Faq’s

No, but it’s recommended. The consultation is pressure-free. Completely. We learn a little about the subject of the film, share with you what we do, how we do it, and what you get then answer any questions you may still have. These projects are very personal and we’ve found a quick conversation is the easiest way to convey the information. That being said, if you require everything to be handled by email, just let us know and we are happy to honor that request. 

We accept ACH, credit card, wire, cash, check, PayPal, and Venmo. And will consider barter for swine and mutton.

For regular Heritage Films, we collect a $500 deposit and then the balance when it’s completed. Travel fees collected 30 days prior to production. Signature Film terms established during discovery.

You will receive a welcome kit in your email. This kit explains the process, helps you get started on gathering pictures and documents, and has the links to the questionnaires we need filled out. Our coordinator will contact you about scheduling the production day and we are off and running!

Absolutely. We wouldn’t be in business if we didn’t! With every film we do, we don’t stop until it’s right. So we can provide you with as many references as you would like.

You bet. You can get an idea of the quality of our work from the sample clips elsewhere on this site. Or just fill out the contact us form. In the body write, “just send me examples.” And that is exactly what we’ll do.

As soon as a week, but usually three to four weeks after the deposit is made. In extenuating circumstances, we have filmed the next day.

Absolutely. While we are based in Houston, Texas, we’ve traveled all over this country and others (y otros, et d’autres, અને અન્ય, и другие, और अन्य, وغيرها, 和其他国家) filming amazing stories.

There are two types of research we do preparing for the interview. First, we research what is going on in the world around them when they were there. So, if they grew up in Houston in the 60s, we are going to know to ask about Hurricane Carla since that event had a great impact on everyone in Houston at the time. There are version of Carla that affect every community and we need to know about them. Second, we need to make sure we know about specific details provided in the questionnaire. If dad was a lineman working for the Pacific Railways, we need to make sure the producer has a basic understanding of what a railroad lineman’s job it like. Once the questionnaire is filled out, there is usually an email exchange drilling down on some additional details.

We send you a “wish list” of the pictures we hope you have. But basically, we want pictures from throughout the subject’s life. Ideally, most are from childhood and before…their parents and grandparents. But every family is different.

For most films, we scan them on the day of the shoot. We scan physical pictures or copy digital pictures to our computer. But more and more, families have already digitized their collections. So we copy paste.

The average time from contacting us until everything is completed is 12 weeks. Each family is in control of a few of the steps within the process. From the initial consultation to deciding to move forward varies. Once we receive the deposit, we send prospective filming dates, generally within 3-5 weeks out. After filming, editing takes 5 weeks. Then we will send a “finished” version of the film. We have an online tool that allows you to identify misspellings or mislabeled photos and ultimately give us a “thumbs up.” After that, we need one more week to put the finishing touches and corrections from you, then it’s done.

There are many variables, but our goal is a quiet environment.

• Make sure pets are in a different room.
• Vocal dogs should probably be with a neighbor. or kennel.
• Ice maker should be turned off.
• Make sure a lawn crew is not scheduled.
• Turn off all ringers on cell phones and land lines.
• Put a sign on the door to notify visitors that filming is taking place.

This list could go on forever, but you get the gist.

With most films, the crew will show up at the agreed upon time. They will identify the ideal place in the home to set up and bring in the cameras, lights, microphones, and a bunch of other fancy equipment. While they are setting up, your producer will have a casual chat with whoever is being filmed. By this point in the process, he already knows all about them, so it’s really just a casual conversation. After the guys have set the room up, the casual conversation will migrate to the room with all of the equipment, and filming will commence. While the interview takes place, one of the guys will be tucked away in a back room scanning in the pictures you’ve selected. At lunch, the whole Heritage team will leave for an hour giving you your house back. In the afternoon, the interview will continues until it’s done.

We are sensitive to the fact that this is probably the first time the subject has been through anything like this. And this sensitivity is obvious in the interview style. In a single word, the interview is fun. It truly is. We try to ask short questions with long answers and we show up prepared for anything. The finished film will not have the producer in it, just your loved one. So the questions are open-ended and custom tailored to the speaking style of the subject. If you would like to know the inspiration behind our interviews, we highly recommend “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”

Yes, but read on. Because we often take elements filmed late in the day and edit them in with things said early in the day, we prefer to film the entire interview in one location. Keep in mind, it takes about an hour to set up, so transitioning to another place in the home takes up valuable interview time. However, with ample planning ahead of time, we are happy to film a segment on the porch or patio to discuss one or two specific topics.

The average single-subject film is 81.5 minutes and the average multi-subject film is an hour and forty-one minutes. But who is counting? They’ve been as short as a little over an hour and as long as over three hours. But our goal is to make a documentary that is similar in length to a traditional Hollywood movie.

Two things. First, a humongous digital file. It’s like 20 gigs. We also mail a USB stick. We send the stick because that is the easiest way to watch the film right now. But the digital master is actually far more important. This file will allow you to keep up with technology so if you want to throw it up on your AppleTV or Roku, you can. And who knows what technology is around the corner five years from now. But whatever it is, you will have a studio master copy to play on it. You can also purchase additional USB sticks or DVDs.

Indeed we do. Forever and ever. You download it and it’s yours. But keep in mind, 45 days after filming, the project goes on ice. We can still get it to you, but it involves unarchiving from Amazon Glacier so there is a nominal fee.

Yes you can. Since we work with professional equipment, it is unlikely you would be able to watch it. But we can prepare it for you for a small fee. Or if you give us a drive, we will copy paste it. Good luck.

As of winter 2026, we have completed more than 700 films. Right at 1,000 people.

We have been in the professional filmmaking business since 2008. We filmed our first Heritage Film in the fall of 2015.