FAQ

How long does it take to make a family legacy video?

This depends on several factors, including how many people you wish to be interviewed, any necessary travel, scheduling, and the availability of key materials like family photos and home movies. In general, it takes six months to a year to complete a family legacy documentary. In special cases this process can be sped up to accommodate an important event, anniversary or birthday. However, if you are considering creating a complete video family history, it is best to begin the process as early as possible as these projects are often much larger in scope and can take up to two years to complete.

How much does it cost?

The cost of each biography video is determined by the time spent on all four phases of the process. It can take us anywhere from 40-600+ hours to create one of our one of a kind films. People who want to make a legacy video but find the cost prohibitive often invest with their siblings or extended family members to share the cost. We do our best to work with you to make sure that you are able to create the movie you want that works with your budget. Family legacy videos are priced on a project-to-project basis. Prices range from $4,500 to $150,000 and more. Please visit our Pricing page for more of an idea of what’s involved in determining the price range. Since pricing is so project specific, we will need to conduct a free consultation over the phone and then send you a bid in order to give you the most accurate estimate for your project.
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All my relatives are long gone, can I still make a biography video about them?

It is quite common for people to realize that they wish they had made a legacy video about special relatives after they have already passed away. Sometimes it is a death of a loved one that we are close to that prompts a video legacy project in the first place. Nearly all our movies have some element of memorializing loved ones because we all have memories of a dear grandparent, aunt, uncle, or parent that made an impact on our life. We also specialize in creating In Memoriam movies of those family members or friends who live on daily in our memories. The idea behind these films is that we are bringing these dear ones back to life in the present moment through our tales about them and the memories that make us both laugh and cry. Visit our In Memoriam sample page to watch excerpts from some of our favorite movies about beloved relatives who are gone. (The smiling, handsome young man pictured on the page is my very own Grandpa Lorry who I feel watching over me as I make all of my films).

I have so many family photos and home movies that I would like to include in the movie. How do I choose which ones? I don’t know where to start!

That’s why you’re hiring us. We can review all your material and work with you to sift through all the wonderful memorabilia your family has collected. Check out the helpful downloads here to make this process easier.

I’m in the process of editing my own family history video, do you do any consulting for people who are doing it themselves?

We are always happy to help people with their family history projects in any way that we can. If it’s a simple question you have give us a call and we’d be happy to answer it if we can. For more extensive assistance with projects, our consulting rates are very competitive and our creative solutions cannot be matched.
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What do you do for the camera shy?

Even the most camera shy people warm up when asked the right questions in a comfortable, safe environment. That is why, as much as possible, we interview our clients in their own homes. We conduct our interviews so people feel like they are talking to an old friend. Our equipment set-up is minimal in order to be as unobtrusive as possible, so that even the camera shy can forget that they are being taped. In the event that someone really doesn’t want to appear on camera projects can be tailored to meet those needs. For instance, voice-over can be placed underneath photographs, home movies, and other moving or still images.

With every camera shy client we have interviewed they feel comfortable quickly, the camera all but disappears, and they focus on telling us their stories.

I feel like my life was uneventful, but my kids/grandkids want me to make a biography video. Why should I make a video biography?

As normal or uneventful you may feel like your life is, at Legacy Connections Films we believe that everyone has stories to tell and to pass down. After doing this for several years I have not met one person whose life was uneventful. No matter what you have done in your life, big or small, your life means a lot to those who love you.

Perhaps you have a few photographs of your ancestors. Now just imagine being able to watch them on your TV talking, reflecting on their experiences, and sharing moments from their lives. Your video will capture the essence of who you are so that future generations of your family can get to know you. It’s magical that you have the opportunity to give them much more than a photograph.
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I live in Chicago/Boulder, but my relatives do not. Can I still make a legacy video with Legacy Connections Films?

Absolutely! The majority of our projects involve travel. During your initial consultation you can decide how you wish to handle the travel. Some people opt to fly relatives in, or schedule interviews during family gatherings. The best case scenario is always to interview people in their own homes where they feel the most at ease.

I’m interested in including genealogy research in my project. Do you do genealogy?

We work with an expert genealogy company that employs researchers worldwide. They offer special discounts to Legacy Connections Films. Contact us to find out more about how to include genealogy research with your family history video and check out the Genealogy Checklist to get an idea of how to prepare for genealogy research.

Do you offer any workshops or classes?

We frequently offer workshops on a variety of topics. Please click here to see what courses we are now offering or to find out how to schedule a workshop in your community.

What type of equipment do you use?

We use a Panasonic AG-DVX100 camera, which features 24p capabilities (the ability to shoot at 24 frames per second, the rate that film uses). We use Sennheiser professional wireless and shotgun microphones. For indoor low light situations we have a Kino Flo Diva-Lite. For shooting amazing, professional B-roll we have a Steadicam Pilot System. We edit with Final Cut Pro.
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What is your mailing address? I need to send you documents, photos, or home movies for my project.

Legacy Connections Films has offices on the North Shore of Chicago and on Colorado’s front range. Please contact us first to determine the best location to send your materials.

Do you ever do work for charities or non-profits?

Although Legacy Connections Films is a small company we are committed to providing services to charities and non-profits whenever we can. If you run a non-profit or have an upcoming charity event we might be interested in contributing to, please send us your information.

Groups we have supported include:

What if I still have more questions?

Please contact us!

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