Contents of a Video Biography

Cost
Once the interview has been videotaped, there are very many hours involved in editing and adding all the other visual and audio elements to make your finished production a professionally produced timeless treasure for you and your whole family to enjoy. Since this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to chronicle your family history,  oftentimes the whole family shares in the cost because the whole family benefits. You can be sure that every single member of the family will enjoy watching this.
Prices for a completely edited and produced video start at $2500

The Process
Before the camera starts rolling and capturing your life story, we'll discuss the interview questions which will be asked. We can help you decide which topics to discuss. It could be any of a host of things such as childhood, school, college, career, military, family, travel and lessons learned.
 

Editing
Once the interview is complete, that's when the creative aspects come into focus. The "timeline" is assembled chronologically so that the story unfolds in the order it actually happened. It's possible that during the interview, we might record events out of order as often, some magical things can happen spontaneously. The photos you chose, any documents and/or video clips are all placed on the timeline. Research on various aspects of your family history may be done to track down particular photos or documents that you require us to find for you to embellish or enlighten the viewer. Music will be added to create a mood or atmosphere to various sections. Captions may be added to clarify photos or events. An announcer can be commissioned to weave elements together for a more compelling story.

When will my video be ready?
It will take 4 to 8 weeks to create your video biography. By this time, the interview will be just a fuzzy memory in the recess of your mind and, when you see the finished, epic... there's no doubt you will be thrilled, delighted, dazzled and emotionally very moved by your very own Life Story on video.

Heirlooms: Medals, Jewels, Furniture, Keepsakes, Quilts. Again anything that would be an important chapter in your family's story that will help visually. We can take still photos or videotape these important items.

Narration: You might have visual elements that are not part of the interview yet are an essential chapter of your family history. A narrative description voiced by a professional announcer would give this authority and vibrancy.

The Interview
Allow maybe two to three hours for the interview. We'll conduct it in the place you feel the most at ease, likely your home as it's best to be somewhere reasonably quiet. Your comfort is of the utmost priority so that you are able to relax and just be yourself and tell your very own life story. So, sit in your favorite easy chair and get ready for a trip down memory lane.

During the interview, be prepared to be surprised at some of the things you'll hear later. When talking to strangers, we inevitably have a totally different feeling than when we talk to our own family members. Because we know that "strangers" are much less likely to make judgments about us, we tend to talk a lot more freely.