Inviting a filmmaker into one’s life to craft a private documentary is an intimate act — one that calls for trust, time, and emotional presence. That’s why this journey unfolds slowly and with care, following a step-by-step process. Whether you’re creating a film for yourself or as a meaningful gift for someone you love, the process begins in the same way: with a conversation.

Step One: The First Conversation

We begin with a phone call or a Zoom meeting to talk about your wishes and to clarify any first questions (whether the film is for you or for someone close to you). Afterwards, you (and, if you like, selected family members) either receive a short questionnaire, or we continue in another call. Together, we identify the central themes that matter most to you. This helps me understand your perspective and prepare open, thoughtful questions for the interview.

Step Two: The Life Story Interview

The interview takes place in your home, or at another location that feels meaningful to you — or, if the film is being created for someone else, in the setting that feels most natural for them. On the day itself, we take our time. It’s natural to feel a little unfamiliar in front of a camera. We begin simply with conversation and start filming only when it feels right. There is no script and no fixed pace — only a shared focus and a rhythm that follows your comfort.

The prepared themes serve as a loose guide, accompanying us chronologically through your life: childhood and youth, family roots, love and friendship, work, joy, and the challenges that have shaped you. You may pause at any moment and choose to include or skip any topic. To ensure you can speak freely, my approach is to minimize interruptions. This is your time, and the conversation unfolds gently over the course of one day — usually three to five hours, with room for breaks whenever you wish.

The full interview is recorded in its entirety and shared with you as a complete keepsake — unedited, authentic, and true to the flow of our exchange, with all its laughter, silences, and even tears. It becomes a personal treasure in itself. If you prefer, the session can also be recorded as audio only. From there, you may choose to continue with Step Three, where we craft your personal film memoir.

Step Three: Crafting Your Film Memoir

The first interview is not a commitment to a finished film; it is a beginning. After watching the recording and reflecting on its meaning, you can decide whether to continue. If you do, we will shape together a deeply personal film portrait: of your life, or of your family across generations.

The process is tailored to you: from a 15-minute short film to a 90-minute documentary. We may include further interviews, visual materials, or meaningful objects. The filming unfolds in the rhythm you choose — over days, weeks, or longer. The film becomes a lasting gift — a way to celebrate a life, mark a milestone, or express love and remembrance.

Far more than words on a page or pictures in an album, each film is alive — intimate, personal, and deeply moving. No two films are alike.
Depending on your wishes, we may continue our conversation or return to certain moments that call for more time and depth. Some films include interviews with family members or close friends, while others are enriched with photographs, home videos, letters, recipes, music, or readings that carry personal meaning.

Scenes from everyday life may also find their place — tending a garden, playing an instrument, walking through nature with someone dear, or moments of work, friendship, and creative expression.

Each film grows from your own rhythm. It is shaped with sensitivity, patience, and artistic care, preserving not only your story, but your presence — the quiet essence of who you are.

This is sensitive work. Sharing your story on film requires trust — and I hold that trust with great care. Sometimes it can be hard to ask loved ones certain questions. A thoughtful interviewer from outside the family can ask gently what those closest to you may not know how to put into words. In those moments, something unexpected — and sometimes even healing — can emerge.

Many people find that the conversation itself becomes deeply meaningful: a chance to pause, to look at life with fresh eyes, and sometimes to put into words what may never have been spoken before. I bring the same care to your film memoir as I do to my own autobiographical films.

Each film is private and shared only with those you (or the person featured) explicitly name.

To ensure your film can be cherished for generations, it is delivered in an exquisitely handcrafted keepsake chest. Each chest is bound in cloth or leather by a Swiss artisan and can be engraved with your name, a meaningful phrase, or a photograph.
In a time when so much feels digital and fleeting, what is tangible becomes increasingly precious.

Inside, you’ll find your story preserved on long-lasting archival media, along with printed stills and optional transcripts — creating a tangible heirloom to hold, revisit, and one day pass on.

For those wishing to preserve the film in other formats, such as archival discs, digital cloud links, or even 16mm film, I offer tailored options and ongoing support to help future-proof your legacy.