“Paid For By…” by Aaron Jordan Liebowitz
August Williams is surrounded by a growing staff and campaign team as his fight to break the current two-party system begins to resonate with voters, but a coalition of the establishment is fighting to maintain their power and place.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
“This story has lived in the mind of our executive producer, Jesse Viola, for over a decade, beginning as a simple prose piece he asked his friend to write in the early 2010s. When Jesse and I first met, this film came up, and we have been devising a plan to get it completed ever since. Its themes of division, power, and extremism have only grown more urgent, making it all the more important to finally bring this vision to life.
As the director, I was tasked with the delicate challenge of finding the balance between telling a gripping, thrilling narrative while allowing the abstraction of a power-hungry class leaving the door open to radicalisation to be present in a way that is both cool and somehow comfortable. This approach encourages audiences to confront these issues not with immediate answers, but through intense and thought-provoking reflection.
The story draws on the modern American experience, where the political landscape is fractured by division and change feels perpetually out of reach. Those in power thrive in this chaos, using media to craft narratives that radicalise individuals and direct their anger toward perceived enemies—enemies who threaten their wealth and dominance. This is not just fiction; it is a very real fear and a warning of what we risk becoming.
Originally planned for production in 2020, the pandemic forced us to pause the process, but in 2024, we were able to complete this project as a fully independent film. It’s a testament to resilience, collaboration, and creativity. My hope is that this film captures the viewer’s imagination while challenging them to think critically about the forces shaping their world.”
-Aaron Jordan Liebowitz
CREDITS
Writer, Director, Producer// Aaron Jordan Liebowitz
Writer, Executive Producer, Composer// Jesse Viola
Writer// Kurt Schnatz -Writer
Writer & Supervising Producer// Gloria Chang
Producer & Assistant Director// Charlie Norton
Line Producer// John Rivera
Cinematographer// Michael Henaghan
Editor// Julia Messina
Casting Director & Supervising Producer// Angel Azoulay
Production Designer// Emma Rotman
Gaffer// Nathan Airey
Cast
Ben McHugh// "August Williams"
Disnella Santos// "The Assassin"
Alice Bahlke// "Amanda"
Susan Richard// "Susan"
Laurie Hamfeldt Mahoney// "Terri Gates"
Bryon Albert Isaac// "Kevin McNarama"
Shefik// "The DJ"
Joe Rubino// "Barry Branson"
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