MOTION ELECTRIC FILMS
Family Stories
are your
Greatest Treasure
Motion Electric Films offers a service called Digital Narrative Archive which creates unique legacy films, also known as family history videos or oral histories. We take family photography to the next level by creating portraits that speak for generations to come. We craft timeless memories by capturing in-depth interviews of your family members as they share their life stories. These films are then archived in multiple formats to ensure proper preservation for future generations.
Services are available for individuals and family reunions in New Orleans, Austin, Texas, and beyond.
Portraits that Speak
for Generations
How it Works
1. Questions List
Schedule an interview with us and we'll send you a list of life history questions to review. You can pick your favorites and/or add your own.
2. Action!
We can meet you at your home, at a nearby studio or online. We'll record your family member for up to 75-minutes as they answer questions and tell stories from their life. It's ideal for a family member to ask the questions, but we're available as well.
3. Editing
After the interview, we'll take your talking portrait back to our editing room to give it some polish.
4. Review
Before we send you copies of your film, you’ll have a chance to review our edit in case you want to remove any stories.
5. Share
Once you approve the final film, we'll send you a link that you can use to share privately or publicly. You can post it to social media and/or genealogy sites.
6. Preserve
Lastly, we'll ship you an engraved crystal USB drive as well as an archival BluRay disc stored inside an anti-corrosive, fire proof and waterproof bag.
Excerpts
Opening Montage Sample
Growing up in WWII Story
Radio Operator Story
Investment
Starting at $2850
$1200 for each additional family members filmed the same day.
Includes editing and preserving the film in multiple formats.Starting at $4500
We'll interview multiple family members for up to 4 hours.
Includes editing and preserving the film in multiple formats.Let's Talk!
We can create a Netflix-style documentary about your family.
FAQ
We've developed a comprehensive question list designed to cover the full arc of your family member's life—from childhood memories and teenage years to career, family, and reflections on lessons learned. Questions range from the specific ("What was your favorite music as a teenager?") to the reflective ("What do you wish you'd known at 25?"). After scheduling, we'll send you the full list so you can add questions unique to your family's story or remove any that don't fit. Think of it as a starting point to spark meaningful conversation.
Preservation is central to everything we do. We don't just send you a link and call it done. You'll receive your film in multiple formats: a private cloud link for easy sharing, an engraved USB flash drive, and an archival-quality M-DISC Blu-ray designed to last for generations. Everything arrives in a gift box along with our preservation guide, which includes tips on protecting your video for decades to come—like sharing it widely with family and updating the format every ten years.
You absolutely can, and we encourage it if our service isn't the right fit. But there are real advantages to working with us. We use broadcast-quality cameras and professional audio equipment—smartphone video has come a long way, but it doesn't compare. Beyond the technical side, we have experience guiding interviews and helping people feel comfortable on camera. And our archival delivery ensures your recording won't get lost in a phone backup or disappear from a cloud service years from now.
That's entirely up to you. Your film can remain completely private, shared only with family through a password-protected link, or posted publicly for others interested in your family's history—some clients share their films through genealogy websites. Your family maintains complete ownership of all footage and final content.