Allen Bronstein, cofounder of MobileMovieMaking, has recently been shooting short video biographies. While these typically capture the lives of older subjects or even people who have died, the form can be used to tell the story of anyone of any age. In the following interview, Allen provides advice that filmmakers can use to celebrate the lives of family members, friends, neighbors, and anyone else they care about.

MMM: Does the term “legacy video” refer to what you’re doing?

Allen: I  prefer to think of them as mini biographical documentaries.   Being a storyteller I’m looking for a way to talk about a persons life and accomplishments in terms of who they’ve become or achieved in their lives.  I’ve done videos about famous or accomplished people, but the real unsung heroes are the housewives  and caretakers who sacrifice for others.   Everyone’s life matters.

MMM: Why is this kind of video important?

Allen: We all need recognition.   If done properly it validates the person’s life and their reason for being in concrete terms.  It’s not just some passing thought or feeling, but a tangible thing that’s been seen and documented.   It  really happened.   It’s also a gift that one can leave for future generations so they can “see and hear”  who you are and also know where they’ve come from.

MMM: What are the visual elements?

Allen: I’ve used old video footage and home movies,  live interviews, old photos, awards, newspaper and magazine articles, and even keepsakes  (tickets to events or performances), anything that is meaningful to the individual.    The secret is to listen and find the story behind the object and use that object to reveal the person.

MMM: Do you have a standard script?

Allen: No. Every subject is different.   It’s the challenge of finding and telling the person’s story  that makes this so exciting for me.

MMM: What tips do you have for interviewing a person?

Allen: Treat it as if it were an informal conversation. You want your subject to relax and forget that they’re being interviewed. You want them feel like they’re just talking to you.

MMM: When does it make sense to interview other people about the subject?

Allen: If the subject has died or is unable to talk, you can often get important information from family members or others. But even when the subject is available, sometimes other people provide really interesting perspectives that enrich the story.

MMM: Can you tell us something about your editing approach?

Allen: In my opinion, shorter is better. I usually aim for a finished biography of eight to ten minutes.

MMM: If a person’s had a long and rich life, how do you squeeze it into such a short video?

Allen: The secret is limiting the scope of the story to one, two, or three topics. Trying to cover everything tends to dilute rather than enhance the story.

MMM: So that means you leave out clips that you’ve shot?

Allen: Yes, that’s an important part of the editing process.

MMM: Are there other editing techniques that you rely on?

Allen: The main one is the Ken Burns Effect. Named for the famous documentarian who made the Civil War series,  it allows the filmmaker to add movement to still images, for example, zooming in or out. The tool is built into iMovie and other editing software. [You’ll find a helpful Ken Burns Effect tutorial created by David A. Cox here.]

MMM: How do you choose the music?

Allen: If possible, I have the subject choose it or  someone who is close to the person. It helps keep my ego and personal choices out of the process. This approach can reveal another dimension of the subject’s personality because for many people, music is an important part of their lives.

MMM: How did you get into producing biography videos?

Allen: I was asked to do a memorial video for a Superior Court Judge and musician and discovered that I truly loved the challenge of tell people’s stories that reveal who they are in a way that touches people’s hearts and minds. I love the process of creating personal documentaries —because everyone is important!

 

You can find out more about Allen’s work at www.yourlifematters.video