Filmmakers seek Stark County steelworkers' stories for new documentary

“The reason for Stark County being the focus is that it’s just the right size: not too big and not too small, and it has many, many historical reasons for having steel start here,” Alis said.It finishes with the fall of the steel industry, Alis said.“Unfortunately, it finishes with the downturn and the closing of a lot of the steel mills and the loss of jobs,” said Alis.“When you hear the interviews of people who worked there, whose families worked there, some of the stories are quite jaw dropping,” Alis said.

Alis said many people working in the mills gave up time with their families, served in the military and then later returned to the mills because it had become a community for them.“There’s a lot to be said for letting people know that we understand how hard it was and we understand you worked through an industry where you had to give up lots and lots,” Alis said.