About Beautifully Broken
A Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Documentary
Beautifully Broken is a feature-length documentary exploring grief, PTSD, suicide prevention, and resilience through the story of ultra-endurance athlete Jared Buchanan. On the 10-year anniversary of his father’s death by suicide, Jared undertakes the Cocodona 250 — a 250-mile ultramarathon across the Arizona desert — honoring a final request: “Make my death an issue so you can help others like me.”
The film examines the intersection of trauma, identity, endurance sports, and mental health awareness — with particular focus on law enforcement and first responder communities.
After losing his father, a dedicated police officer, to suicide, Jared struggled with grief, unanswered questions, and the weight of silence surrounding mental health in law enforcement.
Rather than retreat from the pain, he chose to confront it.
Ultra-endurance running became both a physical and psychological framework for healing. The Cocodona 250 — spanning mountains, desert, and extreme terrain — became a symbolic journey through grief, trauma, and resilience.
Beautifully Broken documents this process with raw storytelling, intimate interviews, and unfiltered moments of exhaustion, doubt, and determination.
The Story
Suicide remains a leading cause of death in the United States. First responders face disproportionate exposure to trauma, cumulative stress, and stigma around seeking mental health support.
Beautifully Broken addresses:
Suicide prevention
PTSD in law enforcement
Trauma recovery
Mental health stigma
Community-based resilience
The film is designed to serve as both a storytelling experience and a catalyst for dialogue in universities, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations.
Why This Film Matters
Grief and identity after suicide
The psychology of endurance sports
PTSD and first responder trauma
Family impact after suicide loss
The role of community in healing
Resilience and post-traumatic growth
Beautifully Broken positions endurance not as spectacle, but as metaphor — a sustained commitment to moving forward despite emotional weight.
themes explored
In response to Paul’s death, his family established the Believe 208 Foundation, dedicated to suicide prevention and first responder wellness initiatives. Funds raised support peer programs, mental health training, and resources for officers and their families.
The film and the foundation operate in tandem — one through storytelling, the other through direct action.
The Charity Connection
about the director
Daniel Herzog is a documentary filmmaker, content strategist, and creative producer focused on stories at the intersection of resilience, psychology, and social impact. His work combines cinematic storytelling with strategic insight, creating films and media experiences that resonate deeply while driving meaningful engagement.
With a background spanning documentary production, branded storytelling, and digital strategy, Daniel brings a unique perspective to long-form filmmaking — blending emotional narrative with structural clarity and audience awareness.
His latest documentary, Beautifully Broken, explores mental health, PTSD, and suicide prevention through the lens of ultra-endurance athlete Jared Buchanan. The film examines how grief reshapes identity and how storytelling can serve as a catalyst for public health awareness and cultural dialogue.
Daniel approaches sensitive subject matter with restraint and responsibility, prioritizing ethical storytelling and community-centered impact. Whether producing documentary films or leading creative strategy initiatives, his work is rooted in one principle: stories should move people — and move conversations forward.
Community Screenings & Impact
Beautifully Broken has been screened at universities, community organizations, and law enforcement events, fostering open discussions around mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Screenings are often accompanied by facilitated dialogue, providing space for audiences to engage with the themes explored in the film.
Join the Conversation
Beautifully Broken is available for educational, institutional, and community screenings. The film is intended to support meaningful dialogue around trauma, resilience, and suicide prevention.
Bring the film to your campus, department, or organization to continue the conversation.
Contact us
Interested in screening the documentary? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!