What are they?

Gone West films reflect my decades-long personal and professional dedication to well-crafted, beautifully shot, and thought-provoking documentary-style interviews with your family members as legacy, story preservation, and visual heirlooms.

Whether you’re planning ahead, navigating a serious illness, capturing a milestone birthday, or honoring an aging family member, these films provide:

• A record of a person’s voice, face, and presence

• Meaningful stories and life lessons in their own words

• A heartfelt gift for children, grandchildren, or loved ones

• A timeless reminder that lives on long after we’re gone

Why it matters

So often, we wish we’d recorded our parents telling that one story, or captured a loved one’s laughter just one more time, or had precious footage of a family dinner from our childhood. Things that seem so ordinary now become extraordinary later, and these films offer a chance to be intentional about preserving these fleeting moments now. These unique family films become treasured keepsakes, offering a living memory from this moment in time.

In the context of end-of-life work, these films can also be incredibly healing for those facing terminal illness. Not only are they space to reflect, but they can affirm meaning and create closure. Many people find the interview process therapeutic, and feel seen, heard, and valued.

The Process

After an initial exploratory phone call and determining together the scope of the film, we decide on the best date/time for the shoot/s. Then, I will provide some prep for the shoot and interview via email. Each film includes:

• A small crew of two (director and cameraperson) comes to your home or another meaningful space.

• We set up one professional 4K camera, simple lighting, and a wireless mic to ensure high-quality sound and video.

• The interview will last 90+ minutes and is guided by thoughtful, contemplative questions.

• The footage is then gently edited into clear, watchable sections (for example: childhood, values, turning points, advice to family).

• You’ll receive a final digital file and a travel-sized USB drive, ready to be kept, shared, or archived.

Adding on more interviews and/or documentary footage

In addition to the signature interview film, Gone West offers the opportunity to capture much more, such as additional interviews with other family members or documentary footage of your family going about their daily lives— cooking dinner together, reading books, playing a game, celebrating an occasion, or engaging in another activity. We offer multi-tiered packages starting with the signature interview film and expanding to a fully edited film with music, titles, and your own photos/home video clips incorporated.

FILM PACKAGES