MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Jimmy and Iona Holder own Blackbird Coffee and Bird House Theater in Milledgeville.
In the past few years, they created their own short film, and it is starting to grab some attention.
The short film is called SPARE, and it is a 9-minute film about two people who meet at a bowling alley and share a striking connection.
It's been seen on theater screens in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and even Paris. But it all goes traces back to Milledgeville.
It was filmed at a Milledgeville bowling alley called Lake Country Lanes, less than 10 minutes from their shop.
Jimmy Holder got to talk about the plot.
"It's just really about the human condition, this opportunity for a better life and what that looks like," Holder said. "The idea was setting up a situation where someone is given a second chance in life and what that second chance looks like from their point of view as well as what it looks like from the point of view of others and how that second chance might actually be affecting someone else's life as well."
Holder credited his wife Iona Holder as his "creative rock" and said the community helped bring the story together.
He says if it wasn't for the city of Milledgeville, it would just be on the small stage.
"This is really a Milledgeville-made film," Holder said. "There were so many people that were involved in the film, behind the scenes and on camera, [who] are from Milledgeville. We filmed it in Milledgeville, it was written in Milledgeville, it was directed in Milledgeville."
SPARE won gold in the dramatic short film category at Worldfest in Houston, Best Local Short at Atlanta Shortsfest, and Best Actress at the Paris Awards Film Festival.
Callie Hamilton goes to Georgia Military College, and says she is a regular customer at the coffee shop.
"I was surprised," Hamilton said. "Someone that has kind of been around here that has an indie film? I was kind of shocked by that."
Hamilton said she was happy to hear about the owners and her city getting the recognition it deserves.
"Milledgeville, I feel like is a not very well-known town," Hamilton said. "I mean I know it is, but it's nice to have like these smaller historical things be known."
Many film festivals have restrictions on showing films outside of events, but you can watch SPARE online for free at www.EnjoySPARE.com.