After five years of production and post production, the groundbreaking feature documentary, “I Chose Life: Stories of Suicide & Survival” is complete and released independently. The documentary is available for rent or purchase on the here.
Synopsis: In this groundbreaking documentary, Jacqui Blue tackles the subject of suicide, in a way that has never been done before, with the help of Jared Padalecki (Supernatural), T.O.N.E-z (Justified), Kevin Briggs (“Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge”) and the stars of The Last Train: Anthony Montes & Ciera Danielle.
“I CHOSE LIFE” was first announced in January 2016. “I CHOSE LIFE” covers suicide in history and cultures of the past to the present, bullying, abuse, mental illness, youth suicide, military and veteran suicides, the LGBTQ community, the effects of nutrition on the brain, warning signs, risk factors, coping mechanisms and solutions.
In March 2015, Jared Padalecki launched his Always Keep Fighting campaign. coincidentally, Jacqui Blue also began production on her documentary. The director of “The Last Train,” Tracy Pellegrino, put Jacqui in touch with Jared. Jared talks about losing friends to suicide, bullying, his own struggles with mental health and how he learned to cope by retraining his neurons. Jared says, “It can get really dangerous when you start thinking you’re going to be doing somebody else a favor by removing your stress from their life.“
Emmy nominated Hip-Hop artist and actor, T.O.N.E-z, known for his work on “Justified,” came on the project early on. He talks about the loss of a best friend, who he knew quite well but never saw the signs. “If you’ve got a friend and you love them, tell ’em that you love them because sometimes people need to hear that without asking,” says T.O.N.E.-z
Retired Highway Patrol Officer Kevin Briggs, who is known as the “Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge” for talking more than 200 people out of jumping to their deaths, is featured in “I CHOSE LIFE.” He talks about his struggles which led to him working on the bridge. He also discusses what it was like to look in the eyes of someone who was ready to die and what he thinks society needs to do to end this stigma.
South Florida artist and long time friend of Jacqui Blue‘s, Lisa Parrott-Perz, known commercially as “Coma Girl,” contributed original art to the film. a former South Florida artist also contributed his art in the form of music. Bruce Witkin, a musician and producer who grew up and honed his craft in South Florida, created an exquisite soundscape which helps emphasize the emotional element. “Without Bruce and Lisa’s creative contributions, large chunks of this project would still be in pieces on hard drives,” Jacqui Blue expresses
In this time of a pandemic, when many lose income sources, people have to deal this sudden change. Cabin fever is setting in as temperaments rise and the threat of domestic violence increases as does the risk for suicide, this film couldn’t come at a more appropriate time.
The cast are Jared Padalecki (himself), Kevin Briggs (himself), Ciera Danielle (herself), T.O.N.E-z (himself), Anthony Montes (himself), Joe Tabbanella (himself).
The crew include Writer, Director & Producer Jacqui Blue, Executive Producer Jeanne Finkelstein, Marilyn Fondo, co-producer Jessica Fondo, Associate Producer Paulina Michaels, Magali Widmer, Camera Operator David Bacon, Javan Joslin, Makena Tolman, Magali Widmer, Animator Brian Weaver, Sound Recordist firstname lastname, Editor Jacqui Blue, Art Department Lisa Parrott Perz, Music Bruce Witkin.
Starseed Pictures is an L.A. based independent production company with three divisions: documentary, entertainment and small business. We made the internationally acclaimed documentary film, “Beautiful Births”. ‘I Chose Life’ is our new effort docu. on suicide awareness featuring Jared Padalecki, T.O.N.E.-z and Kevin Briggs.
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