In the Bubble with Jaime
In South Carolina, African American Jaime Harrison takes on Republican incumbent Lindsey Graham to run for US Senate. But what happens when the COVID pandemic sets in? In a state with one of the largest African American populations in the United States, Harrison must face not only a global pandemic but a legacy of racial injustice that makes winning an uphill battle.
Interview with Director/Producer Emily Harrold
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I have known Jaime since I was a little girl, and I was super excited to see how well he was doing with his 2020 campaign while it was taking place. As a Democrat from a Red state, his success was unprecedented. And during a global pandemic! I knew that whatever the outcome, there was a story there. I also love working on documentaries in and about South Carolina, my home, so I knew I wanted to make this film.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You may think this is going to be another campaign doc where the "better candidate" loses, and the film reminds you about the sorry state of the American electorate. And while that is the case, this film goes beyond that. Jaime's campaign was unprecedented: it raised more money than any other US Senate campaign in history. But Jaime still wasn't able to win. Why? The film digs into that question in revealing ways. COVID created an interesting test case in which the Republicans had an in-person ground game and the Democrats did not. Jaime had so much advertising...but few people who were boots on the ground. Many of the voters that Jaime needed, particularly voters of color who were not as politically engaged, needed that in-person interaction to come out. At the height of the pandemic, it was a hard decision to choose if it was worth sending people out in person. But because Jaime's campaign did not and Graham's campaign did, it did demonstrate just how important voter engagement is to elections.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
We follow three people closely in the film: Jaime Harrison, his political director Bre Maxwell, and a local beat reporter Joseph Bustos. Each of them offer really personal insights into what it is like to be involved in the campaign. Jaime is balancing campaigning with being a dad to his kids. He also, perhaps idealistically, aims for a diverse coalition of white and Black voters who will come together to elect him. Bre is upset the campaign isn't meeting more voters in person, and she makes this her cause despite COVID. She also worries the campaign is overlooking Black voters in its aims to appeal to a diversity of South Carolinians. Joseph provides expertise and insight into the day-to-day happenings. These personal aims coalesce in the overall theme of race and politics... Ultimately Jaime isn't able to bring together the diverse coalition he dreams of and Black voters, while they do turn out, feel overlooked and underappreciated. The film becomes a statement about the challenges that still face candidates and campaigns in states like South Carolina where race and politics are so intertwined.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
We went into the project knowing that we wanted to follow Jaime and the personal toll the campaign took on him, especially at a time when candidates were having to find inventive ways to connect with voters virtually. But we didn't know we would meet Bre Maxwell, the political director. Bre is incredible. She has come up in South Carolina politics, and she really became our access to the day-to-day of the campaign when it came to meeting voters. She quickly became an important part of the documentary. Her participation made the documentary become what it is today.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We have had really positive feedback so far. At our world premiere screening at Montclair Film Festival, we had many questions about the state of politics and the comparison of Georgia to South Carolina. I think while South Carolina may be a state that many progressive causes think may be too conservative, I think Jaime's campaign--even though he lost--shows that is not the case. What South Carolina needs are voters' engagement and voters' registration efforts in off years. Stacey Abrams' work in Georgia is a good example of what can be done. I think if there is a focus to get voters of color, in particular, registered and engaged, South Carolina could become more purple than we can imagine.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I have had many people say "oh this wasn't what I expected." While that is surprising, I am pleased. Jaime's campaign is one that everyone thinks they understand because it was big news in 2020. However, this documentary film gives people the chance to see "behind the curtain" so to speak. In this instance, you get the chance to get "in the bubble."
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I hope that more visibility for the film attracts more viewers, inspires more conversations around the kitchen table, and encourages people across the country to get involved in their local and statewide elections. What is clear from In the Bubble with Jaime is that race and politics are still very intertwined. In order to try to win, Jaime needed to win over white moderates. But he also needed to appeal to African Americans. These racial voting blocks reflect the racial division that still exists in the American South. How do we bridge the divide?
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are interested in collaborating with anyone who can help uplift the documentary in order to bring attention to the continued racial division in American politics. We would love to connect with more film festivals and journalists in particular to amplify the film's message.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
In the 2020 election in South Carolina, the number of white voters who came out was significantly higher than non-white voters. That trend continued into the 2022 midterms. And part of this is because historically, non-white voters have not felt valued by their leaders. What South Carolina (and really the entire country) needs is a focus on voter engagement and voter registration to make sure that all eligible voters, no matter the color of their skin, can participate in elections. We want to use In the Bubble with Jaime to create voter engagement and registration events across South Carolina. We have partnered with a South Carolina non-profit, and we are in the planning and fundraising stages of an impact campaign. But we would love more ideas and support!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
In 2020, Jaime Harrison lost his US Senatorial bid against Lindsey Graham in South Carolina--despite raising more money than any US Senate campaign has in history. Why? Watch In the Bubble with Jaime to find out.
Would you like to add anything else?
We are thrilled to have CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD, a South Carolina native, as the Executive Producer of In the Bubble with Jaime .
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Producer/Director Emily Harrold is working on a variety of projects--many are South Carolina stories. She recently produced the PBS American Experience documentary The Lie Detector, which is streaming on PBS.org now.
Interview: January 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
In the Bubble with Jaime
In South Carolina, African American Jaime Harrison takes on Republican incumbent Lindsey Graham to run for US Senate. But what happens when the COVID pandemic sets in? In a state with one of the largest African American populations in the United States, Harrison must face not only a global pandemic but a legacy of racial injustice that makes winning an uphill battle.
Length: 39:00
Director: Emily Harrold
Producer: Emily Harrold
About the writer, director and producer:
EMILY HARROLD is a documentary filmmaker from Orangeburg, South Carolina. Her films have screened at festivals including the Tribeca Film Festival, the Melbourne International Film Festival, DOC NYC and the Telluride Film Festival. She is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Key cast: Jaime Harrison, Bre Maxwell, Joseph Bustos
Looking for: sales agents, journalists, buyers and film festival directors
Facebook: In the Bubble With Jaime
Twitter: @The_jaimedoc
Instagram: @the_jaimedoc
Hashtags used: #inthebubble
Website: www.jaimeharrisondocumentary.com
Other: IMDb
Funders: Kickstarter, Donations
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Beaufort International Film Festival/South Carolina - Feb 24; American Documentary Film & Animation Festival/Palm Springs, CA - March