KEEPSAKE MOVIES
Preserving a Lifetime: Your Personal Legacy on Film
You possess a treasury of life stories and rich experience, waiting to be shared with your children, grandchildren, and the generations that follow. The desire to immortalize these memories for posterity is a profound gift to your family.
When I talk about the legacy videos I’ve created about my own parents, far too often I hear people say “I wish I had recorded the stories of my parents before they died”.
Sadly, once they’re gone, it’s too late. Unless documented, the rich stories of their lives and the memories they hold dear disappear when they pass on.
Our parents and grandparents really are treasure troves of history that we can and must preserve!
In a world where moments often pass us by too quickly, a Keepsake Movie is a way to capture the essence of a lifetime, weaving together stories, memories, and emotions into a heartfelt and moving film.
If you are reaching those upper years or have a parent who is, you may recognize the urgency to get this done while it’s still possible. Few things will be more valuable to your family someday, than having a beautiful life legacy film that keeps departed family members living on for posterity.
Capturing Your Family History
There are various ways to preserve your or your loved ones’ history. One is to write a memoir, but we all know how overwhelming a task that can feel like to take on. Somehow, sharing stories verbally feels much easier for people. And when you pair that oral history with video, the impact is the greatest. Personality, nuance and voice are captured along with priceless information, bringing family history alive in ways that the written word often struggles to do.
Reasons to Make A Life Legacy Film
Creating a Keepsake Movie such as a life legacy film can be one of the most precious gifts one can give to their family. Here are some compelling reasons why:
? Preservation of Memories and Oral History: With time, stories fade and details become fuzzy. A life legacy film ensures that vivid memories remain intact and are easily accessible for generations.
? Bridge Generational Gaps: It provides younger generations with a direct link to their heritage, allowing them to understand and appreciate their roots.
? Immortalize Voices & Expressions: Beyond just stories, it preserves the sound of a loved one’s voice, their laughter, their mannerisms, and the way their eyes light up when they speak of cherished moments.
? Celebrate Resilience & Achievement: It’s an opportunity to highlight one’s accomplishments, struggles they’ve overcome, and the wisdom they’ve gleaned from their experiences.
? Encourage Reflection: The process of creating the film encourages introspection and offers a platform to pass on values, beliefs, and hopes for the future.
? Foster Family Bonding: Sharing personal stories can bring family members closer together, strengthening bonds and fostering a deeper sense of belonging.
? Interactive Family History: It serves as a dynamic, engaging way to educate younger family members about their lineage, far more captivating than a family tree or photo album.
? Heirloom for Future Generations: Just as we cherish artifacts and letters from our ancestors, future generations will value these personal narratives as priceless family treasures.
? Catalyst for Conversations: It can open up channels of communication within the family, sparking discussions about traditions, values, and shared history.
? Tangible Connection to the Past: In moments of nostalgia or grief, family members can turn to the life legacy film to feel connected to their loved one.
? Legacy of Wisdom: It’s an avenue for elders to share life lessons, advice, and hopes for the younger generation, ensuring their wisdom doesn’t get lost in the sands of time.
? Emotional Healing: Reflecting on life’s journey and knowing that one’s story will be remembered can offer emotional healing and a sense of completion.
Creating a life legacy film is more than just a video; it’s a lasting testament to one’s existence, a beacon for future generations, and a beautiful celebration of a life well-lived.
Showtime - Featuring YOU
Picture this: a family movie night, where the feature presentation is a deeply personal film you’ve created. As the lights dim, your loved ones nestle comfortably under blankets, eager for the journey ahead. For the next 90 minutes, they’re captivated by tales that evoke laughter, tears, and wide-eyed wonder, especially from the youngest ones. As the final credits roll, the room is abuzz with reflections on cherished memories, drawing everyone closer—particularly the grandchildren. They now have a timeless keepsake to revisit, a way to bridge the years and always feel closer to you. Eventually, they’ll introduce their own children to this film, keeping your legacy alive. Through your stories, spoken in your voice, your influence and essence will touch countless hearts and shape future family narratives.
Let Your Past
Be A Present
For The Future
The Most Important Thing Is To Start NOW
Many people know they want to do this. Sadly, I’ve also seen people put it off, until it’s too late. Once their loved one is gone, their unique perspectives on life and history go with them. People often put it off because it feels like a big task, or they get intimidated by the preparation or the equipment or technology, or don’t know how to edit video, or simply don’t have a lot of time.
That’s what I can do for you: you simply decide you want to do it, and I will guide you through simple steps to prepare, and take care of the rest. You can rest assured, we will get your Keepsake Movie done!
“The Legacy video of my late father is my most cherished possession. Professionally produced on his 70th birthday, it captures him recounting memories and anecdotes with his unique humor and mannerisms. Now 10 years since he passed, my family gathers annually on his birthday to watch segments, partly to reminisce but also to see nuances we may have forgotten. Other photos and videos don’t compare to the thoughtful composition that brings him front and center to share his life story. For anyone able to create such a meaningful, quality keepsake, either for themselves or for a loved one, I wholeheartedly recommend doing so.” -Lonnie
How Is It Done?
