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Legacy Video Biographies

YOUR GREATEST GIFT
TO YOUR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS  THEIR STORY, SAVED FOR GOOD ON VIDEO

Capture your loved one’s life story on video so it is never lost.

What is a Legacy Video?

A legacy video, or video biography, or memoir is a short personal  documentary created either through an interview with the person and possibly some of their family and friends. The video aims to tell the story of the individual’s life and preserve the legacy in a way that a book or photographs cannot.

You can imagine the excitement in the years to come of grandchildren and great-grandchildren seeing and hearing the actual voice of the person as they speak about times long before they were born. These videos also have a great therapeutic element in helping family members deal with the grieving process after bereavement.  The video helps them to remember and treasure their loved one during such dark and painful moments.

Sample Legacy Video Memoir

The following video clip is a two minute extract of a video I made of my parents about ten years ago.  It provides you with an idea of how basic video interview can be supplemented by having photographs from the family album interwoven though the video to enhance the telling of their story.

Your Life Story in a Video Memoir

Have you ever wished you know more about your parents, or grandparents?  About their lives, the struggles and challenges they faced, the choices they made, how they felt, what they considered their greatest achievements?

As we grow older, we become wiser and come to realise that our legacy to our family will not be just assets which may be sold, divided and cashed in.  We begin to ask ourselves, when we are gone what legacy will I leave behind to my family, that will live on beyond the material assets.

It is very likely that in the years to come your children and grandchildren will wish they knew more about their parents and grandparents, to hear the sound of their voices telling their story.

This legacy can be one of rich stories about your life or your parents’ lives, that your children and grandchildren will treasure into the future.  Most people do not think about their legacy until much later in life, and sadly much of the memories are gone.  These life stories are now lost.

In the past many people kept photographs, perhaps in boxes or for the more organised in albums.  Some were lucky enough to have old home made movie film or VHS video tape, but sadly these formats are not easily played, as few have the necessary equipment.

Today, in our digital world, with the advances in technology it is possible to produce a video which can incorporate old photos, old cine film and VHS video tape recordings with voice-overs and backing  music to create a Legacy Video or Video Memoir.

These videos can be easily played on today’s Smart TVs,  Phones, Tablets, iPads and computers and in a format which can be easily copied and distributed around your family members. Video memoirs will not be lost or degrade and can be passed on from generation to generation.

How do I make a legacy video?

The legacy video is a modern memoir that interleaves recorded interview with old photographs, documents, maps and other memorabilia.  The result is a beautiful video capturing you as you recount key aspects of your life’s story and memories.  This will be a gift which you loved ones will cherish for years to come.

What is involved

The process comprises a recorded interview with you (or  your parent of grandparent if this is their story) and possibly some family members in your home or a place where you feel comfortable.

Memory Triggers

In preparation, you are encouraged to gather any photographs, documents, certificates or other memorabilia that will help you to tell your story and act as triggers for your memory.

The interview and recording session will typically take about an hour.  We can also photograph and scan any of the old photographs or memorabilia that you used so that we can incorporate these in the editing process.

Video Packages

Legacy Biography Package I

Video Interview

A 1 hour filmed interview with your parent or grandparent, touching on the family history with focusing on some key life events ( hopefully they may have photographs or other memorabilia which can be woven into the video during the editing process).

Editing

  • Interview footage is minimally edited.

  • Titles, chapters, music and more are woven throughout

Family Receives

  • A 20 minute  memoir on video capturing your parent or grandparent recounting their life story, family history and memories.

  • Up to 20 family photos, documents, maps and other memorabilia can are woven throughout.

Flash-drives in gift boxes.

  • The video will be delivered on a USB Flash-drive (memory Stick) in a presentation box.

  • The family  can easily copy the movie files onto their own flash-drives to share with family and friends or even upload to a video streaming site like YouTube or Vimeo so that family members around the world can view with ease.

Legacy Biography Package I:  €650*

Legacy Biography Package II

Video Interview

A 2 hour filmed interview with your parent or grandparent, touching on the family history with focusing on some key life events ( hopefully they may have photographs or other memorabilia which can be woven into the video during the editing process).

Editing

  • Interview is edited into a 40 video memoir.

  • Up to 75 family photos, documents, maps and other memorabilia are woven throughout.

  • Light research for additional images to support the story being told, e.g. photos available on the internet of a place or building or event

  • Titles, captions and  music are added throughout.

  • Families are welcome to review the movie and to provide input throughout the editing process.

Family Receives

  • A beautiful 40 minute  documentary stlye video capturing your parent or grandparent sharing their life story, family history and memories.

  • The video will be delivered on a USB Flash-drive (memory Stick) in a presentation box.

The family  can easily copy the movie files onto their own flash-drives to share with family and friends or even upload to a video streaming site like YouTube or Vimeo so that family members around the world can view with ease.

Legacy  Biography Package II: €950*

Some Frequently asked Questions

A note about travel

I live in Monkstown, Co. Dublin.  If I need to travel outside of Dublin, I need to charge for the additional time and expense involved. I do not mark up travel costs, you pay only for what the travel costs me.

A word about music

Can you include your favorite music.  As all commercial music is covered by copyright and in many cases the costs to use are quite high. To avoid these high costs, I only uses music from licensed music libraries or royalty free music.

Notes on Package Prices:

* Prices based on recording in one day, in one location, with one camera.  Additional recording of family members at other  locations can be added to any of the video packages, costs depending on location will be mutually agreed.