Blog & Podcasts

Family Legacy Video® gives King Tet’s Record Rescuers two thumbs up.

Posted on February 9, 2015 by steve

About five years ago I purchased a USB turntable in order to transfer some of my wife’s cherished childhood records to CD. One of those records was an old 78 RPM recording from the early 1900s. The other was a 45 RPM disc from the 1950s. Was I able to transfer the recordings? Well, yes. But they were noisy as heck. Quite honestly, they were unlistenable. And no matter what I tried with the software I had available, I couldn’t clean them up.

Fast forward to this past Christmas. I vowed to try again. But I’m a video guy, so I thought this time I’d search for a company experienced in vinyl to digital audio transfers. The Internet led me to Eric Van der Wyk. Eric is based in San Diego and runs a variety of companies under the King Tet Productions umbrella. Three of those companies focus on transferring audio from old media to audio cds: Record Rescuers, Custom Audio CDs, and ReelToReelToCD.com. His prices were pretty reasonable, so I decided to give him a try.

A week after trusting Halina’s records to the mail, I got them back, along with a CD. With fingers firmly crossed, I popped the disc into my CD player. To my amazement, the songs that emanated from my speakers were crystal-clear and noise-free. At that moment I decided that Erik would be my “go-to guy” for any other jobs like this.

So if you’d like to resurrect your old records, give Record Rescuers a try. I think you’ll be glad you did.

Teaming up to talk about preserving life stories.

Posted on January 12, 2015 by steve

On January 8, 2015, Family Legacy Video’s president, Steve Pender, teamed with author and personal historian Kristin Delaplane for a presentation to the SaddleBrooke Genealogy Club in SaddleBrooke, Arizona, just a bit north of Tucson. Kristin is a recent transplant to Tucson and will release a book, Family History Secrets: The Complete Guide to Capturing Family Stories For Your Heirloom Book, in May of this year. SaddleBrooke Genealogy Club program chair Randy Gibbs found Kristin when searching for someone to address the group about creating print memoirs. Kristin felt the club members would also enjoy learning about options for preserving stories on video. Having discovered Family Legacy Video after moving to Tucson, she invited Steve Pender to share in the fun.

Club members received both speakers enthusiastically, even offering up a spirited round of applause after viewing the sample clips Steve played for them. Afterwards, many attendees remarked about how Steve’s talk opened their eyes to how they could use video to preserve the family stories of their loved ones.

Do you belong to a club, organization or a business in need of inspiring and informational speakers? If so, don’t hesitate to contact Steve Pender. He can craft 20-30 minute presentations for your breakfast, lunch or dinner meetings or even longer talks (and workshops) to fit your needs. And if you’d like a print component, Steve and Kristin are certainly willing to team up again!

Another wonderful video biography testimonial.

Posted on December 18, 2014 by steve

I just received this testimonial from my most recent video biography client, who lives in Hawaii:

“Steve, thank you for a wonderful job on my video biography. I was impressed with the professionalism of you and your crew. I especially liked the way you supplemented the photos and other visuals I gave you with archival photos and films that really helped illustrate my personal and business stories. I’ll be proud to share my legacy video with my family and friends – and to recommend Family Legacy Video® to anyone wanting to preserve, celebrate and share his/her life stories. Mahalo!”

Energizing Clients & Elevating Minds

Posted on December 15, 2014 by steve

A Family Legacy Video client reminded me during a recent phone call about some of the greatest benefits his family storytellers experienced during the process of creating their video biographies. As he put it, Family Legacy Video “Energizes Clients & Elevates Minds.” In other words, the process generates energy and enthusiasm and gives a boost to the “gray cells,” a boost that remains after the video is complete!

Talking video biography.

Posted on November 8, 2014 by steve

“Imagine,” I suggested to the attentive group of seniors in front of me. “Imagine for a moment that video technology existed during your great-grandparents’ times and that one day they sat down and recorded the stories of their lives. Imagine also that you could sit down today and watch those video biographies. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” The eyes of most of my audience widened as they nodded in assent. “Well,” I continued. “Video technology obviously didn’t exist back then. But it’s here today. And that means you can do something your great-grandparents couldn’t, which is to create a living, breathing, keepsake that preserves and celebrates your life stories, both to enjoy now and to leave as a precious gift for generations of your families yet to come.”

