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What if...we turned immersive entertainment into our greatest tool for healing and growth? This is the question that drives Alex Kaplan every day, and what led him to form the non-profit Of Substance. By using story telling in the form of mini movies to deliver an immersive experience that heals through depicting addiction- the struggle and triumph- around it

Alex shares with The Two Jess(es) his journey of addiction, and how he has used his passion for movie making and his commitment to vulnerability to propel him forward and turn his mess into his message. His belief is that we have ALL felt that we are not good enough, we all deal with the experiences of embarrassment, shame and unworthiness and the answer is connection and belonging.

Meet Alex!
Alex Kaplan, a Philadelphia native and LA transplant, was trained as an actor in the University of Miami’s conservatory and transitioned to a career behind the camera as a producer and director for the past decade.

Today, Alex is the Co-founder & Executive Director of Of Substance, an innovative non-profit revolutionizing addiction and mental health treatment, education, and support, using premium entertaining short films as a tool for deeper healing, growth, and transformation.

After surviving his own battles with addiction, Alex recognized the power of story as a tool in his recovery and found an exciting way to use his filmmaking experience to help others on their paths of overcoming struggles of shame & isolation.
The biggest thing he learned on his journey is that his issue was far less about using substances than it was about WHY he used substances; It was about shame, isolation, a fear of not belonging, and a fear of not being good enough.

Alex and his co-founder Brian Gallagher built Of Substance to help us all recognize that we’re not alone in these feelings and to positively transform people's relationships with themselves, others, and their beliefs in what's possible.

Most importantly, Alex is now a proud husband, supportive member of his family, and a friend on whom others can lean, having risen from his struggles with addiction and refusing to give up. 

Of Substance.

Of Substance is a nonprofit revolutionizing addiction, mental health, and suicide prevention, education, treatment, and support thought movies!

We make premium entertaining short films, mini-movies you really like watching, that tackle all of our struggles in a way that helps us overcome the shame, blame, and stigma we all experience, reminding us that we're not crazy, we're not alone, and we're already doing great!

We're turning movies into an approachable and captivating tool for transformation, that expedites and enhances the journey through healing and growth.

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