Their voice. their story. Yours forever.
Perennial Films was founded by a multi Emmy-award-winning filmmaker to professionally capture and produce personal documentary films that feature the stories of your aging parents. The short films are not intended to be exhaustive life stories of a single person. Our proprietary research and production process was created to unlock the moments that made an impact on their lives and your family while shining a light on memories that matter and insights they would like to pass down through the generations. The filming is fun, it is easy on your end and we’ve discovered that the final films are not only a gift but a relief for the family to have their stories, in their voice, from their perspective in hand.
a gift across generations
The Portrait is designed to capture the story and insights of a a single person. The one-on-one interview will be professionally produced and filmed in a single day in your home. While on location, if possible, we will film the person looking through a photo album or sharing a meaningful object or family heirloom. The final short documentary video (approximately 20 minutes) will include 15-20 pictures, music and a signature graphics package.
The Legacy Gathering is a unique opportunity to capture up to five interviews conducted on on a single day at a single location. We will also shoot footage of the family over a shared meal and/or meaningful activity where we will capture authentic moments with the larger group enjoying each other's company. The final documentary style film (approximately 20-25 minutes) will be professionally produced, lit and edited. It includes up to 25 pictures with original music and a signature graphics package.
The Family Chronicle is a slightly larger endeavor where we will film up to six interviews, on as many as three locations over the course of two days. Intended to provide a deeper dive into family, dynamics and place, the film will include b-roll footage captured during a family gathering and authentic moments over a shared meal and/or meaningful activity. The final deliverable will be a professionally produced, shot and edited documentary film (approximately 25-30 minutes) with up to 35 pictures, music and a signature graphics package.
The Thread is imagined to capture a child through time. Ideally we would film on annual basis in their bedroom around the time of their birthday (this can also be shot every other year or third year) from talking to graduation. Every time we film we will produce and deliver a short film for you to have and share - however, the goal is to create a cumulative film across the years delivered at Year 18 as students launch to next chapters.
Please Note: Bespoke options are available and priced accordingly. Our primary service area includes the DMV, Washington DC, Annapolis, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Northern Virginia, Ashburn, Falls Church, McLean, and Middleburg VA — and we're willing to travel as needed.
Barbara Belmont’s
Perennial Film
We are excited to share a section from both Barbara Belmont’s and Clare del Aguila’s stories - we’d love the opportunity to capture yours. If you would like to talk about creating your Perennial Film, fill out the contact form below for more.
“...Our family couldn’t be more grateful to have my mom’s story on film, in her own words. It’s beautiful."
-Jennifer Soloway
the perennial difference
The StoryMap
(Discovery)
Before any camera is lifted, the client completes the StoryMap: an easy to use intake survey designed to surface known and untold stories, turning points, formative relationships and hopes for future generations. This is followed by a one-hour intake call, recorded for reference.
A separate Heirloom Assessment asks the client to identify 10–15 photographs, objects, or places of significance. The output is a Client Brief that empowers Perennial to personalize the interview(s) architecture and pre-identifies visual anchors for the filming day.
Hearthlight
(Production Aesthetic)
A key differentiator for Perennial Films is the company’s approach to lighting and filming in any home environment.
Soft, warm, three point lighting creates a cinematic quality that is not only complimentary to the subject but feels authentic. The protocol covers lens selection, camera placement (slightly below eye level for intimacy), set dressing that removes distraction without sterilizing the space, and professional audio capture for absolute clarity. The result is a consistent visual signature across every Perennial Films project.
StoryThread
(The Interview)
StoryThread is a proprietary question architecture— not a script. Questions are structured across five tiers: Origin, Specific Memory, Context, Values, Legacy, The Unsaid Lifetime Learned.
The Memory Walk is a distinct 10–15 minute segment in which the subject physically moves through photographs or meaningful objects, narrating in their own words with minimal prompting from the interviewer.
The secret sauce, beyond the format, is listening - this is a skill learned through years of directing and production experience. Knowing how and when to lean into stories and follow up questions that capture a full narrative and allows for real authenticity, plus surprise and delight moments.
No regrets.
Life is long, time is short. Send an inquiry and let’s get started on imagining and capturing your Perennial Film Now.