Art as a Tool for Advocacy and Empathy: Inside the Making of Unshame CA’s Documentary

This blog is the first in a three-part series exploring the creation, release, and impact of our upcoming documentary. 

by David Castillo, Program Coordinator October 31st, 2025

At Shatterproof, we know that education is necessary to challenge how our nation responds to substance use disorder (SUD). Today, nearly 46 million people in the United States are living with an SUD - impacting individuals, families, and communities in every corner of the country. But numbers alone can’t influence change. That’s where the power of storytelling truly makes a difference: helping us move hearts and minds, and inspiring empathy that acts. 

Storytelling has always been a vehicle for advocacy. It helps communities process complex emotions, communicates stories that words alone cannot capture, and connects unique individuals to broader society. Whether it’s a short documentary, a song, or a community mural, artistic expression helps us imagine health, resilience, and healing in ways that complement statistics alone. For that vision to become real, for improved well-being to be accessible, possible, and probable for people with SUD, we must break down the barriers that keep them from seeking and receiving care. 

This year, Shatterproof, specifically our team at Unshame CA, embarked on creating a short documentary (about 12–15 minutes long) to address one of the biggest barriers to recovery: stigma. By amplifying the voices of people with lived experience, experts, and advocates, the film challenges harmful narratives. It also highlights Unshame CA’s work to foster compassion, education, and systemic change across California. Through this process, we witnessed how art can reduce shame, invite dialogue, and encourage individuals to see themselves, and their loved ones, within broader systems of care and healing. For people impacted by SUD, thisdocumentary will be more than just artistic expression. It serves as advocacy, education, and a pathway to deeper connections. 

Making the Documentary 

The journey from idea to production felt like watching something grow into itself. It started as a simple pitch and a rough outline, uncertain but full of potential. As the vision took shape, we brought in filmmakers, professionals, and advocates whose insight helped us turn intention into direction. We began reaching out to organizations, people with lived experience, and those willing to lend their voices. Each conversation added clarity and responsibility to the work. From there, the logistics came into focus: partnering with a professional crew, building a shot list, mapping out schedules, and drafting a budget that matched both our goals and our limits. With every step, the project became more defined, more collaborative, and more rooted in purpose—shaped not just by planning, but by the people and stories that gave it meaning. 

Behind-the-Scenes Photos and Stills 

One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned through campaign development and administration has been the importance of building trust. Asking someone to share their story about SUD isn’t easy. It requires patience, care, and ensuring people feel safe and supported every step of the way. Balancing artistic vision with accuracy and sensitivity was another challenge. We needed to create something compelling while also honoring the integrity of each story and the lived experiences behind them. Despite the hurdles, what has emerged is a powerful, collaborative piece that showcased resilience, broke through stigma, and will allow audiences to see the human stories behind the statistics. 

What’s Next 

While we’ve just wrapped the production phase of the documentary, we are just beginning the foundation of the project. The next phase of this project is focused on post-production, accessibility, and reach. This phase involves film festival submissions, exploring new platforms, and finding creative ways to ensure this work is seen by diverse audiences across California. 

This blog marks the first installment in a three-part series documenting the evolution of this project. In the next chapter, we’ll announce the film’s launch, and later, we’ll return to reflect on its reception and impact. 

Our goal is simple. We’d like to continue using art as a bridge to help communities connect with stories of substance use disorder in ways that build empathy, challenge stigma, and inspire change. When we combine advocacy with storytelling, the message resonates,  connects, and moves us closer to a world where no one feels shame for seeking help. 

Stay tuned for the next chapter in this series, as we celebrate the film’s launch and the powerful message it drives forward. 

David Castillo is Program Coordinator for Shatterproof. He leads program coordination within the Unshame California statewide campaign to reduce substance use disorder (SUD) stigma.