The Journal
On the craft
of remembering.
Uganda 1972: the expulsion of Asians, and the stories still here
In August 1972, Idi Amin gave Uganda's Asians 90 days to leave. What happened, where families went, and how to record your family's story of it.
Building a life in England: a portrait of Bishnu Das
A portrait film of Bishnu Das, born in 1943 in a Rajbari in undivided Bengal. He arrived in England with ten pounds and rebuilt a life from scratch.
Filming a parent after a diagnosis
It is not too late, and it does not need to be long. A gentle, practical guide to recording a parent's voice and stories after a diagnosis.
Gifts for elderly parents who have everything
The best gifts for elderly parents who have everything are rarely things. Six ideas that hold memory, from a recorded conversation to a portrait film.
Left home at 7: a portrait of Mahesh Gandhi
A portrait film of Mahesh Gandhi, born in Nairobi in 1947. At seven, he left home for Dar es Salaam. What carried him: family, faith, and community.
Life story book, app, or film: an honest comparison
Storyworth, StoryTerrace, Remento, a phone recording, or a portrait film. What each keeps of a parent's life, what it asks of them, and who it suits.
Married at 16: a portrait of Muktaben
A portrait film of Muktaben Pankhania, filmed at 87. Married at sixteen, she raised a family of fifteen. What a lifetime of family taught her.
Milestone birthday gift ideas for a parent at 70, 80, and 90
Gift ideas for a parent's 70th, 80th, or 90th birthday that go beyond objects, with honest UK costs, from a recorded conversation to a portrait film.
Retirement gifts for a founder or business owner
Retirement gift ideas for a founder, chosen by family, co-founders, or staff, and how a group can commission a personal film before the leaving date.
Questions to ask your parents about their life
The best questions to ask your parents are small and specific. 72 questions by life stage, and how to ask them so the real answers come.
Why founders are commissioning films about their own lives
Founders are commissioning personal documentaries at a point of change. Not brand films. Films about who they are, what they built, and why it mattered.
How to preserve your family's story on film
How to record a parent's life story on film in the UK: the kit, the sessions, and the questions, plus an honest look at the book and app alternatives.
Legacy films and life story films in the UK
A legacy film, or life story film, is a cinematic portrait of a real person. What's included, typical UK prices, and how to choose a filmmaker.
What if my parent is camera shy
Camera shyness is the most common concern we hear. It is also, almost always, not the obstacle people expect it to be.
Anniversary gifts for parents: a film from all of their children
A golden, ruby or diamond wedding anniversary gift for your parents: a portrait film of the two of them, given by all their children together.
Personal documentary cost in the UK
UK personal documentaries cost from under £1,500 to £15,000+. Ours start from £2,250, with three tiers and payment over 3 or 6 months.
What happens to a person's stories when they die
Most of what a person carries, the way they saw things and the stories they only told once, disappears when they do. It doesn't have to.
How to give a personal documentary as a gift
A personal documentary film makes a meaningful gift for a parent's milestone birthday. Here is what it involves, what it costs, and how far ahead to plan.
What is a personal documentary?
A personal documentary is a cinematic, director-led film about a real person. Not a promotional video. A character portrait, made to last generations.