E-Town: One Town, Many Stories

A documentary about growing up Black and Brown in 1990s Ellerbe, North Carolina, and the friends and family who made it through.

The Story

Ellerbe, North Carolina, is the smallest town in Richmond County. It had one stop light and few opportunities, and for years it didn’t even show up on the map.

In the 1990s, a generation of Black and Brown kids grew up there anyway. They went from children to teenagers to young adults in a place that offered them very little and expected even less. They faced the pressures of that era head-on: limited jobs, few outlets, the pull of the streets, and the weight of being overlooked. Some didn’t make it. Many did.

E-Town: One Town, Many Stories is their story, told in their own words.

This film brings together the friends and family who came up in Ellerbe during that decade and survived the storm. Now they can look back honestly, the good, the bad, and the growth, and tell the stories that shaped them and defined the ’90s in a town most people never knew existed.

Why This Film Matters

Rural Black and Brown experiences are almost missing from how we tell the story of the 1990s. The spotlight usually goes to big cities. But small towns like Ellerbe carried the same struggles with fewer resources, less attention, and no safety net.

This documentary:

• Preserves history that lives only in the memories of the people who were there
• Honors survival and growth, showing how young people built lives out of limited options
• Gives rural voices a platform they have rarely had
• Inspires the next generation in small towns to see that where you start doesn’t decide where you finish

Who We Are

E-Town is produced by Capton Productions LLC, the film and television arm of Capton Brands, led by CEO Anthony Little. Capton is committed to telling authentic stories from communities that mainstream media overlooks. This project is personal: it’s about the people, places, and moments that built us.

How You Can Help

1. Contribute at any level. Every dollar counts.
2. Share this campaign with anyone who grew up in a small town, came of age in the ’90s, or believes these stories deserve to be told.
3. Reach out if you’re from Ellerbe and have photos, footage, or a story to share.

Ellerbe wasn’t on the map. Help us change that.