Newsletter Archive
September 2006
Helping YOU preserve your precious family stories on video. 

Steve Pender and Family Legacy Video join in Tucson's birthday celebration.
Steve Pender takes a whack at
the Tucson birthday piñata.
(See the story below.)

Welcome to the September issue!

So, where DID the summer go? Here at Family Legacy Video, the summer was a whirlwind of activity. But I did get to take an occasional breather and I hope you had some relaxing downtime as well.

As you swing into your autumn routines, I hope find time to include some video biography activities. Many of us have family members who are in the autumn, or even the winter of their years - make this the year you preserve their precious family stories and memories on video.

I hope you enjoy this issue of the Family Legacy Video Producer's e-Newsletter. Please e-mail me at steve@familylegacyvideo.com or phone toll-free (1.888.662.1294) with any questions or comments you have. Visit Family Legacy Video on the Web at: www.familylegacyvideo.com.


Cheers! - - Steve Pender

Find past newsletters on the Family Legacy Video newsletter archive page.


This Month:
Video biography workshop update
The Veterans History Project needs you!
Family Legacy Video joins in Tucson's birthday celebration
Visit the Family Legacy Video Theatre
Q&A - Using FLV Producer's Music in professional productions

Family Legacy Video products & services


New cancellation rules begin with November's "Create Your Own Video Biography" workshop in Tucson.

There's a first time for everything. And, for the first time, Family Legacy Video had to cancel a workshop, in this case the August workshop scheduled for Mesa, Arizona. Quite frankly, while we've had cancellations by folks who've registered, we never thought Family Legacy Video would need to cancel a workshop. So, while we had a perfectly clear policy for customers who cancel, we weren't so clear on how to handle a situation where Family Legacy Video needed to pull the plug.

Our newly revised workshop cancellation policy covers all the bases and should be fair to all concerned. From now on, the early bird deadline will be set a month or more in advance of the workshop date. If we don't have the minimum number of registrants we need by that date, Family Legacy Video will cancel the workshop and issue registration fee refunds to all concerned. Those of you who need to book airfare can wait for the "green light" from us and then still have plenty of time to book those discount advance fair tickets.

And now, on to the Tucson workshop:

The Tucson workshop runs from November 10 to 12 (Friday to Sunday). The venue is the meeting room at the Arizona Small Business Association, in the Crossroads Festival Shopping Center, 4811 East Grant Road (the corner of Grant and Swan), in Tucson.

The early bird deadline for the Tucson workshop: October 3.

"Create Your Own Video Biography" workshops from Family Legacy Video offer three jam-packed days filled with inspiration, learning and fun - and leave you with the tools you need to preserve your own precious family stories on video.

SO if you're itching to tackle your own do-it-yourself video biography project -
BUT you lack the skills and experience you need to move forward -
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE to learn professional video production tips and techniques.

Complete details (along with testimonials from past workshop participants) are on the workshop page of the Family Legacy Video Web site. 

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Need video bio experience? The Veterans History Project may be for you.

"I want to get started in the video biography business, but I need experience. Where do I get it?" It's a common refrain and one I hear often from Family Legacy Video readers and customers. I usually suggest starting out by practicing on family and friends. But a recent e-mail from Kent Jewell contained another great idea.

Kent writes:

Hi, Steve.

Just a short note to say how much I enjoy your Web site and the newsletter. The info I'd like to share is this: Many VA hospitals support the Veterans History Project. Its mission is to locate and interview veterans to preserve their stories. I've been doing vet interviews for our local program. I think that some of your students/graduates might want to consider this.  Best Regards, Kent Jewell


I think this is a great idea. Whether you plan to create video biographies as a hobby or as a business, one of the most important things you need to do is to learn your craft. And volunteer opportunities like the Veterans History Project are a great way to learn by doing. The Veterans History Project is sponsored by the U.S. Congress and the interviews are housed in the Library of Congress. The main goal of the project is to collect first-hand accounts from U.S. veterans of the following wars: World War I (1914-1920); World War II (1939-1946); Korean War (1950-1955); Vietnam War (1961-1975); Persian Gulf War (1990-1995); and the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts (2001-present).

You'll find complete information at this Web site: http://www.loc.gov/vets/.

What a great way to "learn on the job" and add to the historical archives of the United States. Thanks for the suggestion, Kent!

- - Steve Pender

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Tucson turns 231 - and Family Legacy Video joins in the fun.

Tucson, Arizona celebrated a birthday in August. On the 20th of that month, the desert city known as the Old Pueblo turned the ripe old age of 231. For the first time, a group of civic-minded citizens promoted a month-long, citywide celebration consisting of a variety of events, ranging from concerts, to lectures, to special museum programs and more, all culminating in a grand birthday gala dinner on the 20th.

The birthday month began on August 1 at the site of the recreated presidio walls in downtown Tucson. After an official proclamation was read by the city's vice-mayor, everyone got a chance to take a swing at a birthday piñata shaped like a quail (Tucson's official birthday symbol). Family Legacy Video's Steve Pender was on hand and got in a few good whacks.

Family Legacy Video contributed to the month's efforts by videotaping birthday greetings and wishes from Tucsonans - first at a genealogy lecture hosted by Tucson's Jewish Historical Society and then again at the birthday gala. These greetings will be used to promote next year's birthday celebrations.
 

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The show's on at the Family Legacy Video Theatre!

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.

  • Decide which clip you'd like to view. NOTE: Please be patient - you may need to wait a few seconds before a clip plays.

  • Enjoy the clip!

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

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Ask Steve - This month: Using Family Legacy Video music for professional video bio projects.

Q: Dear Steve,
I like your Web site and appreciate the free information. My question is: I would like to be a professional videographer. I'm just starting out. I did an oral history of my 77 year-old cousin and it was a fantastic experience. I still have to edit it and put it on DVD. I was wondering if the music on your "Producers Music" CD could be used on video oral histories for which I charge commercially?

- -  Linda R.

A: Hi, Linda.
I'm glad you've found the Web site helpful. The short answer is yes, you may use the music on the Family Legacy Video Producer's Music CD for your professional video biographies. That changes if you'll be using the music for programs that will go into mass distribution. If you happen to be in that lucky situation, simply contact us to arrange for additional licensing.

Cheers, Steve

Got a question about any aspect of family history video production?
Send it to Steve at steve@familylegacyvideo.com.

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Click on the photos/banners below for more information on Family Legacy Video's unique products and services.
Hire Family Legacy Video to create your video biography.
Video Biography Production

Learn do-it-yourself video biography techniques during Family Legacy Video workshops.
Video Biography Workshops

The Family Legacy Video Producer's Guide shows you how to produce your own family history video! Low cost, royalty-free music for your next family history video. Celebrate the people and times of your life through photos and music on DVD.


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