YOUR EXPERIENCE

Our mission is preserve your story. Here’s what the process looks like.

A smiling man in a light blue polo shirt talking on a cellphone while working at a desk with a desktop computer in a home office.

1. Plan

We meet with you over the phone or in person to create a plan & schedule for your film.

People sitting in a room during a recording session, with filming equipment and a large window with green trees outside.

2. Film

We bring a small crew to your home to film your interview and any additional footage. Afterward, we edit your footage, pictures, and home videos together.

People seated in a room watching a presentation on a large screen, with a senior man speaking in the video.

3. Watch

We encourage you to gather your loved ones and experience your film together.

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Behind The Scenes

See what it’s like to film a Memoir Film.

FAQ

  • The price of a Memoir Film starts at $7,500. The price depends on what we’re filming and the hours needed for editing, which is where the bulk of the work and budget are focused. However, our customers describe their Memoir Films as more than just videos—they are 'priceless,' 'irreplaceable,' and 'family treasures.' You can see more details on our Pricing page here.

  • Yes! A Memoir Film is worth every penny because the value far outweighs the cost, and our clients agree.

    Most families spend thousands of dollars to locate and preserve genealogy, but your Memoir Film is a chance to pay it forward and preserve your own history for your posterity. Every one of our clients has said the value far outweighs the cost.

    Even if you decide not to work with Memoir Films, we still strongly encourage you to record something on your own. However our clients describe their Memoir Film as ‘priceless’, ‘irreplaceable’ and ‘family treasure’.

    See what past clients have said here.

  • We work hard to make your film amazing within your budget. These are the factors that determine the cost:

    1. Filming: We will bring a 2+ person crew to film your interview and any additional footage you may want. Cost can alter depending on the places and length of time you want to film.

    2. Editing: Editing is the largest cost. For a Life Portrait film (our most economical film) we spend 20+ hours editing. However, for a Memoir Film we spend 60+ hours editing. This editing time is spent refining your story, adding pictures & home videos, music, and any additional footage we have shot. The end result is a film that your family can watch over and over, but it requires time and good old fashioned hard work.

    3. Picture & VHS Digitizing: We digitize the photos and VHS tapes you would like to feature.

    4. Music & Library Footage Licensing: All music and additional library footage requires licensing.

    5. Travel: Total cost is based on the film price + travel costs.

    All these factors go into making your Memoir Film a cinematic biography your family will treasure for generations.

  • Our job (and we’re pretty good at it) is to make you look amazing! With over 50 years combined experience in the film industry as award winning producers, directors and editors, we make sure you look great. We also make the filming experience comfortable and fun so you can be completely at ease sharing your stories and experiences. Afterward, during the editing process, we spend hours and hours ensuring you not only look great, but you sound great too.

  • Prior to filming during our planning meeting with you, we provide you with a short list of questions to help you remember the most important stories. We also discuss those important moments in your life so we are prepared to ask you the right questions on camera. We work hard to ensure the interview doesn’t feel intimidating or awkward. Our goal is to make it a fun, casual conversation between friends, so you can focus on sharing the most meaningful memories.

  • It’s important to remember that your Memoir Film is not for YOU, it’s for the generations that will follow you. We recognize that you might feel uncomfortable or self-centered, but the truth is that filming your Memoir could be one of the most selfless things you can do for your posterity. Imagine watching a Memoir Film of your own grandparents or great-grandparents. How amazing would it be to see their smile, hear their laugh, and experience their memories? What would that be worth to you? A Memoir Film is an amazing gift to your family because although the camera is pointed at you, the stories are for them.

  • Absolutely – if it’s important to you, it’s important to us. We will discuss any details, questions or ideas you have on our planning meeting prior to filming.

  • Here is what makes a Memoir Film different:

    1. Your Memoir Film is driven by your interview. The audience gets to see your emotions, hear your voice and experience your stories.

    2. Memoir Films are anywhere between 30 – 60 minutes long.

    3. Memoir Films are cinematic in that we both hear and see the stories brought to life through your interview, photos, home videos, and footage we use during the edit.

    4. Memoir Films feature music hand selected to enhance your unique stories.

    5. Memoir Films are directed and edited by award making filmmakers.

    Watch one here and you’ll see ;)

  • Short answer, yes! Long answer: just consider for a moment how much you would love to have a Memoir Film of your own parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents. Remember, your Memoir Film isn’t for YOU, it is for all the generations that will follow after you. So while we’re confident you’ll love it, we’re even more confident that it will be priceless to your posterity.

