I, Destini

By Hady Mawajdeh,

Published July 22, 2015 at 12:11 PM EDT

Image of video being shot for the documentary - I, Destini. Nicholas Pilarski and Destini Riley (left) are working on a documentary to show what it's like having a family member in prison.

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Nicholas Pilarski and Destini Riley (left) are working on a documentary to show what it's like having a family member in prison.

Nicholas Pilarski

Image of a scene from I, Destini. I, Destini premieres July 28 at the Hayti Heritage Center

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I, Destini featuring Destini Riley (standing) premieres July 28 at the Hayti Heritage Center.

Nicholas Pilarski

Image of animated sketch from I, Destini. As this documentary is told from Destini's perspective, it's also animated to take advantage of her artistic skills.

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As this documentary is told from Destini's perspective, it's also animated to take advantage of her artistic skills.

Destini Riley, Sarah Bassett and Nicholas Pilarski

Image of Durham as an animated sketch in I, Destini.

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A sketched image of Durham in I, Destini.

Destini Riley, Sarah Bassett and Nicholas Pilarski

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics there are approximately 2.3 million people in prisons or local jails in the United States. And many of those individuals have family members living life on the outside who experience their own set of challenges.

Destini Riley is a 15-year-old Durham-based artist who knows about this first hand; her older brother Carlos Riley Jr. is serving a 10-year federal prison sentence. She recently collaborated with documentarian Nicholas Pilarski on a film that shows her point of view.

Host Frank Stasio talks with Destini Riley and Nicholas Pilarski about the new film “I, Destini” that premieres at Durham’s Hayti Heritage Center next Tuesday, July 28 at 7 p.m.

Watch a trailer of the video below.

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