WORDS FROM THE DIRECTOR

My name is Tess Sweet. I’m a writer, director and I’m also a recovering addict. I say recovering rather than recovered because there is no cure for addiction. Although I have fifteen years clean, I am far from cured. Living with my addiction and healing from shame is ongoing. Over the years, what has helped me the most has been hearing and sharing stories with other addicts, laughing about our shortcomings, and being reminded daily that I am not alone. 

Cleaner Daze is a web series about the complex layers of addiction and recovery. We don’t sugar-coat it or pretend we’ve solved it.  We shine a light on the reality of living with it. Many of our cast members have life experience with addiction which brings palpable authenticity to the project. When we started casting, it meant a lot to me to seek out real survivors. So, we plastered the town with posters... 

THE STORY OF CLEANER DAZE

Cleaner Daze lives in Santa Cruz, California - a touristy beach town and runaway teen mecca where syringes wash up on the beach and pot smoke lingers in the air. The show follows Jasmine, the new counselor, as she fumbles her way through her first job in a rehab. It’s also her first time in rehab as an employee rather than a client. 

CHECK OUT OUR COVER STORY - WE MADE THE FRONT PAGE

Read all about us on the front page of GoodTimes! http://goodtimes.sc/cover-stories/cleaner-daze-dramedy-draws-local-youths-addiction-recovery/

THE TIME IS NOW - VIRTUAL REALITY MEETS TRADITIONAL NARRATIVE

And now the fun part... Virtual reality! We are thrilled to be riding this transmedia wave and exploring a whole new way of telling a story. Season one of Cleaner Daze consists of 10 short webisodes and each webisode features a “VR rabbit hole” which invites the viewer to join the teens in rehab by way of spherical 360 VR. These rabbit hole moments run parallel but independent of the main story line and allow the viewer a unique opportunity to connect more deeply with the characters. It’s a show where no show has gone before. 

BEHIND THE WALLS

The teens in treatment are a misfit crew. Sent by their parents or the courts, rehab is a punishment. They are pissed-off and they are devious. From snorting drywall and chugging mouthwash to broom closet hook-ups and petty theft, there’s a lot of sneaky extra-curricular activity going down. Jasmine's co-workers are an eccentric bunch as well, in various stages of recovery themselves. From raw food extremists to CrossFit junkies, their addictions have clearly mutated. Clean time does not equal recovery!

THE START OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

When Jasmine arrives for her first day of work, it’s Squirt’s first day too. Squirt is a 17-year old addict whose girlfriend just died of a Heroin overdose. She’s checking into rehab by choice this time. Over the course of season one, Jasmine and Squirt develop a unique bond. Their budding friendship is at the heart of Cleaner Daze. It’s the magic of recovery - one addict helping another.  

WHY NOW

At this moment, the media eye is finally focused on the epidemic of addiction in the US, particularly pharmaceutical opioids. Fifty-one percent of overdose deaths in America are the result of pills prescribed by a doctor. Junkies don’t look like junkies. They are soccer moms, cheerleaders, tech execs, family members, grandparents. Addiction is everywhere. We’re finally waking up to an issue that has long been smothered in blame, shame and denial. Just as the original series Transparent has normalized a conversation around Transgender identity, our show seeks to bring the reality of addiction and recovery out of the closet. It’s time for Cleaner Daze.

Read all about us... on the front page of GoodTimes! Good Times Cover Story