With those words, I was off and running on my latest presentation, as part of a Sunday afternoon program sponsored by the Sunrise Neighborhood Assistance Program of Tucson, Arizona. I explained just what a video biography was, described in a nutshell the process I use to create a legacy video and outlined the benefits of preserving personal stories in a video biography format. Most importantly, I showed several sample clips so attendees could see for themselves just how legacy videos look and sound – and see what the possibilities could be for them.

Helping to inform and inspire folks is part of my mission as president of Family Legacy Video, Inc. I realize that many folks don’t know what a video biography is and that they can pass along their life stories and values this way. I always enjoy introducing potential storytellers to the subject. It’s especially delightful when audience members approach me after a presentation to tell me some of their stories and discuss how they can start planning their legacy video. That tells me that they “get it” in terms of understanding the importance of sharing their experiences and wisdom with present and future members of their families.

I also find that when I detail the myriad benefits video legacy projects, I reinforce to myself the importance of the work I do as a personal historian – a valuable side benefit for me.

So if you have a group of folks who you think might like to learn about preserving, celebrating and sharing their life stories with their own personal video biographies, give me call or shoot me an e-mail. I’m only too happy to talk.

Knowing where you came from.

Posted on October 4, 2014 by steve

The afternoon Arizona sun shone brilliantly, silhouetting our Navajo guide, Will Cowboy, as he treated us to a traditional Navajo courting song. Sitting in the shade of the “Big Hogan,” a natural ampitheatre in Mystery Valley, we marveled at the power of his voice, which he supported by rhythmically thrumming his hand-held drum.

Mystery Valley is right next to Monument Valley, which features the mesas and buttes made famous in John Ford/John Wayne flicks like “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon.” Halina and I had spent the morning with Will and our small tour group soaking in the awe-inspiring views in Monument Valley. Then, after lunch, Will drove us into what he called his “backyard,” a place accessible only by Navajos or by groups with Navajo guides.

In addition to sharing his musical culture with us, Will took the time during our day together to chat about Navajo traditions and beliefs. During one of those chats, he touched on the subject of family stories. Navajo children, Will told us, start learning family history from their elders at a very early age, and continue hearing these stories until they know them by heart. It then becomes their responsibility to pass along this knowledge to their children and grandchildren.

Now, we’re not talking about tales that cover a generation or two. Navajo family stories can span hundreds and even thousands of years. As Will told us, it’s thanks to his family stories that he knows his people originated in Siberia. Talk about knowing where you came from!

There are many things we can learn from Native Americans, like the Navajos, and one of them is certainly the importance of preserving, sharing and celebrating family stories. This will certainly require a change in the mindset of our “here today, gone tomorrow” culture, where kids are lucky if they even know their grandparents. Being a driver for this change is part of Family Legacy Video’s mission, and with each completed video biography, I feel we’ve helped another generation to know where it came from.

Looking for some free, archival footage? Here’s one option.

Posted on August 30, 2014 by steve

World War II bombing runs by B-17s, collecting maple syrup in Quebec, commercials for the Ford Edsel; all of these are examples of historical footage used in past Family Legacy Video® video biographies. There’s an amazing abundance of historical images, both still and moving, from an array of sources, that can help enhance and illuminate the life stories related by family storytellers. A hallmark of Family Legacy Video’s Deluxe Legacy Videos is the use of archival images that lend a “big budget” documentary feel to the productions.

Archival images and footage do come with a cost, however. First, there’s the time it takes to research, locate and secure the material. This time alone adds to the cost of video biography. But the footage itself can be pricey. That’s why it’s nice to find a resource for free, public domain footage. One that’s been helpful to me over the years is the Internet Archive. The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is a digital online repository of both still and moving images. You’ll find lots of old government and promotional films there, many of them in the public domain. Clips are available for download in a variety of formats. Due to compression, the video is not necessarily pristine, but it is free, and if you’re a creative editor you can always find ways to dress it up in post.

I’ve found shots in some films at the archive that I couldn’t find anywhere else – and that perfectly fit the bill. So check out the Internet Archive; you may find it a valuable free source of images or just a place to go to watch some really neat old films.

The preinterview: The key to a successful legacy video interview.

Posted on July 12, 2014 by steve

Organization and preparation are the keys to any successful video shoot, and legacy video interviews are no exception. This is especially true when planning the questions for your video biography session. After all, your life story is unique, and only a set of custom questions designed to elicit the details of your life will do. The key to crafting those questions is the preinterview.

Basically, a preinterview is a discussion we’ll have as we begin planning for your shoot. It takes the form of a casual conversation, or conversations, and can be conducted either face-to-face or over the phone. During the preinterview, I’ll learn just what you want to talk about, as well as the details of your stories. I’ll use that information to draft questions that relate specifically to you and your stories.

