A documentary film of a lifetime, told in their own words.
Life Vault Films creates premium documentary films that preserve a family's story, essence, personality, and legacy for future generations. A documentary about a family, made for their family instead of for television.
Preserving a voice, a life, a legacy
Our clients are typically adult children who commission a film about their parents or grandparents while they are still healthy enough to share their memories in their own words.
The film preserves their voice, their laughter, their advice, and the small details that make them who they are.
Imagine your great-grandchildren sitting down in 50 years, pressing play, and hearing the voices of your mother and father.
How a film comes to life
Research
We begin with several hours of conversations with family members, learning the family's story, milestones, traditions, and values.
A custom interview plan
From that research we design a completely customized interview plan. No two are the same, because no two lives are the same.
Filming day at home
A relaxed, long-form interview in the comfort of home lets authentic stories emerge naturally.
A cinematic heirloom
We weave the interviews together with family photographs, home videos, historical footage, documents, and music into a film your family will treasure for generations.
A film your family will treasure forever
There will come a day when hearing their voices again would mean everything.
When you'd give anything to ask one more question, hear one more story, or watch them laugh one more time.
No one ever regrets preserving the people they love. The only regret is waiting until the opportunity has passed.
Life Vault Films creates something your children, grandchildren, and the generations after them can return to for decades: a living record of the people who shaped your family.
Don't wait until memories are all you have.
Everything your family's film needs
- Research & planningHours of conversations with family members before filming
- A full filming dayAt home, where people talk most freely
- A cinematic documentaryA finished film of 1 to 2 hours
- Your family photos, digitizedUp to 350 photos from your albums
- Up to 3 rounds of revisionsSo the film is exactly right
- A digital masterFor your family to keep and share for generations
Payment upfront or in stages. Families who want more voices, such as children, siblings and old friends, can add interviews and filming days.
Begin the conversationCommon questions
Where do you film?
In your parents' or grandparents' home. We work in Brooklyn, mainly Gravesend and Midwood, and in Deal, New Jersey in the summer. For other places, get in touch.
How long is the finished film?
Between 1 and 2 hours.
My parents aren't comfortable on camera. Will this work?
Most people aren't at first. The research conversations mean we already know their stories before filming starts, and the interview happens at home, at their pace, as a long conversation rather than a performance.
What happens to our photo albums?
We borrow them for up to 5 weeks, digitize up to 350 photos for the film, and return them.
What language are the interviews in?
Interviews are conducted in English.
Can I give the film as a gift?
Yes. A family film makes a gift for a milestone birthday, an anniversary, or a holiday. Get in touch early, since research and filming take time before the film is ready.
Begin the conversation
Tell us about your family
Call, text or email. We'll talk about who you'd like to film and what the film could include.
Victor BracaFounder, Life Vault Films · Host of the Momentum podcast