Where do we start – what is the process to get this started?

The process is fairly straightforward.  I will start off by sending you my list of 30 life story questions to get you thinking about what you would like to include.  I then set up a 1 hour meeting with you, and any other family members or friends you wish to have involved in the planning stages.  We’ll prepare a life timeline together, to pinpoint the times and events that you want to include.

Face to face interviews:

If we are planning & filming the interview face to face here in NZ, we may go through photo albums together at this first meeting, as this can help you decide which key memories or periods of time you want to capture in the life story video.  Then we make a plan together for a suitable location to film (usually in your home or garden) and we set a date for the shoot.

Remote interviews (using video conferencing):

For remote interviews, if you or your loved one are not based in NZ (or not in Wellington or Auckland), we work together using high quality video recording software.  All you need is an internet connection and the whole process is then very similar.  I’ll help you to set up your space to make sure we have good lighting and a nice simple background for your remote video interview.  I’ll also go through some camera confidence tips with you, to ensure you are relaxed before we start filming.

For more details on the process from start to finish, please go to the Our Process page.

If you have some questions not answered here, or wish to discuss your life story video memoir options, please book a free 20 minute call:

>>  Click here to book a FREE call with Nicola

I don’t live in New Zealand, can you still help me?

Absolutely!  We can still record your story and memories using a remote recording studio.  Your interview will be done online, and old photos will be included plus any clips from the local area you may have that you wish to include.  Distance is not an issue with recording and saving your life story for future generations to enjoy.

For more information about arranging a remote online recording, please get in touch.

My loved one thinks they have nothing much to share – how can I convince them to do a video memoir?

They are not alone in thinking this way.  But video memoirs aren’t about timelines and events – they’re more about preserving unique family stories and pearls of wisdom, capturing their true essence and personality in a way that no other media forms can.

Also, things that may seem boring to them today could be really interesting to later generations.

I’m in my 50s – is that too young to do a video memoir?

I certainly don’t think it’s too young.  By waiting too long to do a legacy video you may start to forget important details of your family stories and special memories.  My advice is to start small and record the stuff that’s really important to you. Then you can relax, knowing that at least some of your stories are safe and sound.

Do you work with people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness?

I have done several videos now with people who are in their final few months (or sometimes weeks) of life and each time it has been hugely rewarding experience for both me and the families.  It is an incredible privilege to help save these stories, and I work with the person at their own pace to ensure they’re happy with the process.  There’s also some careful planning before the shoot to ensure they’re mentally prepared and physically comfortable throughout filming.  I’m happy to cater to whatever is needed, and will work closely with other family members to make sure of this.

Do you work with people with dementia?

I have worked with a number of people with dementia.  I can definitely help save their stories, even though they may not remember all the correct details, dates and times.  It really doesn’t matter because the story is about the storyteller  more than the story itself.  So you may have some gaps in details, but you will still capture their voice, personality, smile and gestures on video so that future generations will get to know them.

The idea of creating a life story video is overwhelming!  Where on earth do I start?

Capturing a life story doesn’t need to be overwhelming.  The trick is to break it down into themes or chapters of your life.  For example, you could focus on the theme of your School Days, or Living & Working Overseas, or Becoming a Parent.  So just choose a chapter and talk about that.  You don’t have to include details of every year of your life – that’s what you’d do for an autobiography but not for a life story video.

Another tip is to start with a chapter that you feel very connected to and you’ll find it flows easily, and then the rest will follow. This makes it easier to get started when you start at any point you like.

Don’t let the word “life story” or “life memoir” scare you off.  You can do this!

I also have a step-by-step ebook now available on How to Film a Life Story Video (with bonus masterclass).  It covers all the steps I use with my clients, and there’s a short video editing demo included in the masterclass.  The ebook is available for just $37 NZD on the link below:

>> Buy the How to Film a Life Story ebook 

My father is a private person and doesn’t like the idea of talking about some parts of his life.

That’s totally ok – I make sure the person being interviewed is comfortable talking about all the topics we cover. If there is something they don’t want to include, I will always honour this.

I want to get my memoirs self-published in a book format – can you help with that?

Yes – I can. I work closely with a reputable NZ publisher who can help with self-publishing memoirs in small print runs – with no minimum number required.  Get in touch and I’d be glad to introduce you!

What if I have some video clips already – can you help edit those together?

Yes – I can.  So long as the footage is clear and reasonable quality, I can usually be able to help with editing the clips together, adding music or voiceover and titles – whatever you would like to add.

I can also put you in touch with a business to convert footage from old video tapes.

What if I want to create the video myself – can you help me with the planning and filming of a family video?

Yes – I have an ebook now available on How to Film a Life Story Video (with bonus masterclass).  It covers all the steps I use with my clients, and there’s a short video editing demo included in the masterclass.  The ebook is available for just $37 NZD on the link below:

>> Buy the How to Film a Life Story ebook 

I also have a YouTube channel with tips, ideas and inspiration for saving your family stories and memories.

I have heard about your Story Sharing workshops – what are these?

Story sharing workshops are fun, interactive sharing sessions, and offered with a minimal charge to cover costs.  They are great activities to include at local Retirement villages, Aged Care facilities, Probus groups, Rotary clubs and similar organisations.

Get in touch to find out more about booking a Story Sharing workshop for your organisation.

I would like to buy a Gift Voucher for my loved one – how do I do that?

I can issue you with a Gift Voucher for Moving Memories – just get in touch via our Contact page advising of the amount you wish to gift, and I will be in touch to arrange this.

I would like an additional person in my video memoir, can I do that?

Yes, you can have an additional person included in your video.  Including other people in your video is a lovely option, and I’m happy to discuss ways to do this.  You can also choose to include pets during part of the filming.

My mother is shy – she won’t like being on camera.

I pride myself on helping people relax on camera.  I want them to feel that they are sharing stories with a friend, so I go through some camera confidence exercises to ensure everyone is relaxed before we start filming.

However, if your loved one really doesn’t want to be on camera, you can look at doing an audio interview instead, illustrated with photos, memorabilia and any old family videos. Your family stories will still be saved which is the most important thing.  Get in touch to find out more.

I’d like more information about my family history – can you recommend someone who can help?

If you are interested in your family history, I can highly recommend Fiona at Memories in Time to help you with this.  She has a wealth of knowledge in family history and genealogy and will guide you on the right path.

I think saving my story is a waste of time, no one will watch it.

I hear this often, and it makes me very sad.  Everyone has a story, and every story is worth saving.  Even if you think your family is not interested in it now, I can assure you that your grandkids, great grandkids and their kids and grandkids will benefit from knowing who you really were and what your life was like.  Our video stories are like data for the soul – they give context and colour to our lives like no other life records do.  Do it for the future generations so they get to know the real you – not just the paper records version of you.

Do I receive my video memoir on a DVD or flash drive?

I am able to provide your video memoir on a flash drive (or memory stick) if you require this.  I will also upload the video to a secure shareable file storage platform such as Google Drive, Dropbox or another Cloud storage platform – depending on what works best for you.  We normally discuss this when the video is complete and we know more about the final file size.  Rest assured, your video memoir will be safely stored for future generations to enjoy.