The Artists
This narrative unfolds through the voices of two women, Heather and Autumn, who crossed paths while assisting mothers in childbirth at Sutter Davis Hospital Birthing Center. Heather, a labor and delivery nurse, and Autumn, a volunteer birth doula, join forces to share their profound insights into motherhood. Renowned filmmaker Matthew Gordon, known for his exploration of the male experience in fatherhood and partnership, brings his expertise to support these women in telling their powerful story. Complementing the narrative, Michigan-based composer Eric Elvendahl contributes his inspired music to enhance the emotional depth of this work.
Autumn Payne
Director, Producer, Cinematographer
Autumn Payne is the Founder of Ethical Narrative, a video production company in Sacramento, Calif. Since 2021, Ethical Narrative has achieved remarkable results, raising millions of dollars for nonprofits and amplifying their social reach. Deeply invested in client success, Ethical Narrative goes beyond individual projects, reflecting a profound dedication to uplifting our world through art.
Autumn, an award-winning multimedia journalist with fourteen years of experience at The Sacramento Bee, brings a wealth of expertise. Versatile and scrappy, she fearlessly navigates diverse conditions, be it fires, floods, or skydiving. Comfortable in the midst of difficulty, she welcomes storytellers from all walks of life. Autumn holds space for anyone with a story to tell, ensuring they are heard because she believes in the healing power of shared narratives.
When not capturing stories that change the world, you'll find Autumn immersed in the joys of gardening, climbing, and adventuring with her husband and kids.
Heather Morgan
Writer, Producer, CHD Advocate
Heather Morgan writes the script for the story about her life with her 4-year-old son, Judah. She is a labor & delivery nurse who has dedicated her life to providing physical and emotional safety for the women and children in her care. Driven to share her story to promote research and awareness for children with CHD, Morgan offers an unflinching look at the realities of living with a medically-fragile child. She is a mother of three and lives in Northern California with her husband, Sam.
Matthew Gordon
Storytelling Consultant, Contributing Editor
Matthew Gordon is a father, filmmaker, photographer, and storytelling consultant based in Sacramento, California. With a background in social issue media, he works with changemakers, mission-minded entrepreneurs, and socially and environmentally conscious businesses to shape, create, and share authentic stories that maximize impact and engagement. His work has appeared in The Washington Post and screened at conferences, film festivals, and public gatherings. He received his MFA in Film and Electronic Media from American University where his thesis film, As a Father, received the Sony Visions Outstanding Thesis Award. As a graduate fellow at the Center for Media and Social Impact, he helped organize and produce the annual Media That Matters conference and Human Rights Film Series. Before receiving his MFA, he studied film editing at The Edit Center in New York.
Eric Elvendahl
Composer
Eric Elvendahl is an American composer, record producer and musician. From 1998 onwards he has produced, mixed and mastered various releases by HighTV, Puff Puff, Kloey, Blood Cookie, War Candy and many others. He has composed music for Starbucks, Banana Island Films, British University Vietnam, Space150 and a variety of other international entities. He has toured nationally and played music professionally on many projects including Solid Gold, HighTV, Dewi Sant, Puff Puff, and The Lavone.