30 Answers
Q1: What’s the hurry to transfer my old film and video to digital?
A1: It’s simple - the photographs, slides, videotape, and film in your closet are deteriorating. Slowly at first, then increasing with age. Some of your items may already be unsalvageable. If you do nothing else (a video), at least you need to immediately get your media transferred to a digital DVD. Don’t put it off any longer. See Get it Together and Digital Archiving.
Q2: My old photos and film are kept in an air-tight box. Are they safe?
A2: Well, although it’s good that you are limiting the amount of air and light to them, unfortunately they are still deteriorating. The only safe way to preserve them is to transfer them to digital media.
Q3: I have all this old film and video. What do I do with it?
A3: Just bring it to us. The tendency is for people to think they will first “go through it all” and then just transfer what they really want. Seems like a good idea, but it seldom works that way. The reason is either they don’t have the original player (film projector, beta cassette player, etc.), or if they do, they don’t have a way to time out the desired segments and no way to adequately communicate that information to the one doing the transferring.The best bet is usually to transfer everything (in chunks) to a digital tape, which creates a new tape master. This tape can be viewed easier and also contains a running time sequence called Time Code, that is visible on the player. This makes marking clips easy. Talk to your StoryBox associate for more details.
Q4: Why should I do a video about me and my ancestors?
A4: There are many great reasons, but here’s a few: First, your life is important. Everyone’s is. Sometimes we feel isolated and insignificant on this earth. When we connect with the people of our past and present and see the big picture of our lives, we gain a real perspective and amazingly, it gives us a sense of strength and stability.
Secondly, from a historical perspective, members of your family deserve to know their ancestors and what their experiences were. We have a natural curiosity about our heritage, and even though it's not always pretty (just like our lives), the knowing gives us a sense of identity and connection. This is why the genealogy movement is so strong and still picking up momentum today. Click on Genealogy.
As for your life in the present, we have a wonderful opportunity with today’s technology to not only document our lives, but celebrate it and pass on our legacy to the next generation. What better gift could you give your children, besides your love and care? Remember, memories fade, but digital doesn’t!
Q5: What’s the rush to do a video about my family?
A5: We are sensitive to being labeled an “ambulance chaser” by saying this, but here goes: your elderly loved ones won’t last forever (we all won't). We’ve heard too many people say: “If only I STILL had that recording of Grandpa Joe”, or “I really didn’t know my Grandmother. She lived in another state, and now she’s gone”. Regrets really can be a bitter pill to swallow. The best time to document your loved one's lives is NOW. Please don't wait.
Q6: What about interviews? Do you do them?
A6: Yes, by all means! We consider an interview essential to getting the most out of your memorabilia. Image montages with music are very appealing to watch, but when combined with Grandpa Sam actually telling the story, it's absolutely golden! An interview narration explains the pictures, puts them in a historical context, and gives them personality. You not only get to see the pictures, you get to see and hear Grandpa Sam talk!
Q7: Do you have to be into genealogy to find this appealing?
A7: Genealogy is quite an exciting trend in this country and it is quite a fulfilling activity for many people, but involvement is not necessary for you to enjoy a family history video. Video projects like these, like genealogy in general vary quite a bit in scope, depending on your particular interest, money and time. You can do a short 10-minute series of clips or a two-hour, multi-movie DVD with chapters (and something in between). Yes, you can certainly produce a video without becoming a full-blown Genealogy nut. It’s completely up to you.
Q8: What’s been the reaction so far with the StoryBox Creative idea?
A8: Very positive. Everywhere we go and whomever we talk to, the reaction is pretty much the same: “What a great idea”. Even people who don’t choose to do a video are impressed with the concept.
Q9: What’s the process for producing a video?
A9: Here are the steps:
- We meet with you to determine your needs and explain your options. We pride ourselves on getting to know our customers and their desires.
- We explain the process for gathering your memorabilia and sorting it chronologically into categories.
- We get a commitment from you and set a time of your choosing to meet and collect your material.
- We start the editing process and add any other extras that you might want, like an interview, film clips, etc.
- We bring you in to check the draft and make any changes you want.
