Filmmaking, at its core, is about connection, bridging experiences, and emotions, and sharing perspectives through storytelling. For filmmaker Alex Kaplan, this isn’t just an artistic pursuit. He is on a mission that seems greater.

From his early days of wanting to be an actor to stepping behind the camera, his journey has been shaped by a desire to create films that don’t just entertain but resonate on a deeply personal level. In this conversation, he shares with us his approach to filmmaking which he sees as a therapeutic and transformative tool. He also talks about his latest short film ‘Safe‘, and the groundbreaking work he’s doing with the platform ‘Of Substance’ to reshape how films engage with mental health and addiction awareness.

 

1. Alex, please share with us what initially inspired you to pursue filmmaking.

Alex: When I was eight, I wanted to be an actor—because actors got to do everything! They were heroes, astronauts, detectives—living a new adventure in every movie. But once I started working on sets, I realized I didn’t want to just be along for the ride—I wanted to be in the driver’s seat. More than anything, films were the most influential thing in my life. Films shaped how I saw the world, taught me empathy, and made me think beyond myself.I wanted to be part of that impact, telling stories that explore the human experience in a way that’s engaging, meaningful, and transformative.

 

2. Many of your films seem to be deeply personal. Do you consider filmmaking to be a therapeutic process for you?

Alex: Absolutely—in my filmmaking I get to explore those feelings and beliefs that both trap and liberate me. But more than anything, I want it to be therapeutic for the audience. The most powerful films make you feel seen—like they’re reading your journal. Luckily I’ve found that the more vulnerable I am in sharing my thoughts and emotions, the more my audiences identify with them because they’re universally human. We all carry struggles, shame, fear, trauma—but we don’t always talk about them. My goal is to create films that bring those feelings to light in a way that’s engaging, meaningful, and hopefully even healing.That’s when film stops being just a story—and starts being something more.

 

3. Tell us a bit about your latest short film ‘Safe’. What inspired it and what was the creative process for it like?

Alex: The inspiration came through the surprise of a challenge. Just four weeks before the deadline, my producer Michael learned that Slamdance announced a new 60-second film category, and we thought, Let’s do it!!

Michael introduced me to Caleb, our lead and co-writer, and within minutes, we were deep in a vulnerable conversation about our ADHD, overwhelm, and the mental chaos of just being a human today. That moment shaped Safe—a man venting all his anxieties, but to a surprising listener from his childhood.

That “listener” represents the childhood innocence, unconditional love, and safety we lose touch with as we grow up. This film is about the weight of adulthood and the need to reconnect with the part of us that still sees magic in the world.

 

4. What do you hope audiences take away from SAFE and your other films?

Alex: Love yourself. Love others. And remember that we’re all just doing our best.

Yes, I want our films to make people feel seen, heard, and loved, but more than that, I want them to start conversations that lead to lasting change. Feeling understood is powerful, but real transformation happens when we dig into those emotions through dialogue, reflection, and action.

At Of Substance, we turn films into tools for healing, growth, and behavioral change, creating spaces where people can connect with their vulnerabilities in ways they normally wouldn’t. That’s why we focus on Cinema Therapy, providing our films to mental health professionals as a way to accelerate deeper, more vulnerable conversations—helping clients open up faster, more authentically, and with greater impact.

 

5. Can you share the journey behind the founding Of Substance? What was the initial spark for creating this platform?

Alex: It started in a bar—of course. My co-founder Brian and I were making our first short film when we realized we both had a… let’s say complicated relationship with alcohol. So, naturally, we hit the pub. Sitting there, we had this realization: What if we made a collection of short films—high-quality, entertaining, and designed to actually help people struggling as we were?

That idea grew into Of Substance, an award-winning organization creating 5 to 10-minute films—comedies to thrillers—on mental health, addiction, trauma, and shame. We provide these films to mental health professionals as tools to enhance therapy, spark introspection, and accelerate healing.

