After rough start in life, filmmaker’s future comes into focus

This paid piece is sponsored by Children’s Home Society.

Bobby Peacock, 29, of Sioux Falls got off to a rough start.

He was born in Columbus, Ohio; his mother gave him up for adoption to a woman who had adopted his older sister, Arlinda. But the adoptive mother was emotionally and physically abusive. Eventually, Child Protection Services stepped in and removed the children from the home.

That was just the beginning. “In total, there were 10 different foster homes, three different residential facilities and two failed adoptions,” Peacock said. Part of his journey included a stay at Children’s Home Society of South Dakota.

Positive influences

Peacock came to CHS when he was about age 7 and stayed for a couple of years.

“It was a good experience for me,” he said. “I was around people who were willing to show me love.” He remembers a staff member named Troy Miller who mentored and cared for him.

Another CHS employee he has happy memories of is Crystal Wilkinson.

“She made sure my sisters and I were still connected as a family unit. And so we would take trips. Our favorite thing was to go to the dollar store to get gifts and stuff like that.”

“The staff were absolutely amazing,” Peacock continued. “Pouring into me, working with me, whether it was my anger issues or my sadness — and really just stopping and saying ‘Hey, we want to help you process this.’ The counseling they provided to help get through some of the trauma was very helpful as well.”

He remembers taking part in the Christmas program and other fundraising events while at CHS.

“When people would come to visit, they would take along a couple of kids to give tours,” Peacock said. “I would be one of those kids who had the opportunity to give tours to visitors. I always loved and enjoyed that.”

Moving on

When Peacock left CHS, he was transitioned back into the first adoptive home. After a few years, the mother’s rights were terminated.

“I always had a dream of being adopted,” Peacock said. “And when I was a young kid, I thought that everyone went through this process of finding the perfect home, the perfect family.

“I was in fifth grade when I found out that’s not the case.”

Peacock had another adoption in Minnesota that didn’t work out. Finally, he came back to Sioux Falls and into a foster home. “I stayed there from age 12 to 20, and they are basically still my parents,” he said.

Peacock went to Patrick Henry Middle School and Sioux Falls Christian for high school. “During my junior year in high school, we started a class on video shooting and editing. In my senior year, I ended up being a teacher’s assistant for that class,” he said.

Glowing up and shining bright

After graduation, Peacock went to SDSU for a year. Eventually, he got a video production internship at Celebrate Church in Sioux Falls. “It turned into an apprenticeship, then a residency and finally a full-time job.”

Today, Peacock works full time at Collision, a student-led ministry. The organization builds teams of students who see their school as a mission field and equips them to share the hope of Jesus to transform lives. He also has started his own company, Peacock Entertainment, doing video content for nonprofits and small businesses and serving as a DJ for various occasions.

Most recently, Peacock co-founded the Hazard Film Project, a nonprofit that uses film to tackle difficult conversations. It produced “The Black Project,” which features intimate portraits of Black people in South Dakota, speaking their truths. “That project really took off,” he said.

“We have some other projects coming up – we want to tackle difficult conversations, so we’re hoping to try to create a project that will build a bridge between the queer community and the church community. It’s a super difficult conversation that I’m even uncomfortable with, but we need to try it.”

Creative inspiration

Peacock said CHS helped him develop as an artist — and to use creative expression to deal with his feelings.

“I remember being at CHS, and during free time, we’d have these ‘talent shows.’ My sister and I would always pretend to be rock stars, and we used these play blocks as guitars and mic stands,” he said, laughing.

“The cool thing about being at CHS was that even though we were going through a lot of crap internally, they would create opportunities for creativity — to let kids be kids,” he said. “And so, some of that stuck with me — the ability to use my imagination. I feel like opportunities like that helped me to use my creativity.”

Faith in action

Another chapter of Peacock’s story focuses on the importance of God in his life.

“My faith has played a huge role,” he said. “I’ve had encounters where God has met me in a place and redirected me. Growing up in the foster care system — a lot of foster kids aren’t succeeding. They’re ending up in jail, ending up in prison, and that just absolutely breaks my heart.”

Growing up, his relationship with God was important to him, along with the community of people who surrounded him.

“And to be always able to have that — I call it my construction team — if there’s dent in my road, they can help me fill it up — was huge.”

He recalls a pivotal moment when he was in fifth grade.

“I was in Minnesota at the time, and I remember going out and asking God, ‘What do you want me to do with the rest of my life?’ And I just remember Him making it so clear that ‘Hey, I want you to be in ministry.’

And that’s what happened. “I worked for a church and learned film in the church. Now, I work for a Christian organization and have my own business, and I get to create for ministries and nonprofits.”

What’s next for Peacock?

“Being a father is my No. 1 priority,” he said. He has a young son who is everything to him.

“I would love to make a feature-length film and do more film projects. And I would love to get people to ask questions instead of automatically assuming they know the answers.”