What a film costs
Most families invest between $4,500 and $7,500.
This is the only page on the site with prices on it, and all of them are here. Nothing gets added later except travel, which we quote with the film.
There is one film. One thing changes what it costs: how many days we film.
The Film — $4,500
One day. One or two people. In their home, or wherever they are most themselves.
One price whether we film one person or two. A husband and wife together cost the same as either of them alone.
Each additional day of filming — $3,400
One day $4,500 · Two days $7,900 · Three days $11,300
The Founder’s Story — from $11,900
For a company rather than a family. The people who built it, in their own words. Usually more than one day and more than one location.
Included with every film, at no extra cost.
The film itself, usually about ninety minutes.
Hosting and backup for life, at our cost. There is no annual fee and there never will be.
Delivery is about six weeks from the day we film. (Faster is possible if there is an event scheduled… let’s discuss)
Which situation describes your family?
Most families fit one of these. If yours doesn’t, tell us and we’ll work it out.
One parent, still sharp, no particular hurry.
One day, $4,500. This is what most families book, and there is no reason to wait for a reason.Both parents, together.
Still one film, still $4,500. We film them together and weave the two stories into one.A parent who tires easily.
We film an hour at a time across two or three days and leave the equipment standing in between. This is the most common reason to add a day. If someone has started to tire, or started to forget, it is almost never too late. It changes how we work, not whether we can.Parents who are divorced, or living apart.
Two films, priced as two films, because each one is filmed and edited separately. If we can reach them both on one trip, we bundle the travel costs.Someone who isn’t a parent.
A grandparent, a mentor, a business partner, the friend who holds the family together. The subject does not have to be related to you.A house that is about to be sold.
If the family home is going on the market, film in it first. Rooms carry stories that a different room will not.
Things families add
None of these are required, and none of them get pushed at you. They come up because someone asks.
Your photographs woven in — $1,500
Your films and videos woven in — $2,500
A short film for an event — $1,500
Anniversaries, retirements, big birthdays. Five or six minutes, made to be shown to a room.ALL the raw footage on a drive — $500
Digitising old photos, tape or film — quoted
If the box of photographs has never been sorted, we can help with that.
Payment plans are available. Just ask.
Travel
We come to them, wherever they are. We have not yet said no to a location and we don’t expect to.
We pass the actual travel costs through at cost. We don’t mark them up. We do charge for the travel time itself, because those are days we can’t be working.
There is no travel charge close to home.
One thing worth knowing in advance. Anywhere beyond a comfortable drive, a day of filming needs a travel day wrapped around it — we usually fly out the afternoon before, film the next day, and fly home that evening. We would rather you hear that now than find it on an invoice.
Who does the interview?
Often, Jim, who is the founder. Not always, though.
If the person you’d 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.
Two questions, and then a real number.
Who would you like us to film?
And how are they doing at the moment?
The second one matters more than it sounds. Tell us those two things and we’ll write back with an actual number for your situation, usually the same day and always within one working day.
No call unless you want one.
“Attention to detail and commitment to quality truly stood out. We’ve already recommended them to others.”
— M. Doyle, Milwaukee, WI