The Process

An Interview with Debbie

Why did you get into creating personal documentaries?
I’ve been involved with television production for over twenty years, and no matter what show I’ve produced, it has always been the personal interview—the story—that has intrigued me the most. As I have grown and had my own children, I’ve realized that if our amazing older generation’s stories are not captured, they will be lost forever. I decided to take my ability to turn a great interview into a moving film and created DMB Pictures, dedicated in part to capturing people’s life stories on video for future generations.

Why do I need to make a personal film of my life or capture the lives of my loved ones?
It wasn’t until I decided to film my own family that I truly got it.

Before my family film project, I knew very little about my late grandfather. In fact, I only really knew that my Dad, at age 12, was with him when he was dying of a heart attack, and that it was soon after this that he decided to become a dentist.

After recording the stories of my Dad and his three brothers—hearing details from their past I had never known before—I now look at my family differently. I have a true understanding of my family history, and a renewed appreciation and respect for my Dad, his brothers and what they went through. I feel it has changed my relationship with them.

I see this everyday with my clients. Clients who tell me they never knew “those pictures existed.” One had never seen her father cry before recording his interview. They feel renewed gratitude for their relationships as a result of going through this creative process. These reactions are what I want to create for so many more families.

Why do I need to do this now?
People usually say they’ll “get to” this type of project eventually. But often, they don’t begin to think about it until it’s too late. Someone unexpectedly falls ill. Memories quickly start to fade with dementia or Alzheimer’s. The saddest thing for me is to meet someone, tell them what I do, and hear them say, “Gosh I wish I had done that before my (family member or loved one) died.”

Need motivation? Do this around a milestone birthday, a special anniversary, a family reunion—some happy occasion if you can—that gives you both the incentive and deadline to get it done.

I want to do this, but my father/mother/grandmother/uncle is resisting. They say their stories aren’t important and they don’t want to be on camera.
I’ll let you in on a little secret. Often, these people make the BEST interviews. They actually have so much to say, but have maybe never shared it in this way. Their reluctance comes from thinking their stories are not important or that they won’t speak well on camera. First, tell them that this is really for their children and grandchildren, who need to know their family history. Second, with the magic of lighting and editing, we make everyone look and sound their absolute best. If they are still resisting, arrange for them to be at a pre-interview. Once people start reminiscing about their stories, they are often more excited to share them on camera.

Why can’t I do this myself? Why do I need help?

I encourage people to get this done in whatever way possible. But there are several issues I’ve found when people try to do this on their own.

1. Time – It takes a lot of time and energy to do a project of this magnitude, and clients get so overwhelmed with the details, they often never even begin.
2. Technology – While the advent of digital video certainly has made things more consumer friendly, many people are novices when it comes to being able to record an interview that looks and sounds really good, and don’t know how to use editing software to put a video together that’s engaging to watch and easy to share.
3. The “Baggage Factor” – I’ve had many people tell me they’ve tried to interview their husband or mother themselves, but just couldn’t get them to open up. I feel that often, there’s just too much history—too much “baggage”— between them that makes it too difficult to talk about many emotional topics. There’s something magical about a neutral party—and one who has years of experience interviewing people from all walks of life—that allows people to more freely share their stories. Even though I am usually a stranger to the interviewee, we end up bonding to the point of a big “thank you” hug at the end!

So what is the process of working on a project like this?
There are 3 main steps to working on a family film project.

The Pre-Interview – I find out all about the honoree with a preliminary questionnaire. Then we meet together and talk in more detail, going through the highlights of the honoree’s life before I ever turn the camera on. I make sure I know which are the most important stories to YOU that need to be told. I will also provide you with photo organizing bags to help you collect your photos as well as any home movies.

The Interview – I craft specific questions to ask your honoree and our small film crew records the interview at your home or your honoree’s home, usually lasting one to two hours per interview. We use high definition digital video, professional audio and lighting for every project.

The Edit – Once recorded, I spend several weeks compiling your footage and weaving it together with your photos, home movies and music to create your personal documentary film. You will be able to watch the final version in a Preview form on DVD and make any minor changes before the project is complete.

The entire process from start to finish typically takes about two to three months.

Do you offer different packages?

I offer several packages, each of which can be for an individual, a couple, or even a family. They are all starting points to customizing your project, as every project ends up being a little different.

• The Day in the Life of Package offers the option of the longest interview (up to 2 hours) as well as the opportunity to record the honoree “in action,” such as giving a tour of their home, cooking a recipe on camera, or being active with their favorite hobby.
• The Biography Film Package is our most popular package, with a 90-minute video interview, a 20-minute documentary film, and a photo movie.
• The Special Event Package is perfect for those who want to record the full story, but only need a short film to show at their special event, typically about 5-7 minutes.
• The Hybrid Package is our newest package. It adds photos sprinkled throughout the mostly unedited interview. Graphic titles introduce each subject.
• The Get It Done Package is for those who are most concerned about getting the interview recorded. The final DVD for this package includes the full-length, unedited interview—chaptered by story.

All packages include a personalized DVD label and case, with space to write your own description of the film. For full package details, please contact us directly.

If none of these packages feels right for you, we also do custom projects to fit your needs. We also work on a consulting basis and offer help with preparing questions, camera training, or editing your video footage.

Whom do you work with?
I work mainly with two types of clients—the children of an honoree or the honoree themselves. Honorees have been as young as 5 or as old as 100! My clients recognize the importance and urgency of capturing their family stories TODAY and take action to get it done.

I’m ready to do this for my family. How do I get started?
Congratulations on recognizing this wonderful gift you are about to give your family. Please call me at 301-547-3490 or email info@dmbpictures.com to set up a time to get acquainted. We will discuss the details of your project and see which package is right for you.