stopped rolling.
Are there any updates in the lives of Junior, Bud, Dada and their families?
Junior and Tomekia had a son, baby Junior aka "Bam Bam," who just turned two this August. Junior rehabbed the home sitting adjacent to Grandad's, and they moved in shortly after baby Junior was born. Junior has been working at Smithfield for five years, and recently got his palette jack license. He had an opportunity to move to first shift, and is now working on the kill floor. His greatest joy in life is being a dad.
Bud started working at Smithfield a couple years ago, because the work was more steady than farming. He was recently in a car accident, and spent two months in the hospital recovering. He's currently at home, working on his physical rehabilitation. Since the accident, he's been spending a lot of time with his daughter, Niyah, who's now six years old.
Dada moved out of his mom's house, and has been working at Perdue. He's expecting a baby boy next year with his girlfriend Quasia. He's planning to get a new job that will allow him to go to barber school and also work full time. He's looking forward to being a new dad, and still hopes to open his own barber shop one day.
What about the Hive?
In 2015 there was an electrical fire at the Hive House, and Vivian was forced to shut her doors once again. After the release of the film, Vivian partnered with Self Help Credit Union and The NC Community Development Initiative (NCCDI), and received a grant for $150,000 from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust to renovate the community center. The Hive House will be now be open to serve students at the beginning of the 2017 school year, and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust plans to invest further in the Hive House in the near future.
What were Junior, Bud and Dada's reactions upon seeing this film?
Before the film was finalized, we traveled to Bertie to show Junior, Bud, Dada and their families the film. Junior said he couldn't believe how much he'd grown since we had started filming. Bud said he loved everything about the movie, but wished we could have included his prom. Dada said he was proud to have his story out there, because other kids like him can learn from it. Most importantly, they each told us that they felt we had told their stories authentically, and captured the essence of their experience growing up in Bertie.
How has this film been received in Bertie, and how do you feel it has impacted the community?
We held several screenings in Bertie, both for stakeholders and the public. These screenings were some of my favorites. Bud, Dada and Junior each had an opportunity to speak to leadership and teachers from Bertie. Members of the community shared heartfelt stories from their own lives, and some even apologized to Vivian for not supporting her efforts to keep the Hive open. The film will continue to screen in the Bertie area, which will hopefully lead to more discussions that can strengthen their community from within.
In what ways have you noticed or hope to see your film contribute to dialogues surrounding stereotyping and success in regards to communities such as Bertie County?
When I set out to make a film in Bertie, I wanted to bring attention to the lives of young people growing up in rural America and the unique challenges facing rural communities, particularly rural communities of color. I wanted people to see their value, and to understand their challenges. Since the presidential election, more attention has been focused on the importance of connecting with rural communities, though much of that has been focused on white rural communities. My hope is that the stories of Vivian, Dada, Junior and Bud will continue to contribute to the national dialogue around the systemic issues that restrain the achievement of young people of color like those represented in Raising Bertie.
Are you working on anything now?
I'm currently working on my next film, Any Given Day, which follows the lives of three individuals in the Mental Health Court Program in Cook County, a diversion court that provides holistic services for people suffering from mental illness, giving them a chance to have their record expunged, and, hopefully, rebuild their lives.