Joanie Fox’s story begins on stage. At just three years old, she was training to be a dancer, dreaming of performing on the world’s biggest stages. At 17, she moved to Boston to dance professionally, eventually performing on Broadway touring nationally.
But when a career-ending injury ended her dance career, Fox didn’t stop creating. She transitioned to acting, writing, and eventually directing and producing films. It was during the development of one of her screenplays that she met Derek Rieth, a gifted percussionist with the band Pink Martini, who was working as a music supervisor. In 2014, Rieth died by suicide – a loss that deeply impacted Fox and changed the trajectory of her work.
“What I learned is that many people in our community are not very educated on suicide and suicide prevention,” says Fox. “I had a false belief that if you talk to someone about suicide that it gives them permission. I just didn’t have a lot of information at that time.”
That painful realization became the seed of something powerful. After taking time to heal from the loss of her friend, Fox felt there was a story that could help others. That story became Beatlore, a soon-to-be released documentary film celebrating Rieth’s life, music and legacy, while also confronting the silence and stigma surrounding suicide.
“It’s a cautionary tale,” says Fox. “This can happen to any of us at any time in our lives. Our community and our culture doesn’t always have the vocabulary for grief and we’re not taught how to hold space and have these kinds of conversations.”
Determined to create a safe and trauma-informed filmmaking process, Fox aimed to understand suicide prevention training. Through Cascadia Health, the community mental health partner for Beatlore, she was introduced to LivingWorks ASIST.
“The first time you are going to try and do anything you’re not very good at it. It takes some practice,” says Fox. “With LivingWorks ASIST, you get that practice and a chance to build some confidence so by the time you leave you think ‘I can do this, and I have resources and people I can reach out to.’”
While working on Beatlore, Fox integrated her LivingWorks ASIST skills into the filmmaking process, especially during interviews with those close to Reith. The training helped her navigate difficult conversations with care and sensitivity.
“The training allowed me to ask difficult questions in a trauma-informed way. As we were going through the documentary it allowed me to be aware of certain kinds of language and be able to talk about suicide in a way that was not picking at someone’s wounds but finding how we have all been changed by this situation,” says Fox.
Beatlore is currently in post-production, with plans for a late-spring 2026 release. Its premiere will be held at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, where Fox plans to host a community conversation on suicide prevention.
“We will be bringing in suicide prevention coordinators to hold a Q&A after the initial screening to talk about suicide prevention, which training programs are available and to have resources present there,” says Fox. “I think if people have that introduction, they may become more curious and take those next steps to get training. Our goal is to really support the suicide prevention community.”
Fox has continued to advocate suicide awareness and education as Beatlore nears completion. On October 4, she joined LivingWorks Regional Training Manager, Paige Hirt, at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Community Walk in Portland.
“I have so much compassion and I’m so grateful there are people out there who are able to do this work – it is saving lives,” says Fox.
As Beatlore nears completion, Fox hopes the film will help shift the narrative around suicide.
“I hope that people won’t be so afraid of the topic of suicide and talking about it,” says Fox. “I hope people will be more curious and open to learning more and being empathetic to those around them who may be struggling and not even showing it, to be more sensitive and nuanced.”
Learn more about LivingWorks ASIST suicide intervention training
