Editing Tricks for Amateur Video #137: Edit the Biographical (Memorial) Video

Ideas for Creating a GREAT Biographical (Memorial) Movie

We're all hobbyists; our amateur editing skills are adequate, and we have some fun remembering our vacations.  Creation of a movie about the life of someone you cherish is a special challenge, one that stretches our skills.  We want to be especially proud when we share this work of love.

Here's a suggested workflow, based upon what worked for me when I created my Mom's memorial movie:

• Plan ahead. 
• Extreme urgency will always limit the quality of our work.
• Gather interviews.
• Scan and organize old photos & documents.
• Digitize old videos if they are on tape.
• Organize all the videos.
• Create a storyboard or outline of the movie
• Preview the media
• Segregate media into themes, such as:
• Early life
• Major events
• Having fun with friends & family
• Travel/vacations
• Work
• Begin the Rough Edit
• Use interviews as the primary timeline, to pace the movie's progress or support the outline.
• Use other video and still pictures to illustrate the interview. 
• Narration
• Decide if you will use a third-person narration.  This narration can introduce the movie, fill-in gaps, and help transition to new themes. 
• Write the narration script to support your rough edit
• Record the narration yourself, or use a volunteer "voice talent"
• Edit the narration audio into your timeline
• Cut and trim, taking clues from the narration timing.
• Add music track(s)
• Copyright considerations:  
• You might choose to use some of the honoree's favorite commercial music.  I suggest that, at a minimum, you borrow the person's own music collection or at least purchase the track(s).
• Royalty-free music will assure that your video can be shared on the Internet.
• Place the music into your project's timeline.
• Cut and trim, taking clues from the music timing.
• Transitions
• Cuts and simple fades create an elegant look.
• ...but this might be an opportunity to use some of your software's crazy transitions!
• Titles
• Titles can convey lots of information:  names, places, dates, etc.
• Start with the Opening Title
• Create informational titles to keep a consistent look
• Closing title could be a beautiful still photograph of your loved one.  If this is a memorial, perhaps add their life dates.
• Prepare final version
• Watch the movie carefully.  Correct spelling errors.  Last opportunity for cut and trim to tighten the edit.
• Preview the movie with a couple of friends.  Take notes, fix any errors.
• Lock the edit.  Output the final version to your hard drive as a video at full resolution.
• Distribution
• Prepare for projection at the celebration. 
• I suggest test it on your own equipment and bring your own equipment with you.
• Bring a copy of the movie on a flash drive or external hard drive for backup
• Output the movie as a DVD/BluRay disc.  Bring a DVD/BluRay player to the celebration as a backup.
• Duplicate the DVD for attendees if desired.  There are inexpensive duplication services who will print a photo/text on the discs.
• Post on the Internet if desired

I hope this is helpful!  Good luck with your memorial video project.