FAQs

These are the questions families actually ask us, in the words they asked them.

If yours isn't here, send it. We answer in writing, usually the same day and always within one working day. No call needed unless you want one, and whatever you ask gets added to this page for the family after you.

One that people often want to ask and don't: if the person you have in mind tires easily, or has started to forget things, it is almost never too late. That changes how we work, not whether we can. Ask us anyway.

Deciding whether this is for you

  • There is no perfect time, and waiting for one is the most common reason families end up wishing they had started sooner. Many people book around a milestone birthday, an anniversary, a retirement, or a house that is about to be sold, simply because it gives them a date. But the honest answer is that the best time is while the person is well enough to enjoy the day, and that is usually earlier than people think.

  • Then we film an hour at a time. We spread the conversation across two or three shorter days and leave the equipment standing in between, so there's no setting up and packing down each time, and no long day to get through. This is the most common reason families add a second day. It usually makes a better film rather than a worse one, because someone who isn't tired says more.

  • Tell us. It is almost never too late. Memory for the distant past often outlasts memory for last week, and the stories we ask about are usually the oldest ones. We adjust how we work: shorter sessions, more patience, and questions that open a door rather than test a fact. It changes how we film, not whether we can. The one thing we would gently say is that waiting rarely makes this easier.

  • Drop us a note and tell us who you'd like us to film and how they're doing at the moment. We'll write back with a real answer, usually the same day. No call needed unless you want one.

The person being filmed

  • Not at all. We strive to create a calm, comfortable environment — almost conversational. Most families tell us the experience feels more like a meaningful conversation than an "interview." We schedule plenty of time, move at a relaxed pace, and never rush or pressure anyone.

  • Not at all. We guide with gentle questions and prompts, but the tone is natural and conversational. Our goal is to let the person's voice and memories shine — not to recite answers.

  • We focus on what the family wants to preserve and celebrate. We never push into areas that feel uncomfortable or overly private. If you plan to share excerpts publicly — for example on social media — we'll always get permission first.

  • Often Jim, who founded the company. Not always, though. If the person you would like us to film would be more at ease with someone who shares their language or their background, say so. We have interviewers for that, and it makes a better film. Nobody should have to be brave to ask.

  • Absolutely. Many families choose to be present for the interview — some sit in, some step away briefly, and others join in for portions of the day. You know your family best, and we're happy to work with whatever feels comfortable and supportive.

The filming day itself

  • Plan on us being in your home for about 5 hours, but don't worry — only half of that time is spent talking. We select a location and set up our gear… that's about an hour. We conduct the interview, then we walk around and capture "b-roll" to add interest and context. Then we pack up and head off to the editing suite for the next steps.

  • While the whole visit may be around five hours on site, the core time — the conversation — usually falls in the two to three hour range. We build space into the day so there's no sense of hurry or constraint — the goal is comfort and authenticity.

  • Most of our work happens in familiar, personal spaces — homes, gardens, places full of memories. Being in an environment where people feel comfortable often leads to the best conversations. But we're also flexible and can accommodate other meaningful locations when appropriate.

  • Yes, wherever they are. We are based in Orlando and a good part of our work happens elsewhere. We have not yet said no to a location and we don't expect to. Travel is quoted with the film. We pass the actual costs through at cost without marking them up, and we charge for the travel time itself, because those are days we can't be working. There is no travel charge close to home.

What you get, and when

  • Hosting and backup for life, at our cost. There is no annual fee and there never will be. The final edited film can be delivered on a USB as well, if needed. And all the raw footage can be copied to an external hard drive for an additional charge, listed on the Packages page with everything else.

  • About six weeks from the day we film. Our editors craft the film thoughtfully and we'll keep you updated throughout. If your project includes photos or other media, we'll guide you on how to share those in a way that supports the storytelling. Sometimes it lands sooner, and we'll tell you if it will.

  • Yes — and many families love this. If your project includes photos or personal videos, we'll walk you through how to share them with us. These elements become part of the story and help bring memories to life in beautiful ways.

  • You'll receive a private, shareable online link to view the film. If you'd like a physical copy — such as a USB — we're happy to provide that too. We also maintain an archived copy to safeguard your film, and we always recommend families download and save their own copy as well.

  • Yes. The private viewing link makes it easy to share with loved ones near and far. Many families choose to watch together, revisit on special occasions, or simply return to the film whenever connection is needed.

What it costs

  • Most families invest between $4,500 and $7,500, depending on scope. The full price list is on our Packages page, and we'll always give you a real number in writing before you speak to anyone.

  • No. One price whether we film one person or two. A husband and wife together cost the same as either of them alone, filmed in one day as one film, with the two stories woven together. If they are divorced or living apart, that is two separate films priced as two, because each one is filmed and edited separately. If we can reach them both on one trip, we bundle the travel.

  • Yes, absolutely! A Legacy Life Project video biography makes an excellent gift, especially for a milestone birthday or anniversary. Ask us about gift packages when you write, and we'll send you the options and a real number.

  • Not quite. Legacy Life Project films involve extensive preparation, guided interviewing, filming, and editorial storytelling. Families who value craftsmanship and care tend to find this approach aligns well with their expectations.

If this is for a company or an organization

  • Yes. We call it The Founder's Story, and it starts at $11,900. It is the same idea as a family film, the people who built something telling it in their own words, but it usually takes more than one day and more than one location, because the story is spread across people and places rather than sitting in one living room. Companies, foundations, non-profits, family businesses. Some of the largest films we have ever made have been these.

  • Almost certainly not, and it is the same answer we give families. The people who start things tend to be the only ones who remember why, and that knowledge leaves the building on the day they do. If they are well enough to enjoy a day of talking, this is the right time. If they tire easily, we film an hour at a time across two or three shorter days, exactly as we would for anyone else. The mistake we see most often is waiting for the retirement party, when the better film is made in the months before it.

  • Usually two things, from one filming. A full film, about ninety minutes, that lives in the archive and gets shown properly. And a short version of five or six minutes made to be played to a room, at the gala, the annual meeting, the anniversary dinner. The short one is what people remember on the night. The long one is what the organization keeps. An anniversary is one of the few occasions with a real date attached, so the earlier you tell us, the more of the year we can use.

  • It starts at $11,900, and the honest answer on cost is that it depends more on how many people we film and where they are than on anything else. Tell us the shape of it and what you have to work with, and we will tell you what is possible rather than sending you a menu. As for who it is for: usually a founder, a retiring chief executive, a family business passing to the next generation, or an organization reaching a milestone nobody has ever written down properly. It is often commissioned by someone who is neither the subject nor the budget holder, and that is fine. We are used to working with all three.

Getting started

  • Tell us who you'd like us to film and how they're doing at the moment. We'll write back with a real answer, usually the same day. No call needed unless you want one. From there, we'll work through a comfortable timeline and begin planning the next steps.

Ready to get started?

Send us your questions, or tell us about who you’d like to film, and how they’re doing right now.

Tell us who you'd like to film