Remember that shoebox in the closet filled with old photos, or those old photo books with no written explanation for who are in those pictures? What about precious physical heirlooms that mean something to your family? It’s time to pull those out as they will be integral in making a beautiful and nostalgic Keepsake Movie.
Maybe you’ve got old tapes of video that haven’t been seen in ages. It’s time to finally digitize that and utilize it so it’ll be seen! Even “smartphone-old” video clips from 10 years ago, of your parent with your new baby, can be a nice addition to the story.
Let’s start by gathering up some of the oldest photos, video clips, and even physical heirlooms that mean something. I will partner with you to find ways to use these items for the Keepsake Movie.
A life legacy usually involves an interview. Either I can come to you to do this, I can be on a video call with you to do it, or you can do it yourself with your family! I have done literally hundreds of filmed interviews and I say with confidence it always works out. I know how to help you relax and be comfortable sharing. We can discuss this part together and decide on the best course of action.
There are also ways to craft a beautiful film that captures one’s essence, without an interview. The Milestone Keepsake Movie involves gathering heartfelt video birthday greetings from family and friends, and letting me weave together an epic program that is sure to stir deep joy and delight… present it to them on their big milestone birthday! I’ve done these for the big 50, 60, 70 and even 80!
“What can I say? It was everything I hoped for and more. Laura began weeping inconsolably the minute she realized what it was, and continued to cry and laugh and cry and laugh and cry and laugh through the entire thing. She thanked me (and you) about 15 times over the next 24 hours. ‘The best present I’ve ever received.’ We are both so very grateful.” –Laura’s husband, who surprised her with a Milestone Keepsake Movie on her birthday
What’s the difference?
LIFE LEGACY Movie
This involves a filmed interview: the subject speaks about their life in their own words. As they dive into childhood recollections & personal reflections, the experience itself can be very satisfying. Combined with photos, video clips, and music, the movie that results is a priceless heirloom that can be kept for generations.
MILESTONE KEEPSAKE Movie
Birthday greetings from family, loved ones and friends that span a lifetime are weaved together in a beautiful presentation along with photos, music, memories and messages that create a deeply-moving viewing experience! This is the ideal gift for someone who has it all, on those big milestone birthdays… like 50, 60, 70, 75 or even 80!
Why Choose Me To Help You Make Your Film?
With over 15 years in the production world, I can bring all the experience and technical know-how necessary to help you do this right. Not only will you have a seasoned eye and professional approach on your side, I also bring a personal touch and collaborate closely with you, listening to you all the way. The Keepsake Movies I’ve created have been the most rewarding of all the videos I’ve produced over the years, and the families I’ve worked with end up as friends when we’re done. I am passionate about you doing this for your family; with my own father now gone, we cherish his Keepsake Movie and even gather to watch it every year on his birthday. I love that I have it for my son to watch and keep his grandpa (we call him “Pappyon”) alive in his memory. I’m going to be your cheerleader to get yours done. And I want it to be something you and your family are going to absolutely love and cherish. I even limit the number of projects I undertake simultaneously to ensure that every Keepsake Movie I craft is a meticulously designed masterpiece.
“I spent this morning watching and rewatching the incredible video you did for my 70th birthday, now nearly four years past. It had me in tears, like I was seeing it for the first time. As a working artist all my life, I so fully appreciate the remarkable thing you created. Your sensitivity, your artistry, your filming and editing chops, the sound quality, the precise timing, the completeness of the finished product – I felt I was watching a made-for-TV documentary about my life. I simply cannot thank you enough for this gift-of-a-lifetime. It was like attending my own memorial and hearing all the great things people had to say. And now I can relive that day again and again…” -Josh
A Priceless Gift For Your Parents: Beyond the Tangible
Your parent or grandparent holds a rich tapestry of stories and wisdom garnered over a lifetime. As significant milestones like their 70th, 75th, or even 80th birthday approach, the importance of immortalizing their voice and history becomes palpable. At this stage in life, material gifts often pale in significance. What they truly treasure is the chance to impart wisdom, revisit memories, and narrate their life’s journey in a manner that endures. And you? You have questions longing for answers, stories waiting to be unveiled. There is perhaps no more profound gift the family can offer than the chance to create a Life Legacy Film that can be passed down through generations.
Price? Priceless.
Costs to produce a beautiful Keepsake Movie can range from the low thousands to tens of thousands. Why? You’ve seen what it takes to make the simplest of movies: lots of filming equipment, lights & audio, technical expertise, and many hours editing it all together. It’s truly a work of art.
In our case, we will strike a nice balance between economic and quality. Rather than drag a huge production crew to you, we will keep it simple. One camera and the basic equipment needed to capture what we need in good quality, which can be better for your comfort anyway. (I can even guide you in how to do this part yourself, saving some money and allowing you to be closer to the process.) I’m a highly-experienced editor, so you can rest assured the final product will be polished, watchable, and engaging. I want you to have a high-quality product, and in the end, not regret or doubt a single penny of your investment to do this. I am confident you will not!
