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Life before parenthood
Ask about the people who raised them, early friendships, school, first jobs and the experiences their children may never have heard about.
Your Life, Filmed · Personal documentaries
Life Story Films for Parents & Grandparents in Lake County, IL
Give your children a chance to know the person they call Grandma or Grandpa. We record a parent’s memories, humor and life experiences through a relaxed interview at home, creating a documentary your family can return to together.
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For the next generation
Let them hear the stories only your parent can tell.
Their childhood, the people they loved, the traditions they started. A film gives younger relatives a way to hear those memories in a familiar voice, with the expressions and humor a photograph cannot hold.
Tell your parent which stories you hope to hear: childhood, their parents, a move, work, relationships or traditions you want younger relatives to understand. Specific memories often make the project easier to picture than a request to tell an entire life.
The person being filmed should understand the project and choose to take part. Ask what they would enjoy sharing, what they would rather leave private and where they would feel comfortable speaking.
Filming at home
A familiar setting and a manageable conversation.
You work with the same filmmaker from preparation through editing. We choose a comfortable setting, talk through the memories your family hopes to hear and make room for stories that come up naturally.
Setup typically takes 60–90 minutes before recording. The interview can include pauses and breaks. Tell us about practical needs, energy levels and anything that would help your parent participate comfortably before a date is reserved.
Documentary packages
One parent can be the focus of any package.
Short Documentary covers one person and a focused chapter. Signature and Extended offer more interview time and a longer edit; their additional participant allowances are optional.
Short Documentary
15–20 minutes · One focused chapterFrom $4,500Signature Documentary
30–40 minutes · A fuller life storyFrom $8,500Extended Documentary
45–60 minutes · More chapters and voicesFrom $14,500One filmmaker handles the interview and editing. Each tier can tell one person’s story; additional participants depend on the package allowance. Setup is separate from interview recording time.
Compare filming time, archive allowances and deliveryQuestions for your parent
Prepare themes, without rehearsing answers.
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The family they built
Explore how relationships began, the decisions behind family moves, the routines of everyday life and the traditions they hope will continue.
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Their perspective today
Make room for changing opinions, lessons learned and stories your parent wants to pass on. The interview follows their interests as well as your questions.
At-home filming in Lake County, Illinois
Arrange the project together, even if you live elsewhere.
Siblings can suggest questions and gather photographs. Choose one family contact to coordinate the Lake County filming address, availability and everyone’s revision notes. The finished film and fuller interview material are delivered privately.
Before we begin
Questions about your documentary
How do I introduce the idea of a life story film to my parent?
Explain which stories you would like to hear and who the film is for. A few specific examples can make the project easier to understand than asking someone to tell their entire life. Discuss filming with your parent before booking, so they can decide whether to take part and share any concerns.
What if my parent feels uncomfortable on camera?
Preparation is based on familiar subjects and a guided conversation. There is no script to memorize, and breaks are encouraged. Tell us about their concerns before filming so we can discuss the setting, pacing and whether the project is a good fit.
Can both of my parents be interviewed?
Yes. The Signature Documentary includes up to two interview participants, while the Extended Documentary includes up to five. A Short Documentary covers one subject. We help match the package to the people and stories you want to include.
Can my siblings and I arrange the film together?
Yes. Agree on the main subject and the broad themes you want to preserve, then choose one family contact to coordinate scheduling, photographs and revision notes. Each package has a set number of participants and revision rounds, explained on the packages page.
Is this a memorial video made from photographs?
This service centers on a living person telling their own story in a filmed interview. Photographs and home movies can support that conversation according to the selected package. It is a personal biography made with the person taking part.
Will my parent need a complete family archive before we start?
No. Begin with a manageable selection of photographs connected to the stories you want to discuss. We provide preparation guidance and explain the archive allowance for your package. Printed-photo scanning and other additions are priced separately.
Your documentary starts here
Start with someone you love.
Tell me about your parent or grandparent. We’ll plan a comfortable conversation at their pace.
No booking commitment. Just a conversation.
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