  • Remember that your Memoir Film is not for YOU, it is for those who will follow after you. Your Memoir Film will be an amazing gift to your posterity. William Shakespeare wrote “there is a history in all men’s lives.” Many of our clients have expressed concern that their story is not remarkable or noteworthy, but we know that’s simply not true. Memoir Films are not reserved just for the rich and famous.

    We share Shakespeare’s belief that every life has a story that needs to be told. Daniel Webster, 19 the U.S. Secretary of State said “Those who do not look upon themselves as a link, connecting the past with the future, do not perform their duty in the world.” We believe that once you begin your own film, you’ll quickly see just how rewarding and valuable it is for both your family, and you personally.

  • We start by signing an agreement to make the film. Then we’ll meet with you in person or over the phone to make a plan and schedule your film date. During that meeting we discuss your story, your preferences, and any special considerations we should take into account. We also provide you with a brochure of information and a short list of questions to help you prepare for your interview. Prior to your film date, you’ll need to gather any photos, home videos and any family heirlooms you want us to digitize or record. We will discuss all of this with you during our meeting prior to your film date.

  • Absolutely, yes! We love when children and family members attend.

  • We come to you. Most of our clients prefer to film in their own home, but if you prefer a different location, we will travel wherever you’d like to film.

  • Yes! We are based in Utah, but in 50+ years of working in the film industry, we’ve filmed in every U.S. State and on nearly every continent. We come to you – wherever you live.

  • We send a crew of 2-3 Memoir Films team members to your home. Our team is comprised of award-winning producers, directors and editors that are passionate about preserving your story. You can learn more about our team here.

  • Upon completion, we will deliver 4 USB Thumb Drives, and a link to your finished film so you can share it with family and friends.

  • Most films require 3-4 weeks from start to finish. This is an approximation since every film is different, but for most films that time includes:

    • Scheduling 2 weeks in advance

    • 1 day filming

    • 6+ days editing

    • 2-3 days review

    • 1 day finishing & mastering

  • Yes, you can do whatever you like with your film.

Five people sitting indoors and outdoors, engaging in conversation.
Hear testimonials from other's like you!

  • This is truly amazing and touching. Tells the true story of Dave’s life. Music and editing is superb and so filled with heart and soul. Thank you for this beautiful tribute to a wonderful father, husband and friend to all he comes in contact with. Exceptional beyond words!

    – Donna Chambers

  • This is a family treasure. I cannot believe how much work you put into this and that you are able to do this for the price. I’m going to tell everyone in my building about you!

    - Wayne Gray

  • This is so much better than I expected. I was honestly worried about how it would turn out and this is amazing!

    – Pat Ricks

  • Thank you so much. I think all of us were super emotional. It means so much.

    - Misti Brown

  • We played the video today at my Dad’s funeral and it completely made the entire service. I just wanted to tell you how much we appreciate it and how incredible it was.

    -Bryan Adams

  • This is beyond anything I could have imagined. You have created a masterpiece. It is perfect! Words just cannot cover the joy I feel when I watch this. It is a remarkable gift to have this history. Thank you for making time stand still for a moment. To have dad’s voice and mom’s singing is priceless.

    – Amy Garff

  • The value of this film is indescribable. I have very few records of my parents, they did not keep journals. So the fact that we can be filmed and have this for our grandkids and great grandkids so they can know a little bit about us…it’s a treasure. It really is a treasure.

    – Diane Robison

  • It’s going to be something that we will treasure forever. It is so much easier to gather as a family and watch the video than read the stories in a book, which are also a treasure, but it’s fun to have it both ways. I think it’s fabulous.

    – Jenny Moyer

  • The most meaningful part was sitting down with the family and seeing their reactions and feeling the emotions well up inside me as I reflected on great memories and the people surrounding me. It was an experience to be treasured.

    – Reid Robison

  • All the family watched last night and cried. It’s like ESPN level quality. It's incredible. Memoir Films really has a special gift for this genre of filmmaking. Our dad is such a great man, our greatest family treasure. So perfectly done.

    -Travis Chambers

  • I never knew any of those things about my Dad. It’s a treasure.

    -Trisha Ricks

  • Definitely do it. This is what the younger generations are going to want to see. It’s my grandparent’s story consolidated into an hour.

    – Amanda Robison

  • Our mother’s Memoir Film is beyond anything we hoped for. You can’t put a price on it. We would have missed a one time chance that we could never get back. Now we have our mother’s life preserved forever. What a treasure!

    – Alan Tingey

  • Encourage younger people to do this because we never know when it might be too late to capture our memories. So proud our son asked us to do it for our granchildren’s sake. Words cannot express how meaningful this Memoir Film is to our family.

    – Gail Adams