My parents divorced when I was around six years old, and my mom predominantly raised me and my siblings. Growing up, I don't think I fully understood what my father's distance meant to me. As far as I was concerned, I was fine.

My mom raised us to be strong and determined. It wasn't until I got older, especially after losing her in 2017, that I began to recognize some of the gaps I had spent years pretending weren't there.

When we began developing Fine., I couldn't help pulling pieces of my own life into Liam.

In many ways, Liam represents so many young men who grew up without a father, with an inconsistent father, or simply without the tools to understand what they were feeling. The difficulty trusting people. The lack of true emotional intelligence. Being the "funny" guy or the "nonchalant" guy because those versions of yourself are easier to show people. Believing strength means handling everything alone. Not realizing that asking for help is okay.

Sometimes, we don't recognize there is another way until we're already in crisis.

Today, I'm a husband, a father of three and a quarter (yes, as of this writing, we're expecting another one), and a filmmaker. I've built independent production companies, made films, and been fortunate enough to win some awards along the way.

But Fine. means something different to me.

We founded Finding Inspiration Foundation in 2025, two years after I reached a crisis point in my own mental health journey. Through the foundation, we've used film to start conversations around mental health that people don't always know how to begin themselves.

Now, we want to tell this story for young people everywhere.

I want a young person watching Liam to recognize themselves before they reach their own crisis point. I want a parent or caregiver to see something they may have missed. And I want young people to understand that who they are, the good, the struggles, the mistakes, the potential, and everything in between, goes far beyond the difficult circumstances they've been dealt.

This film exists to create a mirror moment.

If even one young person, parent, or caregiver sees themselves in that mirror and starts a conversation they otherwise wouldn't have had, then Fine. will have done something worthwhile.

I'm Austin Joseph, an on-screen and voice actor, writer, and filmmaker passionate about storytelling. "Fine." marks my first producing and writing project, bringing together a story and message I care deeply about. I've spent years developing my craft and exploring different forms of storytelling, from acting on camera to voice acting behind the microphone. My goal is to create meaningful work that connects with people, starts conversations, and reminds others that sometimes, when we say we're "fine," we really aren't.