ReZoom

Preserving your parents' history with today's technology will give you a record of your family's stories ... and it may help your relationships, too.When Nashville, Tennessee's Ken Spradley began planning for his parents' 50th anniversary, he knew his gift would need to be special. His sister eventually gave him the perfect idea: He would record interviews with his parents and create a video account of their lives.

"They were all for it," Spradley says of his parents' reaction. "They wanted to share their past and have a record, so we have something to remember them by when they're gone."

Especially now that digital video equipment and software have become less expensive and easier to use, more people are documenting their family history in this way. Video histories may even be a preferred way to preserve stories and personalities since photos and home movies deteriorate and lose quality over time.

The Benefits of Making the Video

In addition to having a living record of your parents' lives, a key benefit of making a video biography is that the project will help you better understand them. Be ready to be surprised by what you learn. Spradley learned a lot about issues his family hadn't discussed, such as "involvement in World War II, how they got religion, funny things they remembered. They don't speak of themselves in conversation, so this was an opportunity," he recalls.

Recording interviews can also be therapeutic for your parents. According to Dr. Dilip Jeste, director of U.C. San Diego's Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, the process "gives the parents an opportunity to reminisce about the past, look back with pride at their past accomplishments and think about plans for the future. Research has shown that reminiscence therapy – which is based on similar principles – is often quite useful in elderly people."

You may decide, as Spradley did, to hire an independent interviewer. A professional will more likely be able to coax reluctant parents into talking more freely in front of a camera and speaking about sensitive family matters. "A possible risk is that certain disclosures may open old wounds and also revive unpleasant memories that have been long hidden from consciousness," warns Dr. Jeste.

If you decide to hire a third party, plan for at least one informal meeting, so your parents can meet the interviewer and get comfortable with the idea of talking about personal history with a stranger.
Jeste says that the benefits of creating the video generally outweigh the risks.

Planning Your Video

Start by deciding an ideal time to present the finished project. Spradley's parents' 50th anniversary is a good example, but you could also unveil your work at an anticipated birthday party or retirement dinner. Family reunions are another good venue since the family is all together.

Once you've decided the time, then work backwards and allow four to six months to actually complete the project. Begin by listing and then organizing interview questions. (See sidebar to help you get organized.) Review your questions with your parents beforehand to find out what other questions they may want to add and to give them time to think about how they will respond in front of the camera. You may also want to go through the family albums and home videos with your parents. These visuals will not only spark memories but may also be used as cover shots for parts of their interviews.

Finding the Right Equipment

If you don't hire an outside documentary production company (check your local listings), the next step is to gather the required equipment. Most importantly, you need a video camera. In theory, any camera will suffice; but since you are recording your parents' video biographies to pass on for generations to come, consider purchasing a higher grade camera than what you may currently have for making home videos.

If you want to keep the project simple, you may want to purchase a "straight-to-DVD" video camera, although that option sacrifices editing capability. If your interview is really organized, though, this could be a great way to have something that's easy to play – all you have to do is pop it into a DVD player – and copy. A DVD Handycam Camcorder can be purchased for less than $450.

Your best overall bet for quality, price and editing options is a simple digital camcorder. Almost any "3 chip" or "3 CCDs" camcorder (less than $250) should provide the quality you need. Don't forget to purchase a tripod (less than $100) so that you can achieve a steady video image.

Remembering that sound quality is as important as the visuals, some find that it's worth the investment to purchase an external microphone. There are many types of lapel mikes, but to ensure quality, consider the Sony ECMMS907 Digital Recording Microphone (less than $100). It easily connects to any digital video camera and also can be connected to your computer for any added voice-overs.

Editing Your Video

Unless you've chosen a video-to-DVD camera or you've hired a professional film editor or documentary maker, purchasing and learning how to use editing software for your computer is the next step.

"Editing was necessary," observes Spradley. "Some of the material was edited out simply because there was too much information. We planned on four hours and ended up with 10 to 20 hours of material. I don't think anyone would ever want to use everything they've got."

When shopping for an editing program, consider purchasing NeroVision (less than $100), Sony Vegas ($130) or Ulead video Studio (less than $100) if you have a PC. Macintosh computers almost always come loaded with Apple iMovie, which makes it simple to edit and also makes it easy to spice up a video by integrating family photos.

For adding photos, you might also consider purchasing a scanner. Almost any scanner will do, so don't plan to spend more than $100.

Ready to get started?

• Click here for our interview guide, with a list of questions to get you started.

• Or, see our story about preserving your family snapshots.

Here at ReZoom, we're exploring ways to leave behind a positive legacy. Click here to see the rest of our stories. Get inspired. It's never too late to create a legacy. More