Process
How we help you to tell
your story.
The first question: video or book?
A subjective perspective: on the one hand I am a book lover. I believe books transport readers into a different story, a different life, a different world, engaging both intellect and imagination. This said, and in the context of a professional life much of which has been spent working in film and video, I think there are some notable advantages to telling a life story through video:
- video is very accessible and, for better or worse, is the medium of choice of many younger and potentially future generations.
- whilst something of a cliched adage that a picture tells a thousand words, incorporating images, moving or still, adds a very valuable dynamic to the telling of a life story.
- film allows future generations to actually see the story teller / family member telling their own story.
- logistically, life stories told through video require less work from the story teller themselves. Once interviewing is complete, the story teller needs only review a script of 2 – 4,000 words (for a film of between 15 and 30 minutes) and then watch / review a preliminary cut of the film and the final edit. It is not an onerous process.
VIDEO PROCESS
- Preliminary meeting: gaining a basic overview of the life story and establish key elements to discuss when interviewing. This can be with the story teller themselves or another member of the family.
- Filming the interviews: capturing the story and raw material.
- Gathering visual media: compiling photographs, video, and any filming of ‘B roll ‘(complimentary) footage for use in film editing.
- Transcribing interview material.
- Editing interviews into a script for review and approval.
- Post production editing of visual component of the film incorporating photos, visual media, titling, and audio editing.
- Client review of film and approval subject to incorporating modifications to film.
- Publish: final approval from client, mastering and hand over of film versions.
WRITING PROCESS
- Preliminary meeting: gaining a basic overview of the life story and establish key elements to discuss when interviewing. This may be recorded.
- Transcribing interview material. Preliminary sort, organisation and review of material.
- Follow up interviews, as required, targeting any gaps or areas that may require further clarification or information.
- Drafting + Reworking: writing of a first draft, review by client, reworking draft on basis of feedback, submission for second review.
- Final draft: confirmation that any requirements of second review have been successfully implemented, proof reading and incorporation of any photographs as desired by client.
- Publish: subject to story teller’s requirements, preparation of final draft for any publishing (online, hard copy etc).
