Filmmaker Statement

This is not a story about alcohol. I know, because I used to drink a lot. Like, a LOT. When I was abusing booze and drugs, it was a symptom of a much larger issue: A longing. A feeling of separateness. I felt like I was uniquely unequipped to handle life. The seed of addiction sprouts with isolation. That’s what drew me to this story. For a long time in my life, I was Sam (our protagonist, played by the incredible Jillian Bell). Rudderless, chip firmly on my shoulder, looking at everyone’s external lives and comparing them with how I felt inside. This is somewhat an oversimplification, but what finally pulled me out of my isolation, my depression, and my addiction was connection with other people. I finally realized I wasn’t alone in my experience. Now I find purpose in how I can better the lives of others. It’s how I approach the filmmaking process and it’s how I approach the stories I want to tell as a filmmaker. I believe our human experience centers in connection. Unlike S