- We output the final to VHS tape or DVD, whichever you desire, plus any additional copies.
Q10: How long does producing a video take?
A10: After the initial meeting, we generally give our customers from one to three weeks to gather their memorabilia (more if they desire). After we have their material, editing normally takes between two days to two weeks, depending on the jobs ahead of yours. Regardless, we will commit to a timeframe and deliver your video on time.
Q11: What's my part in the process?
A11: Your family gets to be the star attraction and provide the raw material. We do the editing. Gathering your media can be easy or more difficult, depending on how organized you are, and the length of your final product. StoryBox will help you in determining your categories, and give you advice on what kind of material would be suitable. Obviously you shouldn’t put everything you have into it, just the best. We will be the objective voice of reason if you need our help. Go to Get it Together for more information.
Q12: Gathering my material together seems like a lot of work. Who has the time?
A12: We are sympathetic. But no good work is easy and we wouldn’t suggest you do this if we didn’t think it was essential. We all get busy in our lives and it's all too easy to set photos aside.
But StoryBox Creative is here to help! We offer encouragement, advice, and special tools like our Picture Organizer. We also sponsor "Picture Parties" from time to time. These special events are fun, and provide many benefits, like discounts, instruction, prize giveaways, and just plain ol' support from others like you. Bottom line: YOU CAN DO IT and you’ll be so glad you did. Go to Get it Together and Community.
Q13: I would imagine this process can be emotional, right?
A13: Yes definitely. The process of going through your memories can be joyous, sentimental, and even a little sad sometimes. But all in all, it is an amazing and beneficial experience. When you see your heritage in vibrant pictures and sound, you gain a perspective that isn't possible with your memory alone. During your video “premiere”, there will probably not be a dry eye in the room. This is a product that you will truly treasure the rest of your life. Click on Tell Your Story.
Q14: There are parts of my family history that I’m not crazy about. Should I still have a video made?
A14: By all means YES. None of our family histories are perfect, with the occasional scoundrels and unfortunate circumstances. We understand that certain family members can be a sore spot in the family history. Divorces and other unfortunate things happen. Bottom line is that this is YOUR video and it doesn’t have to be a comprehensive archive. You can include or not include whatever content you want. Whatever serves your family’s best interest is what you should do. You want to remember the positive and forget the rest.
Q15: How long will my video be?
A15: It depends on three things: the amount of interesting material you have, the watchable length you desire to end up with, and of course, what your budget is. Generally, family history videos run between 15 minutes and an hour in length. Go to Packages for more information.
Q16: Do you do other videos besides family history videos?
A16: Yes we do. Some are in the works, some we haven’t tried yet. Besides our regular family history videos, we also do retrospective videos specifically for celebrations, like 50th anniversaries, wedding receptions, high school graduation parties, and others. During a time of grieving, we do special memorial videos that honor a loved one during their funeral. Click on Video Types to find out more.
Q17: What exactly is digital technology anyway? Is it just DVDs?
A17: DVDs are digital technology, but digital is much more than that. Older technology like VHS videotape, and rolling film are called "analog". Digital provides exceptional bright and crisp visuals, and clean audio. Besides the great quality, a huge benefit is duplication quality. Digital media (DVDs) are much more durable than videotape or prints, and can be recorded and re-recorded many times without any loss of quality. That's why we tell our customers to have us convert their memorabilia over to digital. It stops the degradation. See Technology for more detailed information.
Q18: I want to make the transition to digital, but I don’t like using computers. What can I do?
A18: It’s understandable - computers can be intimidating for those who didn’t grow up with them. The good news is that you don't have to be a computer whiz, you just need a DVD player to watch your movie. With the deteriorating nature of old analog media, it’s essential that you salvage your memorabilia and transfer it to digital right away. But a transfer doesn’t mean you lose your originals, just that you now have a better quality and more permanent backup. You can always find someone who is computer-savvy to print out your pictures for you and perform other digital tasks. And most importantly, you will have something you can pass on to the next generation (who no-doubt already know computers well).
Q19: DVDs are popular now. What if another standard comes along and changes things?
