Have questions about recording your personal history?
Real to Reel answers all your questions about recording your memoir.
One-on-one interviews. I interview you, guiding you through your life chronologically. There are no cameras. A quiet location, an easy chair, and a small table are all you need to provide.
While doing this work “in person” is always preferable, with the COVID-19 pandemic I discovered that it is also possible to do this via Zoom. The pandemic has been a good reminder that the most important thing is to get the stories so if you have good technology (a microphone, camera, and a quiet location), we can do this over Zoom.
In-person recording sessions normally last two hours. “Virtual” sessions via Zoom are conducted in one-hour sessions. An average life story takes six to eight hours but any number, more or fewer, is possible. This is something we’ll decide on together.
Working in audio is the most affordable way to do this important work. Every project is unique and the price depends on the length, time and travel involved. Contact me for a free consultation by phone, Zoom or in person.
A “talking book” in your familiar voice. It comes as an audio file on a flash drive in an album that fits nicely on a shelf. On the back of the album is a list of the content of the interviews.
If you also want a “real” book, I can facilitate getting your stories to colleagues to whom I’m happy to refer you.
NOW is always the best time to record your stories. It is never too soon to get started but, sadly, it is often too late. As we age our memories fade and the valuable stories and wisdom we need to share with future generations is lost forever. Don’t let “I waited too long” be the only story you leave behind.
Everyone! We often think about gathering stories of older family members, but we all have stories only we can tell. Let’s do this now while they are fresh in your mind!
A team of psychologists measured children’s resilience and found that the kids who knew the most about their family’s history were best able to handle stress, have a stronger sense of control over their lives and higher self-esteem. The reason: These children have a strong sense of “intergenerational self” — they understand that they belong to something bigger than themselves.
Adapted from The Secrets of Happy Families by Bruce Feiler
