Your Life, Filmed

Preparation · Interview · Edit

How your life story documentary is made in Lake County, IL

I plan the questions with you, record the conversation in your home and edit the material into a finished film. You can tell your own story or arrange a documentary with someone close to you.

Plan your documentary
Illustrative home interview setup with two cameras operated by one filmmaker.
Illustrative production setting. Two angles are included with Signature and Extended Documentary.

From planning to delivery

Five stages, with time to prepare.

  1. Choose the chapters

    We discuss whose story we are telling, the experiences you want to cover and who will watch the film. A personal biography, military history, family story or founder documentary starts with different questions. Together, we choose the package that fits.

  2. Prepare the conversation and photographs

    I prepare an interview outline around the stories you want to tell. We confirm the room, clothing, timing and any subjects to avoid. Gather photographs and home movies connected to those chapters, with names and approximate dates where you know them.

  3. Record at home

    I arrive with the cameras, lighting and microphones. After setup and sound checks, we sit down for the interview. There is no script to memorize. The camera records your expressions and voice while I guide the conversation face to face.

  4. Build the documentary

    I select and connect the story threads, edit the sound and balance the picture. The agreed selection of photographs, home movies and supporting footage adds context to the interview.

  5. Review and receive your film

    You receive a private draft and a clear revision guide. Short and Signature Documentary include two structured revision rounds; Extended Documentary includes three. One review contact gathers the feedback. Final delivery includes a private gallery, HD master, sharing copy and the interview cut or cuts included in your package.

Interview day

One filmmaker operates the complete setup.

Short Documentary records one direct camera angle. Signature and Extended add an offset angle, giving the edit another view of the same interview. The second camera does not require a second crew member.

Allow 60–90 minutes for setup before the recorded interview. We confirm the space, access and any noise concerns during preparation.

Illustrative face-to-face home interview showing a direct camera and a second angled camera.
Illustrative imagery. Camera positions adapt to the room.

Schedule and scope

More time for the chapters you want to keep.

Any package can focus on one person. Completion estimates begin when filming and the planned materials are ready; review timing and archive preparation can affect delivery.

Short Documentary

15–20 minutes · Approximately 6–8 weeksFrom $4,500

Signature Documentary

30–40 minutes · Approximately 10–12 weeksFrom $8,500

Extended Documentary

45–60 minutes · Approximately 14–18 weeksFrom $14,500

Printed photo scanning is optional: $350 for up to 75 loose prints, then $4 per additional print. Albums, slides, damaged originals and extensive restoration are quoted separately.

Compare filming hours, archive allowances and delivery

Before recording begins

Do I need to memorize answers?

No. We agree on themes and prepare questions beforehand. You can speak naturally, pause, take breaks or decline a question. Let me know about sensitive topics during planning.

Does setup count as interview time?

No. Allow approximately 60–90 minutes for camera placement, lighting and sound checks, separate from your recorded interview allowance. A quiet room with roughly 10–12 feet of working depth is helpful; we discuss the space before filming.

How many camera angles are included?

Short Documentary includes one primary camera angle. Signature Documentary and Extended Documentary include two angles of the same conversation. One filmmaker operates the setup and guides the interview.

Will my documentary be published?

Drafts and delivery are private. Your film, footage and materials are not used publicly without a separate written release. The project agreement describes viewing and sharing rights; the studio retains copyright unless another written arrangement is made.

Your documentary starts here

Take the first step.

You don’t need a script or a complete timeline. Tell me who the film is for and we’ll begin there.

No booking commitment. Just a conversation.

Compare documentary packages