Filmmaker Nick Beaulieu’s documentary, My Omaha, started as a journalistic project intending to explore the city of Omaha but evolved into a deeply personal film about his father, family dynamics, race, community, and political divides. Over several years of filming and editing, Beaulieu grappled with how to balance his own story and emotions with the observational objectivity expected in documentaries. Collaborators and editors played a vital role in helping him convey complex feelings visually rather than through explicit narration, leading to a film that blends journalistic energy with vulnerable storytelling.

The film captures the challenging process of portraying Beaulieu’s father fairly, navigating personal feelings while making editing choices that focus on the story’s pacing and overall impact. Beaulieu acknowledges that My Omaha is not a full biography of his dad but a snapshot centered on their relationship and shared struggles reflecting broader societal tensions. He was mindful that the documentary would serve as a legacy for his father, showing him truthfully and empathetically as both a person and a representation of family and community challenges.

Through making My Omaha, Beaulieu gained a new understanding of what it means to belong to a community, especially Omaha’s Black community, which he found deeply familial and proud. His initial cynicism about the city’s divisions shifted to appreciation for the shared desire among its residents to improve Omaha despite different viewpoints on how to achieve that. The experience humbled him personally, teaching patience, empathy, and the importance of authenticity in storytelling and life, even when it leads to resistance and loneliness.

Now premiering on PBS and the PBS app on October 5, 2026, My Omaha symbolizes an act of mutual love between Beaulieu and his father, who participated out of care for his son. The film resonated with local audiences and beyond, showing Beaulieu the power of personal film to connect people across divides. Encouraged by this project, he plans to continue making personal documentaries, exploring stories that surprise him and build on the emotional and narrative world created in My Omaha.