For Myself

Short Documentary Film & Multimedia Project

Directed by Max Feliu

“When you’re in addiction, you don’t think that you deserve anything. People are like, ‘he’s 38 years old, he’s done 10 years in prison, he’s not worth saving.’”

- Matt Hassell

“You’ve got to dig deep inside and work on healing the things that broke you, and that takes work. When something good happens to you, why do you not finish it, why do you feel like you’re good enough to let good things happen to you?”

- Tina LaFoy

Hendersonville, N.C.

As Matt Hassell reaches six months of sobriety, it is his longest time in sobriety after relapsing 14 times. Having spent over 10 years revolving in and out of jail, living without necessities and a home, it is the first time in years he has the mentorship and love he needs to pull himself forward. Hassell aims to graduate from a peer support program at The Free Clinics in Hendersonville, North Carolina, which will give him the means to reintroduce himself into the workforce.

Hassell voices the struggles that many other recovering homeless drug addicts share. He tells a story that many people in his situation have never told – not because they didn’t want to tell them but because no one listened.

Photo Story

Matt Hassell sits in the waiting room at the Henderson Country Courthouse as he waits to enter his meeting with his public defender. Although his probation expires at the end of the month, Hassell lacks many of the resources needed to build his new f

Matt Hassell sits in the waiting room at the Henderson Country Courthouse as he waits to enter his meeting with his public defender. Although his probation expires at the end of the month, Hassell lacks many of the resources needed to build his new future.

Hassell sits in the waiting room at the Henderson Country Courthouse as he waits to enter his meeting with his public defender. Although his probation expires at the end of the month, Hassell lacks many of the resources needed to build his new future

Hassell sits in the waiting room at the Henderson Country Courthouse as he waits to enter his meeting with his public defender. Although his probation expires at the end of the month, Hassell lacks many of the resources needed to build his new future.

CPJWPhotostory-1.jpg
Hassell walks down the aisle of the Cascades Mountain Hotel in Hendersonville, N.C. The Free Clinics paid for two weeks of his living expenses while he searches for an apartment, but there are no leasing options for former-addict felons with little m

Hassell walks down the aisle of the Cascades Mountain Hotel in Hendersonville, N.C. The Free Clinics paid for two weeks of his living expenses while he searches for an apartment, but there are no leasing options for former-addict felons with little money.

Hassell laughs at a joke that peer support specialist Wanda Owens makes during a session at The Free Clinics in Hendersonville, N.C. “I spend my day down here instead of worrying about relapsing because, you know, being bored for me is a trigger.”

Hassell laughs at a joke that peer support specialist Wanda Owens makes during a session at The Free Clinics in Hendersonville, N.C. “I spend my day down here instead of worrying about relapsing because, you know, being bored for me is a trigger.”

Hassell locks the food truck after his work session in Hendersonville, N.C., on Wednesday, May 17. Simmons donated the food truck to The Free Clinics two months ago after directing a successful peer support program in Charlotte, N.C. for recovering a

Hassell locks the food truck after his work session in Hendersonville, N.C., on Wednesday, May 17. Simmons donated the food truck to The Free Clinics two months ago after directing a successful peer support program in Charlotte, N.C. for recovering addicts at the Salvation Army.

About the Project

For Myself is a short documentary film I produced independently for the Carolina Photojournalism Workshop (CPJW). I was responsible for all aspects of the documentary, including finding the story, research, filming, interviews, storyboarding, and editing.

CPJW is an annual program with the UNC School of Journalism that documents people, places and culture in short films. The 2023 CPJW was based in Henderson County, North Carolina, in May 2023. For Me is published in the project website http://cpjw.unc.edu/2023.