"This Belongs To Us" examines the challenges of being a Black woman in an industry dominated by white men. It features Rocky Mount brewer Briana Brake, who runs Spaceway Brewing Taproom.
BEER THAT MAKES >>> A RALEIGH FILMMAKER TEAMED UP TO ADDRESS GENDER AND RACE THROUGH BEER. THE MOVIE "IT BELONGS TO US" HAS ALREADY BEEN PART OF THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL IN THIS STORY HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND WRAL EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA REPORTER TALKS TO THE FILMMAKER. THE DRAFT WE'RE INDUSTRY IN ROCKY MOUNT IS A POPULAR ONE AND IT IS ALSO DOMINATED BY WHITE MEN. SPACE WAY BREWING COMPANY IS WORKING TO CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE AND EXPOSE A DIFFERENT ONE. THE HISTORY OF CRAFT BEER IN AFRICA. >> WE HAD TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE AND THEIR ASSUMPTIONS OF YOU. >> Reporter: IT STARTED WITH US TELLS THE STORY OF BRIANA, A BLACK WOMAN RUNNING HER OWN CRAFT BEER BREWERY IN ROCKY MOUNT. THE FILM IS STILL IN PRODUCTION, BUT IT IS ALREADY MAKING WAVES IN THE INDUSTRY, INCLUDING BEING FEATURED IN DISCUSSIONS AT THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL. >> AND PARTS OF THE WORLD THAT WE HAVE HEARD NOW VERSUS AFRICA AND THE EAST AND A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH THE QUALITY OF WATER AND THE PART OF HOW BEER AND FERMENTATION INVOLVED WAS JUST PART OF OUR HUMAN SURVIVAL. >> Reporter: A RALEIGH ATTORNEY AND FILMMAKER. HER PARENTS ARE FROM NIGERIA. AND HER GRANDMOTHER WAS A BREWER IN A NIGERIAN VILLAGE. HER FILM EXPOSES THE HISTORY OF CRAFT BEER WHILE ALSO ZEROING IN ON THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A BLACK WOMAN IN THE INDUSTRY. >> I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES THAT BLACK CRAFT BEER BREWERS HAVE IN PURSUING THIS PATH THAT THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS MAY NOT, WHETHER THAT IS KIND OF CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS, WHETHER THAT IS THE KIND OF ASSUMPTION AND STEREOTYPES AND BLATANT RACISM. >> Reporter: WORK ON THE FILM WAS DELAYED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND IT IS STILL LOOKING TO RAISE MONEY FOR PRODUCTION COSTS. WE HAVE LINKS ON HOW YOU CAN HELP ON OUR WEBSITE, WRAL.COM. WRAL NEWS ROCKY MOUNT.
