Documentary about SC Rep. Jermaine Johnson premieres Friday. Here’s where to see it
State Rep. Jermaine Johnson will be on the big screen this weekend.
A documentary about the Richland County Democrat’s life, “I Got Myself a Yard,” is scheduled to premiere Friday in Columbia and have an additional screenings over the weekend in Charleston and in the capital city.
Filming of the documentary started when Johnson ran against longtime state Rep. Jimmy Bales in 2020.
Johnson called the experience “interesting” as he had to be make sure looked presentable when the cameras were around. Johnson said questions about losing his brothers, one who was murdered and one who died in a car crash, led to him crying on camera.
In the trailer, Johnson describes the first time someone pulled a gun on him. He talks about being a child holding a broken toy gun and police pulling up to the scene.
“Blue lights come speeding around the corner. They got out of the car, pull their guns out, (and yelled) dropped the gun. I could have easily been Tamir Rice. At that point I realized, I was Black,” Johnson says in the clip.
The trailer also features interview clips with former South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Trav Robertson and former state Rep. Wendy Brawley, whom Johnson defeated in a 2022 primary after they were redistricted into the same seat.
“You’re told, particularly when you first come in, ‘just be quiet,’ ” Brawley says in an interview. “Jermaine has not taken that approach.”
The film was directed by Adam Bailey and James Treakle.
Three screenings are planned at Spotlight Cinemas in northeast Columbia on Friday. A screening is scheduled for Saturday at the College of Charleston. A final weekend screening is planned for Sunday evening at the Nickelodeon theater in downtown Columbia. The Saturday and Sunday screenings will include a question and answer session with Bailey and Johnson.
