Secondhand Chances: A Documentary by Miles Vance
View the documentary using the video above!
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Secondhand Chances is a short student documentary about Persnickety Books, a small used bookstore located in Burlington, North Carolina. The documentary begins with the owners recounting the foundation of the store in 2017 by Shawna and Herb Gentert in downtown Burlington. The documentary then explains how Ian Baltutis, former mayor of Burlington, decided to purchase the store and save it when the Genterts were forced to temporarily step away. The film then explores the store’s current dynamic, with a particular emphasis on Persnickety Books’ place in the community, as the bookstore has become a dynamic environment where musical artists, authors, and educators can host events to further their art and interact with the community. The owners then give an emotional story about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic before explaining their partnerships with Sustainable Alamance and Saxapahaw Prison Books. Through these organizations, Persnickety Books has been able to donate countless books to people throughout the United States prison system who have found themselves in need of access to information. The bookstore has also been able to provide opportunities for formerly incarcerated persons and people with mental disabilities to work in or with the store, improving their livelihood and the connectedness with the community. The film ends with the owners explaining why they love the bookstore and what they hope to continue doing in the future.
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Meet the team!
Miles Vance directed, produced, and edited this documentary. He is a senior at Elon University majoring in Cinema & Television Arts and History.
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Peyton Garrett was assistant camera for this documentary. He is a sophomore at Elon University majoring in Cinema & Television Arts.
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