How our Life Story Film Process Works
An initial conversation
We Talk
Every film begins with a conversation. We'll talk with you about the person whose story you want to preserve and what you'd like the finished film to capture. There's no pressure to have everything figured out before speaking with us. Part of our job is helping you work out how we can make the right film for your family.
We get to know you
We Plan
We plan the life story film around the person and the story you want to tell. This includes deciding what parts of their life we should capture and what photographs, home videos or other memories could be included. We also plan filming locations, and any additional footage needed.
A trip down memory lane
We Interview
The interview is at the heart of the film. We use relaxed, conversational questions to help memories and stories come naturally, rather than asking someone to follow a script. We focus on their experiences, relationships, memories, personality and the moments that shaped their life.
Collecting memorabilia
We Gather The Memories
A life story is made up of more than an interview. We bring together old family photos, Polaroids, slides, home videos, recordings, and other personal material that help tell the story.
You sit back and relax
We Edit
This is where the interviews, photographs, home videos and other memories become a finished documentary. We carefully select and arrange the material into a story that feels natural and personal, adding music and supporting footage where appropriate. The finished film is shaped around the person's own voice and experiences.
A family heirloom
You Receive Your Story
You will receive your finished life story film as a lasting family keepsake. You can watch it together, share it with family, and be guided on how to best preserve it for future generations. Your Relative Memories movie is guaranteed to capture someone's voice, memories, and personality in a way photographs alone cannot.
Our approach
How long does the process take?
The timeframe depends on the type of life story film you choose and how much material needs to be filmed and edited. A shorter film with one interview will naturally take less time than a larger project involving multiple interviews, locations and family contributions. We'll discuss the expected timeframe when planning your film.
What do we need from you?
You don't need to organise everything before getting started. We guide you through what to gather and help identify the photographs, home videos and memories that could become part of the film. Bring what you have, and we'll help you work out what best supports the story.