In these times of uncertainty, hardship, and loss, many are heading into the adaptation of this “new normal” with unease and questions about what the future holds. Cabin fever is setting in, and social distancing has taken many away from their supportive circles and for some, human contact as a whole, making coping with this crisis even harder. Starseed Pictures, the team behind I Chose Life: Stories of Suicide & Survival, recognizes these times and has identified the need for hope.
The documentary centered the much needed conversations about the suicide crisis in our society today. I CHOSE LIFE delves into suicide 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. It also follows the story behind the feature movie The Last Train, the story of Anthony Montes, who attempted to end his life.
Jacqui Blue’s production of the documentary began in March 2015, the same month Supernatural star Jared Padalecki launched his powerful “Always Keep Fighting” campaign. “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,” Padalecki said, speaking to Blue and her team about losing friends to suicide, bullying, his own struggles with mental health and he learned to cope by retraining his neurons.
I CHOSE LIFE also features stories from Emmy nominated hip-hop artist and actor T.O.N.E-z (Justified) and retired Highway Patrol Officer Kevin Briggs — known as the “Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge” after saving more than 200 people from taking their own lives on the iconic San Francisco bridge. South Florida artists Lisa-Parrott-Perz and Bruce Witkin helped bring this film to life with their art.
The film will be available on the I CHOSE LIFE website on May 7 at 4 p.m. EST/1 p.m. PST with an online premiere screening featuring a Q&A with director Jacqui Blue and T.O.N.E-z at 6 p.m. EST/ 3 p.m. PST along with bonus footage and a free gift valued at $20. Tickets for the premiere event are available now. Tickets are currently on early bird special for $9.99+ service fee and tax until May 1. After this date, tickets will be $11.99+ service fee and tax. On May 8, the film will be available to rent or buy from the film’s website with prices mimicking that of Amazon for rentals and purchases.
You can see the teaser for I Chose Life: Stories of Suicide & Survival below and follow the film on Facebook.