“We found the entire program fascinating! At no time did we lose interest at all …it moved along so nicely and presented so many highlights of my brother’s life, including great backgrounds and appropriate graphics …. a totally fabulous keepsake! We realize there was lots of work on the part of several people here. It is so professionally done! It must have been an enormous job to edit all the information, put it together into a meaningful timeline, add the music and additional graphics, etc.! We understand why it took some time! I can’t wait to view it AGAIN!!!” –Carol
Samples
Watch a few short clips pulled from longer finished movies, to get an idea what these can look like!
When you watch, imagine that the person in the video is YOUR loved one, or that this is YOUR video.
A few bits pulled from a Movie Memoir from 2009. Remember those stories of grandparents walking miles in the snow to get to school? Yep, ours is captured for posterity!
A couple clips from a Milestone Keepsake movie – which was a surprise 70th birthday present. Pacing, poetry and polish turns these heartfelt messages into a highly-moving viewing experience.
A couple clips from a Milestone Keepsake movie – which was the ultimate 70th birthday gift to her husband. Not everyone can pull off a party like this! Professional editing takes the viewing experience up a notch.
“Luckily I made a documentary of my father’s life a few years before he passed away unexpectedly. Everyday I’m grateful that I did that and honored his life.” -Deonna
“I felt I was watching a made-for-TV documentary about my life. I simply cannot thank you enough for this gift-of-a-lifetime.” -Josh
Packages & Prices
Essential Legacy = This will get you a keepsake you will treasure for sure, at a fraction of the cost of so many legacy videos. We would do about a 60-75 minute long interview and work with you on getting appropriate photos and visuals to layer in. It includes music and polished editing so you can be proud to share this with your family and to have in the future generations.
Deluxe Legacy = *Recommended* This is like the Essential, but feels more complete. We can go a little further with more interview questions, more topics, more stories, more photos, video clips. Around 1.5 to 2 hours of interview time (that we can break up if needed) which allows for a fairly thorough experience of recalling your life stories. It will get a lot of polish in post-production and will be a treasured keepsake for you and your family that you can be proud to share.
Premiere Legacy = This is a great choice for featuring a couple each relating their stories or interviews with multiple members of a family. This can involve a higher-level of production quality and will be a more thorough final presentation, with more moving parts. We can also feature one subject, but go into greater detail with about 3 hours of interview time, like a mini-memoir.
Milestone Keepsake = This is to surprise and delight your loved one approaching a Milestone Birthday such as 50, 60, 70, 75, or 80. It won’t involve an interview, but rather working together to gather loads of wonderful birthday greetings from friends and family, gathering old photos and relevant photos of friends and family throughout the years, and a lot of creativity… which you can leave to me. This will blow the socks off of your loved one. I recommend you contact me about doing this no less than four months prior to their big day and I will assist you in the whole process, as it will take some time.
Full Movie Memoir = For the loquacious ones who want to leave behind a chronologically-thorough memoir of their full lives, covering before they were born through the present day, including thoughts and reflections and all the stories they can recall, the Full Movie Memoir is amazing. You should have loads of photos in your archive for this one that we can use to layer in along the way. The interview may last 4-5 hours and can be broken up as needed. This will leave behind an incredible time capsule, that will allow future generations to truly understand where they came from and what you were about, and learn profoundly from your experiences.
COMPLETE PACKAGES
Essential Legacy $3600
Deluxe Legacy $6200
Premiere Legacy $10000
Milestone Keepsake $3600
Full Movie Memoir $20,000 and up, we can discuss specifics if interested
These include film shoot within 50 miles of Santa Cruz, CA (except Milestone)
For outside local area, add travel fees and time
PARTIAL DIY OPTION (you do the interview) to save $ and be more involved
DIY (massive savings, from just $1500 on up) This means I will hand hold you through the process and ensure you have everything you need and are prepared to do the interview, we’ll go over the technical stuff to the questions to setting up right with light and audio. Instructions on how to send all your assets to me and I’ll put it together for you. You determine your budget based on interview time.
Remote DIY (massage savings, from $2000 on up) This means I will be there on live video with you to assist you on your shoot day, with everything above. We will adjust the interview time to accommodate the budget you are comfortable with.
“I did this with my father. I didn’t with my mother because she was camera shy so I put it off… she was 93 and active as an 80-year old. I thought I had more time to convince her, not realizing I wouldn’t have her around much longer, as she seemed so strong. So for her life I must retain the stories she shared with me, talk to her surviving sister and pass on those stories that I learn.
This task is definitely worthwhile for generations to come. Had I done this with both parents I would have given future family members a thorough perspective of their heritage… to understand where they came from, why they think the way they think, and thus providing a solid platform moving forward.
I am a firm believer that if you don’t know where you came from, how can you possibly know where you’re going?”
-Steven