A19: Yes, DVDs are the hands-down standard right now, but really, its laser technology that drives it. CDs and laserdiscs also use laser technology and things seem to be set for a while with lasers. But regardless, with virtually no quality loss copying from DVD to whatever the next digital medium is, we are in a much better situation than we were with old analog technology. So relax and enjoy your DVD.
Q20: Can I make photos from my video?
A20: You can, but not at an adequate size. Video resolution is lower than print - the biggest print you’ll get is about a 3 x 5. Although making a video does transfer your images to digital format, for most people, it’s not enough. We recommend you also have StoryBox scan your photos at a high resolution for better reprint capability. Go to Technology and especially Digital Archiving.
Q21: I don't have a DVD player. How can I play my movie?
A21: StoryBox will record your movie to any format you prefer, like VHS videotape. We will still provide you with a DVD master at no cost.
Q22: Can you record my movie onto a CD?
A22: Yes, but with the limited capacity of CDs compared to DVDs, it makes no sense. We would have to format your movie at a low resolution or size (bad quality). DVD is what you want.
Q23: Will you save digital files (scanned photos) for PC or for Macintosh?
A23: These days there is no real difference in graphic or video formats across platforms. Your PC or Macintosh won’t care one way or the other.
Q24: I have some old photos that are in bad shape. Can you restore them?
A24: Yes we can and we’d love to. We can work miracles with scratches, fading, or most any other blemish, but only to a point. If it’s really bad and indistinguishable, we’d have to guess at what Uncle George looks like and paint it in. We’re good, but not that good. And for a special photographic gift, consider our photo collages. We take 10 or less of your favorite photos, usually surrounding a theme, and tastefully meld them together into a beautiful collage. See Other Services.
Q25: I have a computer and a digital video camera. Why can’t I just produce a video on my own?
A25: Modern desktop computers have put graphics and video tools into the hands of many people today. But just because a person can read a law book doesn’t mean he or she can practice law (and practice it well). And even if a person is good enough and knows all there is to know, consider the time factor. Not only would this person have to do all the shooting and editing, but they would have to organize their memorabilia as well.
StoryBox uses a streamlined system for inputting photos and slides. This time advantage gives our customers a beautiful video at an affordable price. And by the way, we have over 25 years of experience in video production and visual communications. We know our stuff. Go to About SBC.
Q26: How much will a family history video cost?
A26: Our videos start at $350 and go up, depending on the amount of material and whether you choose the interview option. See Packages for more details.
Q27: Do you offer any discounts or specials?
A27: Yes, StoryBox Creative values your satisfaction and rewards you for sharing it with others. We offer a Word-of-Mouth Referral Reward program. We also offer discounts at group presentations and during one of our Picture Parties. See Community for details.
Q28: I’ve heard that these things can be expensive. But are they worth it?
A28: At the end of the day, only you know what you value and what you don’t. We offer something that goes beyond mere dollar amounts - a collectable that you will literally treasure the rest of your life.
Our basic video package retails for $350. That’s at least a third of what you'd pay at a commercial video production house. But ask yourself this Million Dollar Question: How much inheritance will you leave to your kids (or how much would you like to)? You’d give them all of what you own, right? Your possessions, your money, probably totaling in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Is $350 too much to spend, to pass on the most important gift of all – your values, your likeness, your experiences – YOU?
This makes such crystal-clear sense to us at StoryBox; that’s why we created the company. Family legacies are our passion. What we charge is minimal; what we offer is priceless! Go to Tell Your Story.
Q29: What other services do you offer?
A29: We specialize in documenting and celebrating life. So any event that is worth remembering can warrant video. We can arrive and tape an event, like a wedding. Or we can prepare a retrospective video to show at an event. The sky's the limit, just ask we'll do it. See Video
Types and Packages. We also perform image restoration services. Go to Other Services.
Q30: What is a living will?
A30: It’s a recent trend that records not legal wishes of a person, but his or her ideals, values and important thoughts to their loved ones, to be shared after they're gone. It can be as simple as a quick on-camera "speech", to a full-blown video. See also Video Types .
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