Local Filmmaker's Documentary To Focus On Troubles, Triumphs Of Kids' Tween Years

A Green Country photographer and documentary filmmaker is working on a project that puts a focus on those tween years for kids. Nicole Barton joined us on the Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Porch on Friday morning to share more.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the "Be|Tween" documentary and casting opportunities.

What inspired the project, "Be|Tween"?

"So this is going to be a documentary, probably short film format. That's really focusing on kids about like nine to 15 or 16. Kind of those kids that they're not little babies anymore. They're not like little kids, but they're not all the way grown up. Really kind of letting them share their own story and kind of control their own narrative and create a photo exhibit and film that honors them in this stage in life," Barton said.

What are you looking for when casting for this project?

"Yeah, I'm really looking for kids who either have kind of a unique interest, or they're very dedicated to a certain kind of passion or hobby. Or they've got like an interesting story of overcoming something, triumph over something or a certain struggle that they've overcome," Barton said.

How long does a project like this take?

"I have been working on kind of the spark and all that putting all the things in place for probably a couple of years. I've been marinating on this idea. But I'll probably shoot for about a year or so. And we might do post production for several months. I'm hoping spring of 2025 to screen it," Barton said.

What kind of impact do you hope your project has?

"I really am aiming for a two-part impact. I'm hoping that for the kids that participate it really makes them see themselves in a different way that they hadn't before. And it makes them feel really validated and special. And for people viewing the film, I hope it kind of changes the way maybe we talk about this age group and the way we feel about them," Barton said.

How can kids apply to be in the project?

"They can either go to TheBetweenProject.com or they can go to NicoleBartonPhotography.com/tween," Barton said.

Where will folks be able to watch once it's complete?

"Yeah, so I, the previous documentaries that I've have made here in Tulsa, I've screened at the Circle Cinema. So I'm hoping they'll let me come back because I love that little, local theater vibe. And then it will be on TheBetweenProject.com on the website, too. I'll make it available there just to stream afterwards," Barton said.