Materials Checklist for a Life Documentary

First, draw up a timeline

Place of birth, school years, military service, first job, marriage, children, moves, retirement. Write them on paper by decade. This shows you which period lacks material. We can animate periods with no photos, but first we need that period's story.

Photos

Aim for at least a few photos from each decade.
Photograph the writing on the back too; the date and note are often the most valuable information.
Do not skip crowded family photos; note who is who.
Send damaged, torn or faded photos too; we can fix most of them.

Scanning photos with a phone

Shoot in daylight by a window, with the flash off.
Hold the phone parallel to the photo; an angled shot distorts the edges.
Get past the album page's glossy film, by taking the photo out if you can.
Do not rename the files; we will do the sorting. Write your notes on a separate list.

Documents and small objects

A diploma, a military service photo, a marriage certificate, a first payslip, postcards, letters, a scented handkerchief. A photo of a document becomes a door that opens a period in the film; a handwritten sentence can be one of the strongest scenes.

Sound and video recordings

Voice messages and videos on old phones
Cassettes and video tapes (digitised versions)
Recordings of weddings, holidays and school shows

A real voice recording of a loved one who has passed away is very valuable. If you do not have one, we do not generate their voice with AI; the narrator tells their story.

Interview: 12 questions

The heart of the film is the person telling it in their own words. In a quiet room, start your phone's voice recorder, ask the questions one at a time and do not interrupt the answers.

Can you describe the house you lived in as a child?
Who was your favourite teacher, and why?
What was your first job, and what did you spend your first wages on?
How did you meet your spouse?
What was the biggest move of your life?
What was your hardest year, and how did it go?
What family story has made you laugh the most?
Do you remember the days your children were born?
Who taught you the most in life?
What has changed the most since your youth?
If you could give your grandchildren one piece of advice, what would it be?
If you could live one day of your life again, which would it be?

Is it a surprise?

If the film is a surprise gift, you can do the interview "for the family archive", and another sibling or relative can collect the photos. Tell us in advance who knows what, and we will handle communication accordingly.

When should you start?

Collecting material often takes longer than producing the film. If it must be ready for a special day, start as early as you can and write the date in your first message.