What are The benefits of a video interview?
For starters, you get to see and hear the stories directly from the source. What are they wearing? How does their face change when they talk about different things? What are they most excited to share? When working with Memory Vault, you also get the benefit of an experienced interviewer to put them at ease. We handle all of the technical aspects so you don't have to! We'll provide you with an edited video which can include pictures from other periods of the person's life and support what they're talking about.
Written family histories are great, but require a lot of work and usually result in just one physical copy. Digital videos can be easily preserved, shared, and viewed by multiple people at a time.
What should I expect after I buy a package?
We will contact you to set up a short phone conversation to talk about the process and answer any additional questions. We will also discuss potential filming locations (usually in your home) and what, if any, images you would like to include to support your memories. Then, we'll schedule a date and time to come record your story and see you soon!
What does the interview day look like?
We'll arrive and get our video equipment set up. It's not a lot - one person can carry it all in! Please have any images or items that need to be digitized, ready and laid out so we can do that first. After that, we'll go over what we plan to talk about, get you situated with a clip on microphone, position some small lights, and start recording! We'll take breaks as needed or after 50 minutes or so.
Can you include family photos?
Yes! We love adding visual elements to enhance your story. All packages include at least 10 images. Going back through photos or other items is also a great way to help you recall the time or subject you want to talk about. If you already have the images digitized, we will work with you to get them ahead of the interview day.
What if my photos aren't digitized?
No worries, we can do that for a small additional fee. We just need all photographs or other items to be present on site the day of the interview. We'll build in an additional half hour to our filming time before the interview begins to make sure we capture everything.
Can you include items other than photos?
Absolutely. Sometimes the best items to help tell a story aren't photos - they could be newspaper clippings, diplomas, a uniform, or a family heirloom. It just has to be something we can film or photograph on the day of the interview. If you're not sure if we can include something, please reach out to ask us!
Can I buy a package for someone else?
Yes! Memory Vault videos make great gifts. If you are buying a package for someone else, we do recommend that you make sure they are open to being recorded on video first. If you buy a package for someone and we are unable to schedule an interview with them within 4 months, we will allow you to transfer the package to someone else.
Why don't you offer DVDs?
The goal of Memory Vault is to help you preserve your story - unfortunately, DVDs are not a stable way to do that. They get scratched, lost, or people no longer have a way to play them. By providing digital copies, you can also easily share a link with family and friends.
I have audio recordings, can you help?
Yes! It's great that you already have a head start on recording family stories. Depending on the source of the audio (CD, cassette tape, etc.) we can work with you to digitize the audio files and edit them together with pictures. We are not setup to digitize home movies, but it may be possible on a case by case basis.
"But what should I talk about?"
We get this question all the time. It's helpful to remember that we aren't trying to cover anyone's whole life in one session. To help focus your interview here are some potential topics and questions to get you thinking:
Early life - where did you grow up, what was your neighborhood like, who are your family members, what was a typical school day like?
Career - when/did you know what you wanted to do, what drew you to it, have you changed jobs often, met important people in your life there?
Military Service - when did you join, where did you serve, did you stay in touch with other service members?
Pivotal Moments - this could be a deeper dive into something you lived through - where were you when JFK was shot? on 9/11? - or something that impacted your life - a trip abroad, where and how you met your spouse, or a major achievement.
Family History - either immediate family or genealogy research - when and how did your family come to the United States? Do you remember your great-grandparents? What stories did your parents tell about their parents? Did you have big family reunions?
We get this question all the time. It's helpful to remember that we aren't trying to cover anyone's whole life in one session. To help focus your interview here are some potential topics and questions to get you thinking:
Early life - where did you grow up, what was your neighborhood like, who are your family members, what was a typical school day like?
Career - when/did you know what you wanted to do, what drew you to it, have you changed jobs often, met important people in your life there?
Military Service - when did you join, where did you serve, did you stay in touch with other service members?
Pivotal Moments - this could be a deeper dive into something you lived through - where were you when JFK was shot? on 9/11? - or something that impacted your life - a trip abroad, where and how you met your spouse, or a major achievement.
Family History - either immediate family or genealogy research - when and how did your family come to the United States? Do you remember your great-grandparents? What stories did your parents tell about their parents? Did you have big family reunions?
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Want to know what our video set up looks like? Here's a peek! In real time, this was only about 10 minutes. |