Products & Pricing

Our Products

The end result of our collaboration on your personal video memoir will be a DVD, approximately 90 minutes in length.  The following describes our "Classic" package in terms of what is included and the services that go into creating it. It assumes that the subjects of the final memoir would be a couple. In this scenario, each person would be interviewed separately and then together. For a personal video memoir involving only one person, a modification in the Classic package price is made. (See Pricing below.)

The heart and soul of this video biography is the interview itself… it’s the opportunity to see and hear a loved one as he and/or she recreates their life story. Usually, more focus is on the early years of the individual or the couple… the people, places, and events that helped form the essence of who the interviewees would become as adults. Any stories that they can remember about their own parents, grandparents or other family members are also important to include. While many families have some old photos – and even home movies – of their loved ones in younger years, it’s the details of these stories from long ago that are often missing. Even if you are lucky enough to have heard many of these stories over the years, a personal history video still makes a beautiful gift to pass on to your children and to their children as well.

We recommend that the interviewee(s) be guided through the interview by one or more individuals who are close to them… a son, daughter, or a close relative with whom they feel comfortable. Chris will provide some coaching and tips on interviewing, as needed. Some may prefer an outside interviewer, which is certainly an option. Someone skilled in the art of interviewing, listening, and conversing will be provided.

For the most part, the video memoir will show loved ones telling their stories in a comfortable setting. However, important photographs can be superimposed artfully over the audio to occasionally illustrate anecdotes or important people and places along the way. Other memorabilia, for example medals, diplomas, etc., may also be included. The number of photos can vary and it is up to you how many you’d like to include, but approximately 50 photos, more or less, is a good number to think about.

Other features of your personal memoir include:

• A special collection of photos, in addition to the ones mentioned above, with narration by the interviewees in which they provide, briefly, "the story" behind each one. This serves as a kind of "travelogue" through their lives. This would be approximately 10 minutes long, thoughtfully placed, with background music to set the tone.
• A final montage of more recent photos of family members which serves as the connection to the present and the "bridge to the future." Again, background music works very well here.
• Titling, of course, at the beginning and end and, if appropriate, anywhere needed throughout.
• The finished video memoir will be burned to DVD, then delivered in customized packaging. Three additional copies of the DVD are also included but more can be ordered at a very reasonable cost.

We use the latest high-end, high definition (HD) video, audio and editing equipment. You will have the opportunity to review the finished video memoir and you’re welcome to request edits/changes before delivery of the final video on DVD.

Your complete satisfaction is our goal.

Pricing

The video memoir outlined above represents our "Classic" package. We have two levels of our Classic package to offer you:

Classic Personal Video Memoir, 2 interviewees, Level 1: $950 + tax if a family member/friend does interview.

Classic Personal Video Memoir, 2 interviewees, Level 2: $1,150 + tax if we conduct interview.

We also offer a streamlined version of the Classic package for those individuals or families who just want the interview itself in its basic form. This "Basic" personal video memoir would include only 5-10 pictures, and would involve minimal editing. They would still have the pleasure of seeing/hearing their loved one(s) participating in the same full-length interview captured with the same high-end production values as in the Classic package.

Basic Personal Video Memoir, 2 interviewees, Level 1: $650 + tax if a family member/friend does interview

Basic Personal Video Memoir, 2 interviewees, Level 2: $850 + tax if we conduct the interview.

(Note: If Personal Video Memoir involves only one interviewee, subtract $200 from Classic and Basic prices quoted above.)

Have Camera-Will Travel – we can go anywhere. No travel expenses added for services provided in the towns of Guilford, Branford, Madison, East Haven, and Clinton, as well as New Haven.  However, beyond those, reasonable adjustments will be made for travel expenses.

To help you better understand what goes into creating the final product, the following represents a brief breakdown by task and approximate time for each for a typical Classic Personal Video Memoir, further discussed under "Process":

• Initial free consultation: 45 minutes
• Pre-interview visit: 1 hour
• Total interview time, including cut-aways, set-up and breakdown of equipment, breaks, etc.: 6 hours
• Editing: 14 hours
• Post-Production: 5 hours

Please understand that the packages are flexible and we can provide you with variations on any approach. For example, Chris could go "on location" to a concert to gather footage of a performance or to other locations that may have special significance to the interviewees. Additionally, we can document the story behind family businesses or non-profits. Naturally, reasonable adjustments in price will be made in these situations but it is truly our goal to keep the cost of our personal history videos affordable so that you won’t keep putting off making these videos to “some day.” “Some day” is now and our affordable rates will help you to take on this important project rather than risk not getting around to it at all.

This packrat has learned that what the next generation will value most is not what we owned, but the evidence of who we were and the tales of how we loved. In the end, it's the family stories that are worth the storage. – Ellen Goodman, The Boston Globe

Get in touch. We can discuss your video memoir over the phone, by email, or during the initial consultation. This is your story or the story of someone you love. Capturing those cherished memories for you and future generations to your complete satisfaction is our pledge.

It's what We All Have Stories is all about. We all have stories. It's time to tell yours.