The Process

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In discussion with our client, we determine the legacy video’s structure, interviewees, budget, and timeline.
We conduct preliminary interviews with the main participants to establish basic biographical information in order to create specific interview questions.
Interviews and filming days are scheduled.

Interviews with the video biography’s central figure(s) can range from 3 to 9 hours (over multiple days) per participant. For instance, if a couple is the focus of a family documentary each spouse is interviewed separately and the couple is interviewed together to create a full picture of their lives. The number and length of interviews varies from project to project.
We interview other key figures participating in the biography video (spouses, children, grandchildren, close friends, siblings, co-workers).
We film the central figure(s) on-location in various activities (this is called b-roll). We have filmed our clients gardening, cooking family recipes, working, dancing, singing, spending time with their friends, spending time with their pets, touring their previous homes and neighborhoods, and all kinds of family gatherings—reunions, anniversaries, beach outings, and sing-a-longs).
We gather all relevant documents to be used in the legacy video. This includes photographs, slides, home movies and other recordings, newspaper clippings, diary entries, and artwork. Depending on the focus and scope of the project, known genealogical information will be gathered, and we also recommend a genealogist if our clients want to have more genealogical research done.

The editing process brings together the interviews, b-roll, photographs, archival footage, newspaper clippings, diary entries, letters, home videos, and music into the final legacy documentary. Each legacy movie is unique in content and structure and every movie is edited in-house by the person who conducted the interviews to ensure that the editor has an in-depth understanding of your story.
The final movie is transferred to DVD, VHS, or both. In addition, we give our clients the option of storing the final movie, and all the supporting material, on a hard drive.
We create a custom legacy DVD including chapter menus, photos, music, and cover art. Finished legacy documentaries can range from 10–120 minutes each. We have created short projects with a few interviews and very large projects for multiple branches and generations of a family that incorporate dozens of interviews and multiple movies.

If you would like to have a screening of your finished legacy movie we can help you plan the kind of event you want—for your immediate family and friends or a large celebration. We have organized legacy screenings at family reunions, restaurants, private homes, and public libraries.