Writing a memoir requires a skilled wordsmith - so unless you have those skills or can afford to employ a ghost-writer it’s something that few can do well, without spending a very considerable sum doing so. And it takes a very considerable amount of time to write and edit a written life-story. A well planned, filmed-life story, recorded with the help of a skilled interviewer and assembled by an experienced editor is both more immediate and deliverable.
Written memoirs are often enduring and fascinating historical records but no words on paper can ever convey how somebody spoke, how they smiled or capture all the elements of character that are conveyed by watching someone exploring their story in person.
A filmed memoir about someone else prepared by a friend or life-partner can convey so much more about a person than words can ever do. Words are open to a range of interpretations but the testament of a person’s close friend, admirer or life-partner can deliver the greatest appreciation possible - visually and verbally describing the subject with emotion, nuance, feeling and insight.
There are a number of factors that enable us to offer a much lower cost for professionally produced and edited life-story and family history films than has ever been possible until now:
Equipment - We use the latest high quality cameras, studio quality sound recording and portable lighting equipment - these have fallen in price very substantially over recent years and provide automation of many elements of the filming process that were previously manual processes.
Skills - We are multi-skilled. We keep all production processes in house. Other production companies have the expense of a traditional crew ‘on-set’ each performing separate tasks with video editing often outsourced to a specialised resource - all this separation of tasks adds time and cost. Our filming, sound recording, interviewing and editing process is accomplished by just one or two people.
Process - We have developed an end-to-end process from initial preparation of a project through to the final editing and assembly of the completed film that is highly efficient - we have utilised many years of experience to streamline the process.
Imagine if your ancestors had been able to record a filmed memoir. The world has changed dramatically over the last few decades and particularly over the last few hundred years, a period during which the industrial revolution drove a rate of change which has continued until the current day. It would almost certainly be fascinating to hear your ancestors speak about their lives in different times, the stories of your family and perhaps their reactions to the historic events of the time. The same is true with your story - in a few decades time, your testimony will be a very personal part of the historic record of our times.
You don’t have to be famous or have done anything heroic. Your personal story is going to be treasured by your closest descendants when you are gone and it will, no doubt, be a great source of comfort. Being able to watch you, hear you speak, and see your smile will be something they will return to regularly.
For your unborn descendants it will be a fascinating insight into their family and into the people that helped shape who they are. Even many generations in the future the influences on you, and those you had on your children, will cascade down the generations to your future descendants.
If you are considering commissioning a Memoirs Film for a deceased long-term partner or close personal friend then your film will probably be the most authentic story of their life it is possible to tell. Perhaps you alone can leave their story behind and take their story forward rather than leave it untold.
It’s entirely up to you. Most memoirs will tell a life story in chronological order often starting with family history, early years, schooldays, teenage and young adult years and beyond.
Here is a list of things you might wish to include:
Your Ancestors - who they were and what they did, their involvement in any historic events.
Grandparents, Parents, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, Extended Family and Family Friends - What did they do? What were they like? What are the stories about them that you can recall being told or experiences you had with them?
Family Challenges, Tragedies and Experiences. Anecdotal stories that describe the type of people that family members and close friends were.
Earliest Memories and Anecdotes.
School Days - triumphs and failures, identifying talents and interests, important friendships. Lesson learned.
Teenage Years - first independent experiences, education, travel, friendships, first loves.
Young Adulthood - relationships, work experiences, challenges overcome.
Marriage - meeting a partner, the initial attraction, proposal, engagement, wedding day, lives together.
Parenthood - how life changed, earliest interactions with children (before their living memories), proud moments, rewarding experiences, holidays, encounters, memorable events.
Grandparenthood - as above but from a different perspective.
Interest, Hobbies and Joys.
A life story is, in essence, a collection of stories in chronological order that tell the story of an individual - their challenges, their trials, their triumphs and tragedies. The people that have influenced them and the events they have experienced. The people they have loved and lived alongside. Their interests, their passions, their motivations and their achievements.
Most people think about telling their story from their 50’s onwards but it can be much earlier. The best advice we can give is to not to leave it until it is too late. Most of us don’t know how long we have left. It’s a tragedy when someone leaves us unexpectedly without leaving their story behind… and memories do fade with age.
Sadly, people of any age can discover that their days are numbered and a Memoirs film can help leave more than fragments of memory and faded photographs behind for family and friends.
If we are filming an interview for our Feature Length Package at your location, its best to set aside the full day. Setting up the ‘set’ with lighting, sound recording and camera equipment usually takes around an hour. Interview filming for our Feature Length Package is split into five 25-30 minute sessions with short breaks in between. We can make these breaks longer if the interviewee is tired and needs to rest between sessions.
Unless for some reason it is not possible, we strongly suggest that the filming takes place in the interviewee’s own home amongst their personal possessions in a location where they feel most relaxed.
Yes. If you prefer it, we can film you against a black or green-screen. The green-screen option enables us to take out the background and replace it with a background image or backdrop.
We will need to film in a room where we can place a camera at least 2 metres away from the interviewee. The location also needs to be quiet, without significant background noise in close proximity - distant traffic noise, for example, should not be a problem.
There is a section of our website here that explains the preparation process before the filming day. On the day itself, other than choosing presentable clothes that you feel comfortable wearing and perhaps ensuring that your hair (and makeup as appropriate) is as you wish, you can simply relax and enjoy the process of exploring your memories and sharing your story. Your interviewer will take care of the process of prompting you with questions to provoke your answers.
Yes. We can if need be but there may be time and cost implications depending on what you are anticipating. Please contact us to discuss.
We comply with all government guidance at all times. The health and safety of our clients is of paramount importance.
We include travel within the area shown below in our Feature Length Package price. We can film in locations beyond this but additional time, travel and accommodation (if required) costs will need to be quoted. Please contact us to discuss.
That is entirely up to you.
We will supply your final edited film on a USB Memory stick.
We can also upload it to YouTube as an Unlisted or Private video and supply you with a Web Address e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YourFilm which you can share with your intended audience.
Alternatively we can publish it on YouTube as a Public video if the content of the film is intended for public consumption.
We suggest somewhere between 30 and 50 photographs for our Feature Length Package - this will present as a good balance in the final film. However we can be flexible and creative on this point if you have many more you wish to include.
Yes we can provide this as an additional service. The cost does depend on the extent of restoration and complexity of colourisation required. Please contact us to discuss.
Yes. If your video is already digitised it can be included. If it’s on tape or cine-film of one type or another it will need to be digitised first. Please contact us to discuss.
Yes! Unique titles are a great idea. Recent titles include ‘The Girl with the Red Shoes’ and ‘The Extraordinary Story of Sunny Jim’.
It’s often a really good idea to have a family member or close friend help you compile a list of anecdotes and stories you would like to tell and select photographs you would like to include in your film. We will always be on hand by telephone if you need help or advice at any stage.
We use high-quality 4K video cameras, top-quality Sennheiser microphones, audio-recorders and portable continuous lighting rigs. We edit using professional editing software that is used for TV and Film production.
We can accept payments by cheque, bank transfer or with any major bank or credit card via our payment provider.
For our Feature Length Package we request an initial payment of £99 with your order prior to booking your filming day, 50% of the balance on the filming day, with the remaining balance due prior to delivery of your final approved film.
Memoirs Film Specialise in Producing High Quality, Life-Story Documentary Films.
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Memoirs Film is based in Surrey, UK.
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