Written Off

How does a young person go from starring in the school play to putting a needle in his arm?

Written Off reveals the achingly personal journey of Matt Edwards as he battles addiction. A charismatic storyteller with a unique curiosity for life, Edwards longs to leave rural Wisconsin behind and see the world. But as a teen, a prescription for a powerful painkiller following a botched toe surgery exposes him to opioids for the first time. They make him feel like he has been "touched by God." What follows is a valiant decade-long struggle to survive against increasingly potent drugs.

Matt keeps a meticulous record of his journey in grippingly honest journals -- how much he takes, how he finds it, what it costs, and his never-ending attempts to quit. They serve as a warts and all memoir of his desperation for that next fix and what he'll do to get it.

The Opioid Crisis is a national emergency. Every day there is another front page tragedy detailing another spectacular fall from grace. What's missing is a real understanding of the complicated human experience of addiction, Matt Edward's story is one of secrets, shame, and crushing stigma that make him feel like a society has written him off. The film Written Off changes the way addiction is understood. In his own words, Matt reveals that behind the addiction there is a person - all at once lovable and despicable, funny and pathetic, destructive and aware of his failings.

FILMMAKER'S STATEMENT: "My cousin Emily died of a heroin overdose at the age of 20. Even today, if anyone ever talks about it, it is to intimate that there was an inevitability to her death. Ten years passed, and I started to read about the 'opiate epidemic' almost every day in the paper. It made me rethink Emily's death. Could we have helped her if we'd understood? As documentary filmmakers my partner, and Director of Photography, Rob Lyall and I have spent most of our careers rooted in the distant past. We have long desired to use our skills to tackle an issue close to our hearts. This film is dedicated to Emily and all the others like her who are Written Off."
-Molly Hermann

Preview link available upon request. Contact support@videoproject for more information

A Film by Molly Hermann & Rob Lyall

61 minutes

Scene Selection • Closed Captioned

Grades 11 - Adult

Item #: WRO-1133

Reveals the achingly personal journey of Matt Edwards as he battles opioid addiction

Starting at $89

Licensing Options

K-12 Schools, Public Libraries, Community Groups $89 K-12 DVD + Digital File - $139 Colleges, Businesses, Other Institutions: DVD - $295 Colleges (DVD with Digital Site License) - $445

Reviews and Festivals

"In this moving essay based on personal diaries, filmmaker Hermann chronicles the short life of Matt Edwards...In addition to the diaries, personal photos and home videos combine effectively with Hermann's cinema verite style to call attention to this national epidemic and its destructive societal toll. Recommended for general audiences and substance abuse programs."

— Educational Media Reviews Online

"STARRED REVIEW. A compelling and highly recommended film about addiction that should be shared with high school students, parents, and other entrusted with the care of teens."

— School Library Journal

"What sets this documentary apart are journal excerpts read by an actor, home-movie footage, and testimonies from family and friends...This heartrending story puts a face on opioid addiction. This revealing program is a good way to start classroom discussions with older teens."
— Booklist

"Powerfully shows one person's downfall caught on tape and revealed via his brutally honest diary excerpts. Another heart-wrenching tale of lives lost to the scourge of drugs."
— Library Journal

"This gripping film will change the way you think about America's opioid crisis."
— Jane O'Brien, BBC News

"A valuable resource to educate families and loved ones about the struggle and journey of addiction, while also presenting an opportunity for healing and recovery."
— Charlene Gradney, Louisiana Department of Health

"Powerful and innovative take on the complications involved with addiction."
— Falls Church News Press

"This particular film brings that [secret drug abuse battle] home in a way that statistics can't."
— Gigi Peters, Executive Director of the MidSouth Center at UA Little Rock

"Provides insight into the life of an addict and the struggles and fears he faced on his own with little to no resources to help him out of his addiction."
— Waupaca County News

"Features the story of Matt Edwards, but relates to millions who've come face to face with prescription drug abuse...Hopes to combat the stigma around drug use and encourage compassion."
— KTHV

"A gripping personal narrative documentary"
— The Ad Agency

"Helps personalize the current opiate epidemic and makes Matt's story not just another statistic."
— Voice America

WINNER
Arizona International Film Festival, Best Documentary
Omaha International Film Festival, Best Documentary
Weyauwega International Film Festival, Best Documentary
Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, Best Documentary
Utopia Film Festival, Best Documentary
Richmond International Film Festival, Best Screenplay
Ridgefield Independent Film Festival, Best Screenplay
IndieFest, Award of Excellence, 2016 Humanitarian Award

OFFICIAL SELECTION
Richmond International Film Festival
Omaha Film Festival
Julien Dubuque International Film Festival
Arizona International Film Festival
Ridgefield Independent Film Festival
IndieFEST
Utopia Film Festival
LA Awareness Fest
Weyauwega International Film Festival
Green Bay Film Festival
Awareness Festival

Item In Cart

Starting at $89

Item In Cart

Starting at $79

Item In Cart

Starting at $89

Item In Cart

Starting at $89

Written Off

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