At-home documentary filmmaking · Lake County, Illinois

Documentary Film Packages & Pricing in Lake County, IL

Personal biographies, veteran stories and family histories. Choose the time and depth your story needs, with one filmmaker guiding the interview and editing your film.

Discuss your documentary

Your film, at a glance

Three ways to tell your story.

Each package can focus on one person. Longer films allow more chapters, archival material and optional additional voices.

Made to keep and share

Your family receives more than the finished film.

Every package includes the documentary, lightly edited interview material, an HD master and a private sharing copy. Your children and grandchildren can return to the stories in your own voice.

Every package includes preparation, Lake County travel, filming, editing and private family viewing rights. Choose the filming time and finished length that give your story enough room.

Choose by the story you want to tell.

Short: One person, one focused chapter and up to 25 digital photographs.

Signature: More chapters, up to two voices and up to 75 photographs or short clips.

Extended: A deeper account, up to five voices and up to 150 photographs or short clips.

See how filming works

01 / One focused chapter

Short Documentary

From $4,500 · 15–20 minutes

A focused story, complete in its own right.

A personal turning point, a parent’s early years, a military chapter or the beginning of a business can give a short film a clear focus. Fifteen to twenty minutes allows that chapter to develop beyond a collection of highlights.

Choose this when you want one person to tell one well-defined part of their life. The lightly edited full conversation cut preserves more of the recorded interview alongside the finished film.

Filming time: Up to 2 hours
Included capacity: 1 person · 1 location · 1 angle
Completion timeline: 6–8 weeks

Included in your documentary

60-minute family discovery call
Customized story map and preparation guide
Up to 2 hours of filmed interview time
One subject at one Lake County location
One filmmaker operating one primary face-facing camera
Professional lighting and dedicated audio
Integration of up to 25 digital photographs
15–20 minute finished story film
Lightly edited full conversation cut
Two structured revision rounds
Private gallery, HD master, and sharing copy

Ask about Short Documentary

02 / More chapters and context

Signature Documentary

From $8,500 · 30–40 minutes

A fuller biography, with room to connect the chapters.

Thirty to forty minutes gives a personal life story more room for childhood, work, relationships, military service or other meaningful chapters. Photographs and short clips help establish the time and place.

This can remain one person’s film. A spouse, sibling or colleague may contribute a second perspective if that serves the story; a second participant is not required.

Filming time: Up to 5 hours · 1 day
Included capacity: Up to 2 people · 2 locations · 2 angles
Completion timeline: 10–12 weeks

Included in your documentary

Two story-development calls
Customized story map and archive plan
Up to 5 total filming hours in one day
Up to two Lake County locations
Up to two interview participants
One filmmaker operating two interview cameras
Environmental footage of home, keepsakes, or a meaningful place
Integration of up to 75 photographs or short clips
30–40 minute finished life story film
Lightly edited full interview cuts
Two structured revision rounds
Private gallery, HD master, and sharing copy

Ask about Signature Documentary

03 / A deeper documentary

Extended Documentary

From $14,500 · 45–60 minutes

A life in greater depth, or several connected histories.

Forty-five to sixty minutes allows a detailed personal biography, a veteran’s life before and after service, or a family history with several contributors. More filming time and archival material support a story with distinct chapters.

Choose this when you want time to explore more of a life. One person can tell the story throughout, or several relatives can help connect generations.

Filming time: Up to 8 hours · 2 days
Included capacity: Up to 5 people · 3 locations · 2 angles
Completion timeline: 14–18 weeks

Included in your documentary

Expanded family research and story development
Up to 8 total filming hours across two days
Up to three Lake County locations
Up to five interview participants
One filmmaker operating two interview cameras
Environmental and family-interaction footage
Integration of up to 150 photographs or short clips
45–60 minute finished documentary
Lightly edited individual interview cuts
Three structured revision rounds
Private gallery, HD master, and sharing copy
Caption file for the finished documentary

Ask about Extended Documentary

Optional additions

Extend the commission where the story needs it.

Anything extra appears in the written proposal before you book. Add another participant, schedule more filming time or ask for help preparing family photographs.

Additional interview

One additional person, up to 60 minutes, filmed during an existing production day.

From $900

Additional filming

Extra production time booked in advance with the filmmaker and the camera coverage included in the selected package.

$650/hour

Printed photo scanning

Up to 75 loose prints scanned at high resolution, cropped, rotated, lightly cleaned up and organized for the film. Additional loose prints are $4 each. Albums, slides, damaged originals and extensive restoration are quoted separately.

$350

Verbatim transcript

A searchable text transcript of the edited full interview material.

From $500

Before you book

Documentary package questions

How much does a family documentary cost in Lake County?

The Short Documentary starts at $4,500 for a 15–20 minute film. The Signature Documentary starts at $8,500 for a 30–40 minute film. The Extended Documentary starts at $14,500 for a 45–60 minute film. Each package includes story preparation, Lake County travel, filming, editing, private delivery and family viewing rights. Optional additions and any separately quoted costs are agreed in the written proposal.

Which film package includes more than one interview participant?

The Short Documentary includes one subject at one Lake County location. The Signature Documentary includes up to two interview participants and up to two Lake County locations. The Extended Documentary includes up to five interview participants and up to three Lake County locations.

Can we include family photographs and home movies?

The Short Documentary includes integration of up to 25 digital photographs. The Signature Documentary includes up to 75 photographs or short clips, and the Extended Documentary includes up to 150 photographs or short clips. Printed photo scanning is an optional addition: $350 for up to 75 loose prints, with additional loose prints at $4 each. Albums, slides, damaged originals and extensive restoration are quoted separately.

How long does it take to complete a life story film?

The listed completion timeline is 6–8 weeks for the Short Documentary, 10–12 weeks for the Signature Documentary and 14–18 weeks for the Extended Documentary. If you have a birthday, anniversary or family gathering in mind, share that date when you enquire so it can be considered in your proposal.

Which packages include two camera angles?

The Short Documentary includes one primary face-facing camera angle. The Signature Documentary and Extended Documentary add a second fixed camera angle, operated by the same filmmaker, for more visual variety and smoother editorial pacing.

Your documentary starts here

Find the right film for your story.

Have a package in mind, or still deciding? I’ll help you work out the right scope.

No booking commitment. Just a conversation.

Compare documentary packages