1c. Tips from Readers:
Using Technology to Tell Family Stories
By Barbara Heinrich
Two years ago while visiting my then 87-year-old mother and looking at
old photos, one of my nieces kept asking, "Who's this? What was this
about? Who were they?"
My brother and I were astonished! Why didn't everyone know? Then and
there I had a project that formed for the future. I borrowed as many
photos as my mom would let me have, asked stories and names on some I
didn't know. Armed with a ton of photos I flew home and my adventure of
preserving history for the younger generations began.
I used a program called Pinnacle (a digital video editing/authoring
software application) that icons as Studio 8. Many of the new young
movie makers who sell to TV or hopefully to the big screen use this
program. You can produce DVDs, VHS tapes, send as e-mails, etc. On my
Windows XP and my Epson 1260 scanner I began the laborious process. This
idea is not for the faint of heart, new computer people, or those
not interested in details and more details and technical issues. Also
you must be willing to invest HOURS of time and look through many slides
and photos and get the scoop on them from various relatives--especially
the older ones. I had fun doing this project, but tore my hair out on
numerous occasions.
My first project was to trace my dad's maternal side of the family in
pictures and stories. I have all dates and names recorded and some
stories on Family Tree Maker (genealogy program), but who will ever go
through that beside a genealogist? I spent hours learning the program
and scanning old photos to "The Richard Trester Story" file. In this
program you can create titles, add voice, and put music in the
background. It takes longer to do than when you are using movie film or
camcorder usage, but this was all *old* information--and mostly in black
and white.
When I finished I thought I had a pretty good DVD for family members--
about 20 minutes' worth. And, without my son-in-laws patient help it
never would have been completed. (Now, one and a half years later, I
will not show this DVD to anyone else--the quality is lacking.)
Next was a DVD on my dad's paternal side that was exciting for me
because I had just made a connection to my grandfather's family (he and
my great-aunt had been orphaned when they were youngsters). Much of the
old info no one else knew. And, I carried it up to present date with my
family, my brother's, and my sister's. Everyone was in it.
I also had a section on "Our Weddings," "Our Pets," "Some
Graduations,"
and my parents' 50th wedding celebration (that everyone had attended).
Was this one better? You bet! I had learned a lot of tricks to the
program and had solved the problem of background noise and exploding
letters (like p's and b's). This one was about 40 minutes. It met with
great acclaim from the family. It took at least a 100 hours to do.
My mother's story, which incorporated maternal and paternal info into
one DVD, included adding maps, and clip art, some humorous during longer
stories into the program. This one was about 48 minutes. My mother
recorded some of the voice-over, too. By now everyone was aghast at how
the quality had improved and the info they were viewing. How much more
interesting than just watching someone's slide show or old photo albums.
We all spent part of our summers at our grandparents' cottage on a lake
in Wisconsin. But why did they buy it? What was behind it all? How
did the cottage transform into a year-round house, etc. This project
was 50 minutes long. My mother, uncle, and mother's neighbor whose
family had built at the same time were all the final authorities on
stories and issues. (She got a VHS copy for herself as she and her
parents were woven throughout the project.)
My uncle, who is 93, our family patriarch, and also a genealogist
couldn't get over all the work I had done and the info I had easily
incorporated into the photos. Cousins and my brother said, "Thanks for
all your work." and, "I'm glad YOU did it and not me!" Some gal
friends
were visiting while I was viewing a final copy of this DVD and made me
play the whole thing for them. They were astonished and amazed how good
it was -- and not boring. Could they do one of their family?
By now my husband had said, "When are you going to do *my* family?"
This is our current project and this one will employ movie clips that
will be interspersed throughout the film. This one gets into Ellis
Island files, Austria during World War I and immigration. I am producing
the project and he is directing the order and will provide most of the
voice-over. His latest comment was, "I'm glad you are doing this. I
never would have done it!" He is not into details.
So, if you have the time or inclination -- try it. It's a good way to
record your family roots. There are other programs that will make CDs
and DVDs, but some of them will not cut a DVD or will not allow voice-
over and background music. Explore.