Pay or Die Documentary to Premiere at SXSW
Directed by Scott Alexander Ruderman & Rachael Dyer and produced by Yael Melamede, Pay or Die reveals the reality of life with chronic illness in the richest country in the world
Pay or Die – world premiere at SXSW, Documentary Feature Competition
Directed by Scott Alexander Ruderman & Rachael Dyer
Today, nearly 2 million Americans are being held for ransom. Without insulin, they’ll be dead in days. “Pay or Die” follows 3 families on the receiving end of these ransom notes, revealing the harrowing reality of life with chronic illness in the richest country in the world. From a mother-and-daughter struggling to rebuild their lives after losing their home when they had to spend their rent money on insulin, to a young adult diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic, to a Minnesota family thrust into the national spotlight when their 26-year-old son dies from rationing his insulin, “Pay or Die” lays bare the human cost of America’s insulin affordability crisis.
Produced by Rachael Dyer, Scott Alexander Ruderman
and Yael Melamede
Executive producers: Sarah Silverman, Amy Zvi, Russell Long, Douglas Choi, Martina Bessenger, Marci Wiseman, Dawn Bonder, Sarah Lucas, Trish Adlesic, Lauren Bromely, and Zak Kilberg.
Editor: Will Rogers
Supervising editor: Toby Shimin
Cinematographer: Scott Alexander Ruderman
Music: T. Griffin
