Life Story Interview

Preserve a life in their own words. A gently guided, filmed conversation explores the people, places and experiences that shaped them, creating a personal record for your family to keep.

$895

Life, in Their Own Words

You may know the milestones of someone’s life without knowing how they experienced them: what home was like growing up, how they chose their work, the people who influenced them or the decisions that changed their direction.

Life Story Interview gives one person space to reflect on those experiences in a gently guided, 75-minute filmed conversation. A 45-minute planning session helps identify the chapters, relationships and memories you most want to preserve, shaping an interview around the person rather than a fixed list of questions.

The conversation can move from childhood and family life through work, relationships and later experiences, with room to linger on what matters most. There is no expectation to cover every year or recall every date.

You receive a lightly edited video that preserves their account in their own voice, including the expressions, humour and reflections that a written summary cannot convey.

What your Life Story Interview includes:

A Personal Planning Session
A 45-minute conversation to identify the life chapters, relationships and experiences to explore. Discuss useful photographs or objects, topics that deserve particular attention and anything the storyteller would prefer to leave out.

A Gently Guided Life Story Interview
A 75-minute filmed conversation with one storyteller. Thoughtful questions connect different chapters of their life while leaving room for reflection, unexpected memories and the stories they most want to tell.

Professional Video and Sound Recording
Clear sound and considered filming preserve their voice, expressions and personality, with attention to creating a comfortable setting for the conversation.

A Lightly Edited Video
Sound levels are balanced and obvious interruptions tidied up, while the storyteller’s meaning and natural way of speaking are preserved. The result remains their account of their life, rather than a scripted documentary.

A Private Digital Keepsake
Your finished video is delivered as a downloadable file, ready to watch, share with relatives and keep as part of your family archive.

Your Life Story Interview Package

75-min filmed conversation, 45-min planning session
$895

Your package centres on one person’s life, with the planning session used to choose the chapters and themes that matter most. The longer interview provides room to explore how experiences connect, how relationships developed and how the storyteller’s perspective has changed over time.

The price includes planning, professional video and sound recording, light editing and private digital delivery. The finished video preserves the conversation’s natural character. Extensive restructuring, historical research and the editing of photographs or home videos into the film are not included, but can be discussed as a separate project.

Recording can take place at the Breadcrumbs studio in Adelaide or at a suitable location agreed beforehand. Any travel or location costs are explained and approved before booking.

A Conversation, Not a Performance

You do not need a script, a polished story or a perfect memory for dates. Gentle questions help you find a starting point and follow the details that matter, at a pace that feels comfortable.

A photograph, familiar object or another person’s recollection can help bring a memory into focus. There is room for laughter, reflection and different versions of a shared experience.

You choose what to discuss. You can pause, take a break, skip a question or leave a subject alone. The aim is to preserve a recognisable person telling their story in their own way.

Your Questions, Answered

  • No. The 45-minute planning session helps identify the chapters, relationships and experiences you want to explore. There is no script to learn and no need to remember every date or tell everything in order.

    Photographs, letters or meaningful objects can provide useful prompts, but they are not essential.

  • The 75-minute interview explores the chapters agreed during planning. It can take a broad view of your life or spend more time on particular experiences and relationships.

    The aim is a meaningful personal account, not an exhaustive record of every year.

  • Yes. A relative or trusted support person is welcome to offer reassurance and occasional prompts. The interview remains centred on one storyteller, giving them space to speak in their own way.

    If you would prefer a shared interview with two storytellers, we can discuss which service would suit.

  • An interview can be a lot to do in one hit! Short comfort breaks are taken when needed without reducing your 75 minutes of interview time. You can also pause, skip a question or move away from a subject whenever you need to. The magic of editing means we can deal with the order after the conversation if we need to!

  • The package includes a 75-minute interview, rather than a guaranteed 75-minute finished video.

    The final duration depends on the conversation and the material removed during light editing, such as technical interruptions.

  • Light editing prepares the recording for comfortable viewing, including balancing sound levels and tidying obvious interruptions. It preserves your meaning and the natural character of the conversation.

    It does not include extensive restructuring, a scripted narrative or editing photographs and home videos into a documentary.

  • Photographs, letters and objects can be used as prompts during the interview.

    Scanning photographs or incorporating archive material into the edited video is separate production work. If you would like these woven into a documentary, we can discuss the Family Legacy Film service.

  • Interviews can take place in the comfort of your home, at the Breadcrumbs studio in Adelaide or at a suitable location agreed beforehand.

    A comfortable, reasonably quiet space helps produce a clear recording. Any travel or location costs are explained and approved before booking.

  • Yes. A Life Story Interview can be a thoughtful gift for a birthday, anniversary, retirement or another family occasion.

    The storyteller must understand the service and agree to participate. If the gift is a surprise, we can discuss how to introduce it before arranging the interview.

  • Your finished video is delivered privately as a downloadable digital file, normally within 2–3 weeks of the interview. The expected delivery date is confirmed when booking, and you will be kept informed if anything affects the schedule.

    Download the file and retain your own backup copies. Download availability and retention arrangements are explained before booking.

  • Yes. Your recording is delivered privately and is not published or used in marketing or a portfolio without separate written permission.

    Everyone whose contribution is recorded must agree to participate. You decide who receives the finished video.

  • A 50% deposit is required after accepting the agreed scope and Terms and Conditions, before work begins. The remaining balance is due before delivery of your finished video.

  • Yes. Please give at least 48 hours’ notice to move your interview without a rescheduling fee. Your deposit transfers to the new date, subject to availability.

    If illness, a family emergency or another unexpected circumstance arises at shorter notice, contact Breadcrumbs as soon as possible so we can discuss suitable arrangements.