In Ya Blood

Herb E. Smith. 1971. 16 mm Film.

Randy: "How long you worked in the mines?"

Miner: "Twenty‑eight years. Straight. Nothing else. Don’t know nothing else. Can’t do nothing else … It gets in ya blood."

Appalshop’s first dramatic film, In Ya Blood, is the story of a prototypical young man from Appalachia in the summer after his senior year in high school. In one of the only narrative films in Appalshop's catalogue, Randy, the protagonist, must make the difficult decision still faced by many Appalachian youth today — whether to stay in the mountains or leave in search of a “better life.” The film follows Randy as he struggles with his alternatives of working in the coal mines or going off to college. Shot in black and white by filmmakers the same age as those portrayed in the film, In Ya Blood is highly effective as an insider’s look at the decisions faced by many teenagers as they consider their futures.

“The portrayal of youth as they mature torn between the roots of their culture and the challenge of the outside world is excellent. This feeling could be projected into any situation in any area of the United States.”— Halverson Center for Education, Iowa

“Very well‑done. Effectively used local persons and conditions to dramatize the Appalachian dilemma. Students related well to the young man’s decision and wrestled with his circumstances for over an hour.”— Western Maryland College

All films in the Appalshop collection are protected under Title 17 of the United States Copyright Law. The unauthorized distribution or public performance of copyrighted works constitutes copyright infringement under the Copyright Act, Title 17 U.S Code Section 106(3)-(4). This conduct may also violate the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and The Universal Copyright Convention, as well as bilateral treaties with other countries that allow for protection of Rights Holder copyrighted works even beyond US borders. To receive rights for public performance of our works, including educational or institutional licensing, please contact Appalshop Sales to complete the purchase at 606-633-0108 or sales@appalshop.org.

You can learn more about Appalshop and our work at www.Appalshop.org