Director Jeremy Seifert on the Making of the Papertown Documentary

In this episode, we sit down with director Jeremy Seifert to discuss his new documentary Papertown, a powerful and emotional portrait of a North Carolina community facing the collapse of the industry that defined it for generations.The film follows the final months of a 115-year-old paper mill in Canton, North Carolina, as its sudden closure devastates the town’s economy and forces residents to confront an uncertain future. Told in real time, Papertown captures the heartbreak, confusion, anger, and resilience of workers, families, and neighbors as they navigate the loss of both jobs and identity.We talk with Jeremy about the filmmaking process, documenting such an intimate story as events unfolded, and the deeper themes of community, corporate power, and survival at the center of the documentary.