What Dear Allen Is

Dear Allen is a feature-length documentary centered on Lauren Sisler’s relationship with her brother, their shared childhood, his military service, his struggle with alcoholism, and the loss that reshaped her life and family.

The film unfolds as a letter from Lauren to Allen saying the things she never had the chance to say. Her voice anchors the film, interwoven with personal photographs, archival footage, and observational moments.

Alongside Lauren’s story, the film includes his friend Paul, and Alabama Veteran, not as a solution or an organization to promote, but as people who were walking beside Allen in his final weeks, and who continue to carry the weight of losing those they are trying to help.

This is not a film about blame.
It is a film about remembrance, love, grief, and responsibility.

WHO WAS ALLEN

Allen was:

A veteran. A brother. A son. A friend. Someone who laughed, loved, and struggled.

This film intentionally resists defining Allen by his death. Instead, it allows audiences to meet him as he was and understand the quiet complexity behind addiction and pain.

Why I’m Making This Film

I met Allen Sisler at the Alabama Veteran Warrior Retreat. He was kind, thoughtful, and deeply human. Like many veterans, he carried things most people never saw. Alabama Veteran was actively working to support him and he was scheduled to move into a home they had prepared for him. Unfortunately he passed away just one week before that transition could happen.

As a veteran myself, I’ve seen how easily people assume strength means safety; and how quiet struggle can live behind a smile. Allen’s death stayed with me, not just because of how he died, but because of who he was and the people who loved him.

This film is my way of honoring him, and of holding space for the friend's and families who are left asking "what if".

WHY THIS FILM MATTERS

Every year, families lose veterans not only to war but to the battles that follow them home.

Dear Allen is not a statistic-driven film. It is a human story told from the inside about grief, missed conversations, and the love that remains after loss.

This film exists to:

  • Humanize addiction and mental health struggles

  • Show the long tail of loss for families

  • Honor veterans as whole people not outcomes

  • Encourage earlier intervention and community support

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

As a veteran and documentary filmmaker, I believe stories are how we learn to see one another fully.

Dear Allen is not about blame. It is about presence; about listening before it is too late, and honoring lives even when outcomes are painful.

This film is being made with care, restraint, and deep respect for those who trusted us with their story.

— William Ian

VISUAL & TONAL APPROACH

  • Natural light, minimal interference

  • Handheld intimacy

  • Slow pacing, space to breathe

  • Emphasis on listening rather than explaining

The film prioritizes emotional safety over spectacle.

AUDIENCE & IMPACT

Primary Audiences:

  • Veteran families

  • Mental health and recovery communities

  • Donors and nonprofit supporters

  • Educators and counselors

Planned Uses:

  • Private and public screenings

  • Educational and donor outreach

  • Community conversations

  • Film festivals

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We are seeking:

  • Individual donors

  • Foundation or grant support

  • Mission-aligned partners

Support enables this story to be told with integrity, dignity, and care.

Recognition

Supporters may choose:

  • Private acknowledgment

  • End-credit recognition

  • Invitation to private or early screenings

Or they may remain unnamed.

BUDGET OVERVIEW

Total Funding Goal: $35,000

Lean Production Budget: ~$20,000

Funding supports:

  • Ethical production

  • Professional post-production

  • Legal and archival clearances

  • Outreach and community screenings

LEAN PRODUCTION BUDGET

 $15,000 – $25,000

Breakdown

Pre-Production

Development & planning: $2,000

Production (4–6 days total)

Director/DP: deferred / $0–$2,500

Sound recordist (essential): $2,000

Assistant / producer support: $1,500

Gear (mostly owned + rentals): $2,000

Travel / meals: $1,500

Post-Production

Edit (Internal): deferred / $0–$3,000

Color Grading: $1,500

Sound mix: $2,000

Music (licensed or original): $1,000

Legal / Delivery

Releases, insurance buffer: $1,000

Festival submissions / outreach: $1,000

Closing

"Dear Allen" is a letter that arrived too late, but one that may help others speak sooner.

If you choose to support this film, you are helping carry a story that deserves to be remembered with honesty, dignity, and compassion.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

— William Ware
Director | Veteran | One Sixteen Films

For more information or offline donations and contributions, please contact me directly at (205) 541-6209 or email me at w.ware@116films.com