Here’s what we’re doing in June…

I’m going to work with one family and help them create a family documentary about a loved one who can no longer tell their own life story.

We will do this by interviewing family and friends, collecting photos and videos, and turning it into a documentary so that future generations can watch it and know who they were.

If you’d like to be considered for the April project, read the details below and apply if it looks like a match.

— Joe

My goal is simple:

To capture your loved one’s life story on film to give future generations an easy way to get to know someone they otherwise never would.

This won’t be a fit if you…

- have a loved one who can tell their own life story

- don’t have at least 5 family and friends we can interview

- don’t feel comfortable being on camera

But if you…

- want to preserve your loved one’s life story

- want your kids to know what your loved one was like.

- and don't want to have to write a whole book

…applying now is a great decision.

The plan is simple

1. Life Story Outline

Once your application is accepted, we will hop on a 90-minute call where we will accomplish the following:

1. We will help you create the initial outline of your loved one’s life.

2. You will provide us with a list of family and friends to be interviewed.

3. We will send out an interview booking link to everyone that needs to be interviewed.

2. Interviews

From this point on we handle everything. Over the next two weeks we:

1. Coordinate and record the interviews.

- 10 remote video interviews

- $50 per additional interview

- Optional: $500 per professionally recorded in-person interview

2. Collect photos from each interviewee.

- 100 photos

- $1 per extra photo

3. Send you weekly updates.

3. Documentary

Once interviews wrap, we take the next two weeks to:

1. Combine all of the photos and interviews into a documentary.

2. Send you the first draft to leave any and all feedback you might have.

3. Finalize the documentary and send it to everyone who participated.

What you receive

1. A documentary about your loved one

2. A library of photos of your loved one

3. An archive of the uncut interviews

Financial Investment

It's $1,000 to get started. And then $1,000 in a month.

In the past, families have split this cost amongst family and friends.

Time Investment

7 hours

1. The life story outline call (~90 min)

2. Your own interview for the documentary (~90 min)

3. Sending in any photos or videos (~2 hours)

4. Reviewing the first draft and leaving feedback (~2 hours)

Guarantee

If after you’ve received the final product, you are unhappy with the results for any reason, I will personally send you 100% of your money back.

Next steps

Step 1: Apply for the June project by clicking here

Step 2: We'll review your application, and let you know within 72 hours.

If your application is not accepted, we’ll refund your deposit immediately and point you in the right direction.

If it’s a match and the spot is still available, book the life story outline call and get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I the documentary be delivered?

You will receive the documentary and photos on a private legacy page like this one: https://solacestories.com/joann-swallow

You will also receive the actual file that you can save on your computer forever.

I’m not sure I’d have 10 people for you to interview. Why at least 10?

I ask for at least 10 because it makes the pacing of the documentary much better. When you get stuck on one person telling a story for too long, it becomes boring (especially for the kids we are making this documentary for).

That being said, I’m sure we could find 10 people who could speak about your loved one (friends, cousins, children, grandchildren, coworkers, church-goers, neighbors, siblings etc.)

Why only people who can’t tell their own story?

I work with folks who can’t tell their own story because that’s who I can help the most.

For example if you wanted to tell your own life story, I honestly think your kids and grandkids would prefer to hear your voice in a standalone interview. It’s much cheaper (iPhone and a tripod would do just fine) and a lot less work.

Whereas those whose loved ones never recorded anything, we actually need to get multiple perspectives to get the full picture. Giving a voice to the silenced, if you will.

I say all of this just to let you know that when it comes to the applications, I will prioritize those folks since they really do need this service. But if no one like that does apply I’d be more than happy to help with a documentary about someone living