BEREA, KY — Shiners: Voices from Owsley County, the award-winning documentary that celebrates the resilience and creativity of Appalachian youth, will reach living rooms across the Commonwealth this February. The film is scheduled for a special statewide broadcast on PBS/KET - (Kentucky Educational Television) on Sunday, February 8, with airings at 12:00 PM and 8:00 PM.
Directed by Seth McClellan and produced by long-time community advocate and Berea College adjunct professor Bob Martin, Shiners follows a group of high school students from Owsley County, one of the nation’s poorest counties, as they write and perform an original play about growing up in rural Appalachia. The film captures their journey from a small-town classroom to the Kentucky high school theater competition, using original music and raw storytelling to confront themes of addiction, broken families, and hope.
Finding a Voice and Reshaping a Community
For the students involved, the project was more than a film; it was a catalyst for personal and community-wide transformation. Student Callie Smallwood, now studying video production at Eastern Kentucky U., reflects on how the experience expanded her world and changed her perspective on her hometown.
"Everyone wants a voice. I found mine," said Smallwood. "I spent countless hours, along with others, writing a play about my hometown and assumed only locals would care. I was wrong. I stopped focusing on the cracks and started noticing the light coming through. I remember standing in a new city and hearing someone say, ‘That sounds like my town.’ The connection this film has created is beyond life changing... our small town is beginning to listen to its younger generation and real change is taking root."
Fellow student Kayden Turner, who is now less than a year away from earning his Bachelor of Science at EKU, credits the mentorship of the filmmaking team for redirecting the course of his life.
"The Shiners became more than just a story about our families, it became a turning point in our lives," Turner said. “And helped me see the potential I had beyond that one path, my perspective changed. Their belief in me and the story of our town pushed me to pursue my education first, a decision that truly changed my future.
A Decade of Trust: The Producer’s Connection
This deep impact is rooted in the long-term commitment of producer Bob Martin. A veteran teaching artist, Martin has spent over a decade working within Owsley County, building the foundation of trust necessary to bring such a vulnerable and personal story to the screen.
"This film comes out of extensive work in Owsley County, building trust, creating dialogue, and collaborating with the community," said Martin. "For me, success is working by, with, and for the community. Having collaborated here for ten years, there is a level of trust and the possibility for dialogue should something happen that threatens the process."
National Acclaim and Local Impact
Shiners arrives on KET following a highly successful festival run, including wins for "Best Documentary" and “Best Director”. Director Seth McClellan noted that the film’s purpose is to lift up youth voices so we can hear their concerns in fresh ways, seeing social problems as challenges that can be fixed rather than personal failures.
Broadcast Details:
● What: Shiners: Voices from Owsley County
● Where: KET/KENTUCKY - Kentucky Educational Television (Statewide)
● When: Sunday, February 8
● Times: 12:00 PM and 8:00 PM
The film features stunning original and traditional music and serves as a celebration of youth, place, and the transformational power of storytelling.
About Thorn Creek Productions Thorn Creek Productions specializes in social-issue documentaries that lift up unfamiliar voices and reframe complex challenges through human-centered storytelling.
Media Contact: Bob Martin, Berea, KY - 646.372.1869 - bobbyb@clearcreekcreative.net For more information, visit: https://thorncreekproductions.com/shiners
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