Dear William: A Father’s Journey Through Loss and Legacy

Production Details

Title: Dear William

Format: Feature Film

Production Begins: Summer 2026

Filming Location: Mississippi

Producer: Eric Groth

Writer/Director: Andrew Hyatt

CD: Anne McCarthy – Kellie Gesell Roy – Morgan Robbins

Synopsis: The last time David Magee saw his son alive, William told him to write their family’s story in the hopes of helping others. Days later, David found William dead from an accidental drug overdose. With honesty and heart, Magee shares his family’s intergenerational struggle with substance abuse and mental health issues, as well as his own reckoning with family secrets – confronting the dark truth about the adoptive parents who raised him and a decades-long search for identity. He wrestles with personal substance misuse that began at a young age and, as a father, he sees destructive patterns repeat and develop within his own children. While striving to find a truly authentic voice as a writer despite authoring nearly a dozen previous books, Magee ultimately understands that William had been right and their own family’s history is the story he needs to tell.

Sacred Arthouse

Dear William LLC
Mississippi

Email: info@sacredarthouse.com
Phone: +1-310-319-9500

About Dear William

David Magee reflects on his son William’s life and the poignant message he left behind. After William’s tragic passing, David confronts his family’s ongoing struggles with substance use and the mental health challenges that have affected multiple generations. Through candid storytelling, he addresses the complex dynamics of his upbringing and the search for self-identity. With a focus on the patterns of addiction that echo through his family, Magee reveals his personal journey of grappling with his own past. This narrative sheds light on difficult truths, ultimately leading to a discovery of healing and understanding. David’s commitment to honor his son’s memory manifests in this heartfelt exploration of their intertwined lives and shared experiences.