Family Biography Films FAQ
What do you mean by a cinematic “Ken Burns” style film?
We are different than other companies who will preserve your family photos and home movies in a short video. We make long form films that tell your family’s story in a cinematic style. We capture your family members’ stories while they are still here to tell them in their own voices through personal interviews and combine them with your family’s archived photos and home movies. The story is told in a beautifully and professionally edited film.
Who do you interview?
There’s usually one person in every family who is a great storyteller. But there are many other family members that have stories to tell that you will want archived. In the end film, everyone’s stories will complement one another to tell the family story from many perspectives. A good story is multi-dimensional.
How do the interviews work?
We send an interviewer (producer), cameraperson and assistant to where your loved ones are located. Sometimes people are comfortable in their own home or can’t travel. Whenever possible we try to gather your family in one common place for cost and efficiency. It’s also has the added plus of a family reunion.
What questions do you ask?
Essentially questions that trigger stories. Questions about relatives who are no longer here, family values, what you did for fun as a child, school memories, interests, accomplishments, good times, or hard times.
How much does it cost?
Pricing is dependent on the scope of the project. How many family members do you want to interview? Where are they located? Will they gather in one place? How big is your family archive of photos and/or movies? Are they digitized already?
An initial phone call meeting with the family member who is commissioning the job, can determine the scope of the project. We follow up with a quote.
Who will see the film?
That’s up to you. You may share it privately amongst your family members or post it on YouTube.
On our end, we are very discreet and do not share your family’s information, photos or footage, unless we seek and receive your written permission, which is usually not the case.
How is the film delivered to us?
We can create DVD’s for your family or send digital files that you can upload to electronic platforms like YouTube, Vimeo etc.