‘Addict Named Hal’

A study of addiction and recovery, this narrative film draws on director Lane Michael Stanley’s own experiences in rehab, spending six months there after the death of a fiancé. That knowledge shows in the intimate portrayal of such homes’ forced camaraderie, occasionally humorous embarrassments of personal space, and unclear track records for success in a system with inherent flaws. The film shows solid acting and clean filmmaking throughout.

It was produced by the Santa Barbara–based company Light Brigade Entertainment, run by Lowell Blank and Thane Swigart. “We have many film and TV projects in development, but Hal is our first production,” said Blank, who read Stanley’s play and started turning it into a short film four years ago, and then it blossomed into a feature. “I feel so incredibly lucky to have gone on this journey with Lane. We found an amazing cast of mostly unknowns and shot the film in Austin, Texas, in January 2020 before the lockdowns.”

Filmmakers Lane Michael Stanley recently answered some questions via email.