Two Points To Consider Before Creating Your Own Legacy Video
A word of caution and encouragement before starting this journey.
does this Scenario Sound Relatable?
You want to create a legacy video for your parents. They are nearing 75 and their health is starting to decline somewhat. You’re not a pro at making videos but you’ve made a couple in the past and they turned out alright.
You’ve got a camera on your phone. You’ve figured out who you’re going to interview. You’ve decided every question you’re going to ask. You’ve looked up some tutorials to figure out the basics of video editing. You’re ready to create a legacy video for someone you love.
But before you hit the record button, consider these two thoughts.
Point One: This is not just another video.
This video’s personal importance is almost hard to put into words. If done well, it could be one of the most precious things you have from your loved one once they pass. It could be a piece of family history that future grandchildren watch and admire. Or it could be a poorly filmed, hard-to-hear, flippantly put-together video that you’ll never get the chance to redo. Come to the task of creating a legacy video with a level of reverence and a perspective that this is incredibly important and something you want to have done right. The consequences of messing it up may be felt for a lifetime.
Point Two: Just because you can cook an egg doesn’t mean you’re a chef
This point isn’t meant to be snarky. It’s meant to wake you up if you’re thinking about biting off more than you can chew (no pun intended). The point is this: anyone with heat can cook an egg. Now, that doesn’t mean the egg will taste good. Maybe it turns into charcoal and the person chips a tooth trying to consume it. Is the egg seasoned properly? Is the presentation of the egg attractive? If an over-easy egg is desired, can that be accommodated? Do you have the correct utensils to consume the egg? These are not random questions. These are things that surprisingly relate to the creation of a legacy video. See some people have it in their head, “I can record a video, so I should make my own legacy video.” But just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do it. Being able to record a video doesn’t mean the video will turn out how you want it to, is this a risk you want to take with a video you may get only shot with? There is a particularly unique false confidence with video because everyone has access to a camera on their phone.
A final example, anyone can paint when given the correct materials, does that mean it will look good? No, of course not. There are many skills that go into creating a beautiful painting. It’s the same way with video production and legacy videos. Video production professionals are more often than not bringing in hundreds if not thousands of hours of experience creating videos, storytelling, lighting scenes, editing, footage, etc. And not to mention their own equipment. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
But what if I can’t afford to have a professional do it? Don’t lose hope.
Legacy videos can be a significant cost. Bare-minimum legacy videos cost easily $2,000-$3,000 with more full-scale productions costing over $20,000. To some, these are costs that can’t be reconciled.
Now, don’t lose hope if you can’t afford a legacy video. Something is better than nothing. If you have no options then to roll up your sleeves and get to work then hats off to you. Just don’t delay. Don’t put off creating this video, thinking you’ll get around to it next month or next year. Do it now because tomorrow might be the end. If you do decide to do it yourself we have a comprehensive guide to help walk you through the process.
Also, a quick practical tip. Think about asking someone in your network of friends and family. See if any of them have experience creating videos or has a friend that they recommend. Try to set up coffee and come with lots of questions for them. Or even consider hiring them to help assist you with the video. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to accomplish such a significant task by yourself. You will most likely forget important aspects or have serious problems in production or post-production.
Watch An Example
Here’s a legacy video we did on behalf of a young man named Spencer. Spencer was diagnosed with encephalitis when he was a child. Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain, this delayed Spencer’s mental development significantly. After a decade his encephalitis worsened leaving him in conditions where the family feared he might pass away.
They contacted Midwest Legacy Films to create a video that preserved precious moments from Spencer’s life and his impact on friends, family, and classmates. They also wanted something to show at Spencer’s celebration of life service.
Next Steps
If you’re interested in creating a legacy video, you can give us a call at 612-564-2157 or you can fill out the contact form below and we will reach out to you.