Recovery Content

GETTING FREE is a feature length documentary about the Buddhist approach to recovery from substances, dual diagnosis, and process addictions. As I got about 8 months into my recovery I transitioned from being a hired gun as a writer, director, and art director in the Hollywood film industry to purely focusing on content that would support people in recovery and our ability to overcome struggles to help ourselves and to help others.

I am extremely proud of this film as it allowed me to interview and follow people in all stages of recovery over the course of 4 years. Buddhist recovery saved my life and there is no doubt I would have crashed and burned mentally and physically had I not forced myself to go to a Buddhist recovery meeting where I immediately found a supportive community. This film is an act of service and there are no profits. While this film is specific to the recovery community it also explores a deeper sense of humanity and how we as humans can accomplish anything if we truly put the effort in.

This film is made by film professionals and reflects a very high grade production value. Immediately people are struck to hear the famed actor and narrator, Peter Coyote, who is famous for narrating many of Ken Burns' documentaries. This calming and familiar voice introduces the film, presents context and details as the narrator, and guides us through the journey. This is a labor of love created by myself and my recovery mentor and our goal is to spread this film and message to help people engage with mindfullness and basic Buddhist principles as another set of practices that integrate well with 12 step recovery.

Here you can see the trailer for the full length film. The full length film is offering screenings to treatment centers, behavioral health agencies, non profit agencies, families, friends, therapists, and anyone who wants to broaden their perspective on recovery and find new tools that are incredibly effective. Our subjects choose not to be anonymous as we feel collectively that it's important that we are bold and open about our experiences to help break stigma and inform people who may not have considered this approach and set of practical recovery tools.