Today, Of Substance is more than just a film initiative—it’s a movement to change how storytelling drives personal and societal growth.

6. How do you decide which short films are a good fit for Of Substance’s platform?

We hold our films to a high standard because, for them to truly work in therapy and education, they need to be just as cinematic, immersive, and gripping as anything you’d watch on a Friday night. That means they have to be more than just well-intentioned—they need to be visually striking, well-written, powerfully acted, creative and deeply engaging.

But great storytelling isn’t just about craft, right? More than anything, I believe it’s about authenticity. We’re not interested in PSAs or films that feel like lectures—we want stories that hit you before you even realize they’re about you. The goal isn’t just to talk about mental health; it’s to make you feel it, creating an emotional connection that lingers long after the credits roll.

 

7. For you, how do you measure the success of a film beyond traditional metrics like views or festival selections?

Alex: For me, success is when someone watches a film and says, that made me realize I have a problem. Or that helped me see I’m doing better than I thought. Or that made me understand my son in a way I never had before.

Sure, a million views would be great—but if a million people watch and no one is changed by it, then what’s the point? These films aren’t just stories, they’re tools to help people navigate real-life struggles. If they’re not sparking conversation and change, we’ve missed the mark.

 

8. If you could change one thing about how short films are distributed and valued in the industry, what would it be?

Alex: If I could shift anything, it would be reframing short films from fleeting content to transformative experiences with real-world impact and applications. Short films are among the most powerful storytelling tools, yet they’re often dismissed as “movie snacks”—judged not by their impact, but by their inability to turn a high profit like features or series.

But what if their brevity is actually their greatest strength? Short films can deliver profound emotional depth in minutes, making them uniquely suited to spark vulnerability and introspection. That’s why we built a model that transforms short films into immersive conversation starters—tools that don’t just entertain, but provoke dialogue, healing, and real change, delivered in forums where those deeper conversations are already happening.

 

9. What’s next for Of Substance? Are there any new initiatives or collaborations in the works?

Alex: Actually, we’re slowing down our own production—because there are already incredible short films out there that have nowhere to go and we want them! We want Of Substance to be the home for impactful short films, where they don’t just sit in a digital graveyard but actively help people in therapy, education, and beyond.

So if you have or know of a film that would be a great fit, PLEASE reach out through our website – ofsubstance.org

We’re also exploring resilience-building initiatives and even virtual reality experiences to expand the ways films can be used as tools for healing. Exciting things ahead!

 

10. How do you think digital platforms and social media have influenced the way short films reach audiences today?

Alex: It’s great that short-form content has been normalized by digital platforms, allowing more creators to share their work. But the challenge is that content today is consumed way too passively—scroll, watch, move on.

Instead of fostering connection, a lot of digital content just keeps us isolated in endless scrolling loops. The next evolution of short-form storytelling needs to be about building community, not just capturing attention. We have to shift from mindless consumption to meaningful engagement.

 

11. What are your thoughts on how the film industry is doing in general concerning the support of mental health and addiction awareness?

Alex: It’s getting better. More films and TV shows are moving beyond stereotypes—showing real, complex portrayals of mental health struggles instead of just using them as plot devices. Instead of “the addict” or “the depressed one,” we’re seeing fully realized human beings with stories that foster compassion.

There’s still work to do, but the progress is promising.

 

12. Finally, what advice would you give to filmmakers who want to use their craft for social change?

Alex: Stop fixating on how you’ll do it—focus on why. Figure out what you stand for, what impact you want to make and what legacy you want to leave behind.

So many filmmakers ask me Should I make a documentary? A feature? A TikTok series? —but the medium isn’t what matters.

If you’re clear on the impact you want to make, you’ll always find ways to create it. Your why should guide you, not the format. Today, it might be a film. Tomorrow, it could be a conversation, a book, a movement. The ‘how’ will evolve, but if you stay committed to why you’re doing it, you’ll always find ways to make a difference.