Every life, told well.
Existenz records, writes and films the stories of a life: for families who have lost someone, for parents and grandparents while they can still tell it, and for leaders whose work deserves a proper telling.
Professional interviewers, writers and filmmakers. A conversation, never a form.
You own everything we make: full copyright and downloadable masters, assigned on final delivery.
Remote anywhere in the United States and Canada.
In person in Vancouver, Toronto and Seattle.
Who are we telling the story of?
A biography or a documentary film, made with the family in the weeks after a loss. Gentle, unhurried, and ready in time to be shared at a service or afterwards.
Their stories in their own voice, while the details are still theirs to give, a written portrait, a film, a voice archive or a hardcover book.
The record you wish your grandparents had left, made now, in your own words, in any of the formats above. Many people begin after a milestone birthday.
For founders, executives and family-business leaders at or near retirement: a film, a book and an archive that do justice to the work, commissioned by families, companies or boards.
A conversation, then a keepsake.
A conversation, not a form
A professional interviewer talks with you, or your family, by phone, video or in person. No questionnaires to type into; just unhurried, well-prepared conversation.
We write, film and edit
Writers, editors and filmmakers shape the material into something finished, chaptered, designed and made to be kept, not scrolled past.
You review
Two rounds of changes are included on every product. Nothing is printed, published or shared until you approve it.
Delivered, and yours
Digital files, print and a private online page, with the first year of hosting included. On final delivery the copyright is yours, we never license or resell your story.
Nine ways to keep a life.
Every price is published, every product includes two rounds of revisions, and everything we make is yours. Prices in US dollars; Canadian families and partners may be invoiced in CAD.
A professionally written biography of someone who has died, from a guided conversation with the family.
Two recorded conversations become a 5,000–7,000-word life story, in print and online.
A remotely directed documentary of a life, filmed with a kit we ship to you and edited by professionals.
A filming day at home with a director and cinematographer, edited into a 60–90 minute documentary.
A documentary about someone who has died, told by the people who loved them, interviews, photographs and home video.
Four long conversations, edited into chapters you can listen to for the rest of your life.
Eight to ten hours of conversation become a 120–180 page hardcover, designed and printed to last.
A film, a book and an archive for leaders at or near retirement, commissioned by families, companies or boards.
Film, book, recorded messages and a digitised family archive, built from one set of conversations, so nothing is asked twice.
Four things we will always be able to say.
You own it
On final delivery, with payment received in full, the copyright is assigned to you, the films, the files, the pages, the books. We never license, resell or reuse your story, and we only show work publicly with your written consent.
Made by people
Your interviewer, writer and editor are professionals who have done this work for years. Technology helps us transcribe and archive; it does not replace them.
Private by default
Nothing is public unless you choose. Online pages are private links, every participant signs a consent form, storage is encrypted, and deletion is a request away.
On time
Every product carries a published turnaround. If anything changes, you hear it from us first, with a new date you can hold us to.
Give the families you serve something that lasts.
Funeral homes, hospices, senior living communities, estate attorneys and advisors refer families to Existenz. You earn 15–20% of every completed order, no cost, no admin, no caps.
A gift for a 70th, an 80th, a retirement. Gift certificates from $500, redeemable against any product for 24 months.
Gift certificates →Asked often, answered plainly.
Anything else? Call us, write to us, or read the full FAQ. We reply within one business day.
What happens in the free consultation?
Thirty minutes by phone or video. We listen, recommend the right product, sometimes a smaller one than you had in mind, and send a written quote. There is no obligation, and we never follow up more than once.
Who will we be working with?
A professional interviewer, a writer or director, and an editor, a small, senior team. The person who interviews you is the person who shapes the story. Technology transcribes and archives; people do the work.
Do we have to be near a service city?
No. Everything except in-person filming works anywhere in the US and Canada by phone or video. For films made remotely, we ship a prepaid recording kit and direct the sessions; for in-person work beyond Vancouver, Toronto or Seattle, travel is billed at cost.
What does “you own it” mean?
On final delivery, once payment is received in full, the copyright is assigned to you. We keep nothing to license or resell, we only showcase work with written consent, and every master file is downloadable at any time.
How does payment work?
A 50% deposit confirms your dates; the balance is due before final delivery, or three equal monthly instalments at no extra cost. We email a secure Stripe invoice payable by card, bank debit or bank transfer. We never take card details by phone or email.
What if my parent is shy, or unwell?
We go at their pace. Sessions can be shorter and more frequent, a family member can sit in, and we can pause and resume across weeks. Our interviewers are chosen for patience first.
Begin with a conversation.
A free 30-minute consultation by phone or video. We listen, recommend the right approach and send a written quote, and if the time isn't right, we'll say so.