Dear Jack

Dear Jack is a 2009 American documentary film starring Andrew McMahon, the vocalist, pianist and primary songwriter for the bands Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin. The documentary chronicles McMahon on a rollercoaster year, through the highs of recording and releasing a solo album and the lows of being diagnosed with leukemia and breaking up with his girlfriend.

Dear Jack
Directed by	Joshua Morrisroe and Corey Moss
Produced by	Holly Adams
Starring	Andrew McMahon
Narrated by	Tommy Lee
Cinematography	Joshua Morrisroe
Edited by	Joshua Morrisroe
Distributed by	Sire Records
Release date	October 8, 2009
Running time	67 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$50,000

Synopsis

On May 27, 2005, McMahon was forced to cancel all of his upcoming concerts [1] after a medical examination in connection with a relentless case of laryngitis forced him into being admitted into a hospital in New York City. On June 1, 2005, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the same day he finished recording his debut album under the Jack's Mannequin moniker, Everything in Transit.[2] Since the illness was diagnosed in its early stages, McMahon's doctors had high hopes for a full recovery.[3]

Using a handheld video camera that his record label gave to him initially to document the process of recording his album, McMahon recorded everything from inside his hospital room and onward, from spinal taps to radiation and commentary on his deteriorating physical and mental state. The film follows him from diagnoses to recovery, including the stem cell transplant that saved his life and the first show he performed after being well again.

References

1. Andrew McMahon. "jacksmannequin: A Past That's Hard to Shake". Archived from the original on 18 June 2006. Retrieved June 6, 2006.
2. Andrew McMahon. "jacksmannequin: And suddenly, everything had changed...again". Retrieved September 13, 2006.
3. Valby, Karen. "Amazing Grace." Entertainment Weekly 837 (2005): 80. Music Index. EBSCO. Web. 23 Oct. 2011.