"I Hate Most Addiction Films": How Director Aaron Strand Broke Almost All Of The Rules
We're so accustomed to the tropes of addiction related films. Recovery is inspiration. There's a happy ending. The story is over when your protagonist comes out of therapy. As I listen to this conversation, it even invades how we talk to the directors of films.
But my guest today, Aaron Strand, director of the brilliant film WITHDRAWAL (2025), thinks about all of these things differently: he hates addiction films because normally directors try to "inflict pain on people for them to act correctly." He encourages filmmakers to "clean up their side of the street before starting to tell [their] story."
The concept of great art only coming from the tortured artist is a lie; stability has given him the ability to make a great film.
He went to NYU to study acting and a few years later came out a storyteller with something significant and truly unique to say. Aaron will change how you think about so many things: indie films and their theatrical tours; Slamdance; the money pit of FilmFreeway; how to tell a true addiction story, and a lot more.
In this episode, Aaron and I talk about:
- how a narrative film like WITHDRAWAL helps explain why so many documentaries are going for that feel -- because it's powerful;
- ensuring a film about trauma didn't cause trauma for the cast and crew;
- if the story is hard for him to talk about;
- his description of the film;
- choices made that showcase class differences in the film;
- his start studying acting at NYU and if he ever imagined making this film;
- advice for acting students now;
- when he knew he was ready to tell this story after ten years, especially after his first feature fizzled out;
- his thoughts on people tackling difficult subject matters;
- what he hates about addiction films;
- the hardest day on set for WITHDRAWAL;
- his article on Slamdance's Substack about independent film (even though his film didn't get into Slamdance);
- the film tour for WITHDRAWAL and what projects might not work that way;
- indie filmmaking with young kids;
- what's next for him and when WITHDRAWAL will be streaming.
Aaron's Indie Film Highlights: A CELL PHONE MOVIE (2025) dir. by Will Sterling; THAT FRIEND (2026) dir. by Will Sterling and Alex Wall; META TAKE ONE (2025) dir. by John Dierre and Ryan Dutter
Memorable Quotes:
" I would be pretty hard-pressed to explore this subject without being exploitative of the people involved."
" I do think that there's value in being open and talking about your past and moments of your past that are not just like the shiny parts that you usually show on social media."
" I started working out in the theater world of New York and that was something that was a point of tension at NYU."
"Everything about this film emerged from the wreckage of the other one."
On FilmFreeway: " I generally consider any sort of offer, anyone reaching out to you to be a scam unless they're gonna give you a full waiver code."
" I'm only going to theaters that will give me a ticket split deal."
"Certain genres are easier to market than others."
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