The Family Legacy Video™ Theatre is the online theatre where you can view all the video clips streaming from the Family Legacy Video Web site. The clips you see there will surely inspire you with ideas for your family video, plus you'll get to see Steve Pender talk about his passion for family history video in two television appearances.

Here's how you reach the theatre:

• First, click here.

• This opens the FLV Theatre welcome screen.

• Click on the "Click Here to Enter" link.

• You'll see a window containing a video screen with controls and a list of clips.

• Decide which clip you'd like to view and click on the correct speed (High, Low) to match your Internet connection. In the bottom right of the theatre window is a list showing the appropriate speed for your kind of connection. NOTE: Please be patient - you may need to wait a few seconds before a clip plays.

• Enjoy the clip!

• Select another clip or close the theatre window.

The Family Legacy Video™ Theatre is always open, and YOU decide when the show begins.

PS - If you have any difficulties playing the clips, please let us know.

Q: Dear Steve,
I graduated with a degree in Gerontology about a year ago (as a middle-ager). I have an interest in biographies and have considered trying to start a business of interviewing/writing biographies for families/funeral homes/hospice families, etc., but wasn't sure there would be a market for it in this area - enough to make any money at it. I also have a deep interest in nursing home patients being known for who they are, and not just as residents where the employees know of no background. Nice idea, but nursing homes are not going to pay for that service - I was told it would be a wonderful volunteer project.

I am wondering if video biography would be a more readily marketable service. I really don't have any particular interest in video production, but particularly in interviewing, hearing, and preserving the life story. What would be estimated costs of equipment that would need to be purchased to get underway with a business? Is there a possibility that funeral homes would hire "outside contractors" to do this kind of work?

I saw that you have a workshop in April with the deadline very soon. I would like to hear your opinion/thoughts as to how applicable these workshops would be, based on my passions, which go beyond preserving my personal family's history.

- - Yvonne T.

A: Hi, Yvonne.
Thanks for writing!

The workshops do focus primarily on video, but not just the nuts and bolts of video production. We spend the first day planning and crafting interview questions. On the second day we focus on interview techniques and how to capture the interview on video. On the third day we’ll discuss creative ways to combine the interview with other elements to create a finished video biography. So some of what interests you is there, but with video as the main focus. I’d love to have you participate, but you’ll need to decide if what the workshops provide is worthwhile for you.

A video biography business is like any business. A lot of people focus on the equipment, but you’ll need to spend lots of time marketing and promoting your services to whomever you’ve decided makes up your market. And since your main interest isn’t in video production, you’ll probably need to find someone well versed in video and editing so you can act as interviewer/producer.

As for equipment costs, if you go with a consumer-type set up, you can probably get away with a camera, tripod, lights, computer and editing software for $5,000 or less. For more professional gear, you can easily start at $10,000 or more. Alternatives to buying all that gear would be to partner with a videographer that already owns it and hire him/her by the job.

I don’t work with funeral homes but I know there are some that do. You might try contacting a few funeral home directors to see what video services they might find valuable for their clients.

I recommend you check into a professional association of which I’m a member. It’s the Association of Personal Historians: www.personalhistorians.org. Annual dues are relatively inexpensive and you’ll find it a great source of information and inspiration.

Best of luck to you!