Originally premiering on campus in September 2022, Life in the Gap explores the realities facing working Americans who earn too much to qualify for public assistance, yet not enough to comfortably meet basic needs. Through the story of a Rowan County family, the documentary examines the economic pressures affecting many households and the structural challenges that leave families caught between poverty thresholds and financial stability.
The film reflects Catawba College’s commitment to meaningful, community-engaged storytelling and to creating opportunities for students to participate in work that extends beyond the classroom.
Produced and directed by Aaron Daniel Annas, Associate Professor and Chair of Communication Arts and Media, Life in the Gap was created through collaboration among Catawba faculty and students. Faculty co-producers include Dr. Scott Morton and Dr. Sarah Jackson, with Dr. Suzanne Bowser serving as a producer during the project’s development.
Students also played important production roles. Rachel Carlson and Paul Esnault, both Exercise Science majors, served as student producers, while Zach Brown, a Digital Media Production major, worked as first assistant camera.
The documentary premiered at Catawba College before an audience of more than 200 attendees. Following the screening, a panel discussion featured faculty, student filmmakers, and community partners included in the film. Among them was Hope Oliphant, Executive Director of Main Street Marketplace and Meeting Place, where many local families seek affordable food resources. Annas moderated the discussion, which focused on the experiences of families often described by economists as part of the “gap population.”
Research connected to the film underscores the complexity of the issue. In Rowan County, a household with two parents and one child must earn approximately $19.80 per hour per working parent to meet the local living income standard. For families earning minimum wage, that threshold remains far out of reach, even with full-time employment, highlighting the financial vulnerability many working households continue to face.
The film also includes perspectives from Catawba faculty members Dr. Eric Hake, Professor of Economics, and Dr. Mercedes Quesada-Embid, Professor of Environmental Policy and Advocacy, who provide additional economic and policy context.
More recently, Life in the Gap was selected for screening at the Carrboro Film Festival as part of a curated social justice program. The screening drew a strong audience and included a Q&A moderated by the Poet Laureate of Carrboro, extending the conversation around the film’s themes beyond campus.
Now, with PBS North Carolina’s acquisition of the documentary for broadcast on the North Carolina Channel, Life in the Gap will bring its message to viewers across the state.
“From the beginning, this film was about listening carefully to people whose experiences are often overlooked,” said Annas. “I’m proud that our faculty and students were able to create something that not only tells an important local story, but now brings that story to audiences across North Carolina.”
What began as a collaborative campus documentary has grown into a statewide platform for conversation around economic resilience, public policy, and the lived experiences of families navigating the financial realities of modern life.
