BERNIE - a documentary film by Jay Heyman

BERNIE is a story about the varied interpretations of the family unit. As filmmaker Jay Heyman grew older, he felt compelled to document the story of his grandfather.

Grandpa Bernie grew up in the Hebrew Orphan Asylum in New York City, never knowing a parent and never having an identity of his own.

After spending eleven years there as an “inmate”, he returned to the institution as a professional social worker in an effort to bring about much needed change. Amidst professional success, Bernie suffered through the premature losses of loved ones, yet moved forward to create new relationships with a contagious enthusiasm that lasted almost ninety-seven years.

2005
Audience Award Winner
Best Feature Documentary
2005
NewFilmmakers Series 2005
Hearts and Minds Film Festival
2005
Vancouver
Jewish Film Festival

About the filmmaker -
Jay Heyman grew up listening to the stories his grandfather would share and as his interest in documentary filmmaking developed, he knew these stories would be the basis for his first film. A native of northern New Jersey, Jay attended Boston University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. After graduating, he spent time backpacking around various parts of the world and then began working in film production.

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For over seven years, Jay worked on television commercials and both independent and studio feature films as a member of the art department. He has worked on numerous projects with the Farrelly Brothers (Osmosis Jones, Shallow Hal, Stuck on You) and David Mamet (State and Main, Spartan), as well as many regional and national tv commercials. In March of 1999, he drove down to New York with camera in hand and began filming a documentary about his grandfather, Maurice Bernstein.

Bernie, as family and friends knew him, began his life as an orphan and transformed himself into the patriarch of the family.

Jay moved to New York in September of 2004 to pursue his filmmaking career. Bernie is his directorial debut.

Right Eye Productions
Jay Heyman | Jay.Heyman1@gmail.com