Kentucky Students Shine with Documentary About Rural Life

High school students from Owsley County, Kentucky, collaboratively wrote and performed a play called “Shiners” about growing up in Appalachia, and their journey is documented in a new PBS film. The students developed the play, focused on their experiences in one of the nation’s poorest counties, through a story circle process during the Covid pandemic. “Shiners” won regional acclaim and led to the school’s first appearance at a statewide theater competition.

The project, spearheaded by Bob Martin of Clear Creek Creative, aimed to give students a platform to share their own stories, countering the often incomplete narratives told by outsiders. The resulting documentary, directed by Seth McClellan, highlights the students' pride in their community and the transformative impact of the experience on their futures.

The film emphasizes authenticity, avoiding sensationalism and incorporating footage filmed by the students themselves. Though the troupe didn’t advance to the national competition, the experience spurred several students to pursue higher education, including Kayden Turner, who is now studying occupational therapy at Eastern Kentucky University, and will soon be featured at the reopening of a local movie theater.