Nishitha Dutta
The concept of faking one’s death has been widely adopted in pop culture. But what is the basis behind its glamorized adaptation in the entertainment industry? In ‘Beyond the Headlines: Faking Death,’ writer Elizabeth Greenwood provides all the answers behind the phenomenon of “pseudocide,” or faking one’s own death, as they call it. In this Lifetime documentary, Greenwood studies Jade (Meagan Good) in ‘Death Saved My Life’ and discloses the primary reasons women do it, along with its subsequent portrayal in movies. If the idea behind this feature has piqued your curiosity and you want to know more about it, you’ve come to the right place.
Death Saved My Life Filming Locations
‘Death Saved My Life’ was seemingly filmed in New York City, New York. The movie is produced by Jarett Creative, a video production service located in New York City. We believe that the movie too was likewise shot there. Let’s dive into more details.
New York City, New York
‘Death Saved My Life’ was shot in the bustling city of New York. Known as the Big Apple, it stands as the most densely populated major city in the United States. The city teems with tourist attractions like Central Park, the Unisphere, the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, and the Statue of Liberty. But it doesn’t stop there.
Established filmmakers attempt to connect with the audiences by featuring some of the city’s most significant locations in their works. A few of such iconic movies include ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s,’ Woody Allen’s ‘Manhattan,’ and ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ starring Tom Hanks, which features the Empire State Building as a symbol of love between its protagonists.
TV shows like ‘Friends,’ ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ and ‘Sex and the City’ are all set against the bustle of New York City. These productions have further popularized the city as one of the most hyped and sought-after destinations globally. The host of the documentary show ‘Beyond the Headlines: Faking Death,’ Elizabeth Greenwood, also graduated from Columbia University in New York.
Death Saved My Life Cast
The cast of Death Saved My Life includes Meagan Good as Jade, Chiké Okonkwo as Ed, La’Myia Good as Leigh and Robert Eli as Don Eastwood. Megan has worked in well-known tv shows like Minority Report and Code Black before, whereas Chiké Okonkwo’s acting credits include Being Mary Jane and Hudson Falls.
Is Death Saved My Life Based on a True Story?
No, ‘Death Saved My Life’ is not based on a true story. The film introduces and explains the concept of pseudocide, which in simple terms means faking one’s death. The film is based on the book written by Elizabeth Greenwood that provides detailed accounts of several people who faced the compulsion of playing dead to stay alive ironically.
For her book, Greenwood spoke to a man named Frank Ahern, a privacy consultant who helps people disappear, both physically and digitally. The motive behind people making such decisions originates from financial issues- when rich people want to evade taxes or want to gain more money. Other people who commit pseudocide are life insurance frauds, while women do so to escape domestic violence.
Movies that have elements of pseudocide include Christopher Nolan‘s ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ where Bruce Wayne creates an illusion of his death and seemingly starts a new life in France, unknown to the people of Gotham as they continue to live under the lie. BBC’s ‘Sherlock’ also witnesses its protagonist (Benedict Cumberbatch) falling off a building that fools everyone into believing that he dies. But Sherlock shows up later only to confront a fuming group of friends, who are outrageously shocked as well as mad. Hence, ‘Beyond the Headlines: Faking Death’ is not a true story, but it explains the mysterious workings behind pseudocide and practical reasons for its occurrence.
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