Doing my homework with a preinterview helps us to work efficiently once the cameras are recording. Not only will I know what to ask, but because I’ll already be aware of the details of your stories, I’ll be able to prompt you for more information if I catch you overlooking any important facts.

So, as you see, a little homework in the form of a preinterview can guarantee a smooth, successful and enjoyable interview – for all involved.

Working with your video biographer: Collecting visuals.

Posted on June 14, 2014 by steve

One of my responsibilities as your video biographer is to usher you through the production process and make the experience as easy for you as possible. That includes taking the time to learn your stories, crafting custom questions for your on-camera interview, and making sure you look and sound your very best on screen. If we’re working together to create a Premium or Deluxe Family Legacy Video®, another critical part of the process involves collecting the photos and other images we’ll use to illustrate your stories and give your legacy video that big-budget documentary look.

So, what kinds of images are we talking about? This list will give you an idea:

• Still photos
• Newspaper/magazine clippings
• Diplomas
• Wedding announcements
• Plaques
• Trophies
• Medals
• Paintings
• Drawings
• Letters
• Keepsakes
• Souvenirs
• Childhood toys
• Family videos (or films transferred to video)

Pulling together all these visuals may appear daunting at first. And there’s no getting around the fact that you’ll need to help with some of the work. Here’s how we’ll collaborate to collect the visuals that’ll help make your video biography so special.

WHAT FAMILY LEGACY VIDEO WILL DO.

After we wrap up your preinterview, I’ll draft what I call an Initial Wish List. This is simply a list of photos and other images I think would be great to accompany the stories you’ve told me. I fully realize you may not have all, or sometimes even most, of the items on the list; it’s just something to help you start your search.

WHAT YOU’LL DO.

You’ll go through your albums, shoeboxes and other archives to see just what you have that’s on the Initial Wish List. You may also want to contact family members to see what visuals they may have. Sometimes you’ll discover photos you forgot about and that will stimulate other stories we can cover during your interview. While the visuals search can be a bit time-consuming, it’s far from being drudgery. Think of it as a process of exploration and discovery. I guarantee you’ll have fun! You’ll need to set aside the photos you find. If possible, make notes in pencil (or use sticky notes) on the back of each photo regarding dates, places, and people. If labeling the photos is too much of an effort for you, we can add some time to do this together after we record your interview.

WHAT FAMILY LEGACY VIDEO WILL DO.

After reviewing the visuals you’ve collected, I’ll either scan or shoot them at your location, at the Family Legacy Video office in Tucson, Arizona, or a combination of both. I fully understand that you may have photos or other family heirlooms that may be too fragile to ship or that you don’t feel you want to part with. That’s quite alright; I’ll certainly respect and accommodate your wishes. If the budget allows, I can arrange to have an extra crew member whose job is to scan your photos while we’re conducting your interview.

THE FINAL WISH LIST.

It’s not usual to get ideas for additional visuals after shooting your interview. If this is the case, I’ll send you a Final Wish List detailing the extra items I’d like. Again, you may or may not have some or even all the items on the list. But heck, it doesn’t hurt to ask. If you can provide extra material, we’ll arrange to ship it to the Family Legacy Video office. Or, if you have a family member or friend with a scanner, I’ll send you the dimensions I require and you can then either e-mail or snail-mail the digital files to me.

THAT’S ALL THERE IS.

Of course, there’ll come a time (usually after you receive the Final Wish List) when I need you tell me I’ve gotten all the visuals you can provide. Once I get that word, I’ll focus on using the images I have to their greatest effect.

So don’t let the prospect of having to comb through your family archives stop you from pursuing your video biography project. I guarantee I’ll make the process as easy on you as possible. Plus, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve given your family photos and other visuals new lives that will enlighten and delight generations of your family to come.

Saved by a GoPro.

Posted on June 2, 2014 by steve

If you’re interested in GoPro capabilities you might like to see a clip one of my recent clients posted on YouTube. During the course of documenting the building and installation of Catalina United Methodist Church’s new organ, Family Legacy Video was asked, at the last minute, to record the dedicatory concert. We had on hand only two cameras, a Sony EX3 and a GoPro Hero 3+ Black. After interviewing the organist using the EX3, we set up the GoPro as the master shot and used the EX3 for closer views. We were not allowed to supplement the house lighting, which was rather low. I was amazed at how good the GoPro shot looks. A little grainy, but quite acceptable. See for yourself.