THE JOURNEY BEHIND THE LENS
Every frame tells a story, but the journey to capturing those stories is just as compelling.
The big question is...
Why make this?
This documentary was born from a deep curiosity about how we face death.
After learning about death doulas and the compassionate work they do --
I knew this was a story that needed to be told.
Filmmaking has the unique power to hold space for what is often unspoken, and I want to use that power to demystify end-of-life culture. My goal is to tell stories that impact and educate our society. Filmmaking isn’t just about entertainment -- it is about resonating with audiences, sparking meaningful conversations, and provoking real change.
That's why making this film is so important to me.
It started with a...
Pitch Video
In August 2024, we took a leap of faith and created a Seed&Spark campaign for our documentary Through the Eyes of a Death Doula. This was the first step of many that would lead us to Oregon. We were nervous (see video!) but confident in this project and in our belief that it will be instrumental in changing the landscape of death literacy.
With the support of friends, family, and passionate donors who believe in the story we’re telling, we not only reached our funding goal —we surpassed it!
The campaign’s success wasn’t just about the money raised: it was about the incredible generosity of people who came together to champion this project. This served as a powerful reminder of the community that exists behind this film.
With that invaluable support, we were now #BendBound!
Bend, Oregon
Behind the Scenes in...
In October 2024, our small crew, with bags filled to the brim with equipment, ventured to Bend, Oregon, to capture the Peaceful Presence Project and follow a day-in-the-life of a death doula. We were hungry for story!
Each day felt raw and real. We were not just capturing interviews — we were part of intimate, emotional moments filled with honesty, laughter, and passion. Our team — Catalina, Tony, Mara, and me — became a family, running on Loony Bean coffee, late-night brainstorms, and a shared passion for telling this story right.
Kari Sims Anthon, Erin Collins, Elizabeth Johnson
The Peaceful Presence Project
One of the most profound experiences we had was capturing Tari and Angela's relationship. Tari was in the final stages of her life and Angela, her death doula, was there guiding her with such grace and love. It was Tari's rebirth day -- as she chose to call it -- a day that honored her every wish and legacy, down to the ice cream flavor and music being played. We were invited to be present and be in this space with both of them.
Her journey is something she wanted to share in the hopes of educating, inspiring, and uplifting others -- it is an honor to be able to share that in this film.
WHAT'S NEXT?
So now...
We feel there’s more to explore—especially in Bend, where we hope to return in late 2025 and dive deeper into the evolving work of the Peaceful Presence Project team.
We are also expanding the story to include the work of the International Doula Life Movement -- a values and mission-based training organization that focuses on providing affordable, accessible resources for individuals ready to make a difference in their community's lives. We are following a Los Angeles-based death doula in training as they undergo specialized IDLM education in Texas.
This academic approach helps us demonstrate how end-of-life care looks in different environments and gives a more comprehensive picture of how the death doula movement is growing and changing across the country -- and how we can be a part of this change.
