Creating a Cinematic Memoir is Extremely Rewarding. 

Let us guide you down memory lane.  Uncovering old memories, stories and friendships is the ultimate celebration of your life.  Experiences you have long forgotten are often unearthed resulting in strong emotional reactions.  It’s not uncommon that participants find themselves in tears during the interview process.  In addition, creating a Cinematic Memoir reunites you with extended family and long lost friends.  Listen to what George Gloeckler had to say about the results of his memoir.

How We Make a Memoir.  

I am often asked how the process works.  To help you understand the scope of work and what’s involved,  We have put together a short outline that explains the step by step process to complete your Cinematic Memoir.  We hope the following helps explain some questions you may already have.  It’s a lot of information, but don’t worry, we are there to help you along every step of the way. 

Step 1:
First we conduct an extended pre-interview, on the phone or in person.  This process takes approximately 3 hours. The interview covers your life, childhood, family roots, life milestones, your career, and whatever else we can harvest. The goal is for us to become familiar with the subject of the memoir as well as anyone who will be involved with it.  This is very important step to establishing a comfortable and informal relationship, while all along, identifying hidden gems and story points.

Step 2
We then take all the information from the interview and break it down into an outline.  From there we create an initial question list from the outline and send the question list to you to add or subtract questions from the list.

Step 3
We then identify what the goals of the video are:  Who is the audience you wish to reach?   Do you have a biography already?  What percentage of the video focuses on personal content vs career?  What is the general direction and scope of the production?  Who will participate in supplemental interviews?    

Step 4
We then break down all of the information to create a production map and cost estimate based on the information we are given.  Additional factors to the cost analysis depends greatly on you:

• Number of shoot locations and where we will be shooting, for how long
• Will this be for private or public viewing? (licensing costs)
• How much research will be done by us?
• What is the pool of video, still photography, and other elements that you already have? 
• What time frame for completion is the client expecting?

Step 5
We conduct a second interview (which will be transcribed) in which we ask each pre-formulated question.  You will then answer the questions in full.  This process forces you to think about your responses and often brings up secondary questions and subjects, which we add to the master list. This process also prepares the client for the on camera interview that will be conducted later.

•  Once everyone is comfortable with the general direction and topics to be covered, we schedule the interviews.
•  Depending on the supplemental (guest) interviews, we either research the guest on the internet or conduct a pre-phone interview to prepare them for their questions. We also forward the questions in advance for them to review with a release form to sign and return. Generally interviews take 1-2 hours to film.
•  We schedule and shoot multiple interviews that revolve around the subject of the memoir.  This usually requires 8-10 hours of filming in multiple locations that represent the subject matter the client is talking about.

Step 6
Once the filming is complete we enter the post production process or (editing).   In many ways this is the most important part of the process because this is where the story is refined and brought to life.  You will get to be a big part of the process!  As we work to complete the memoir, we will send you a rough copy, act by act.  You will then be able to watch what has been completed and give your input.  You can change anything as you please, after all, it is YOUR life story.

We then take all your notes, make the changes and re-submit the changed material to you.  We do this process until you are incredibly proud of your memoir and take delivery.  It’s that simple!