What To Expect

A detailed look at our production process

How a Retold film is made

Every film we create is shaped around a story, their character, and what feels most important to show the audience.

Some focus on individual stories and moments.
Others explore a full lifetime.
And sometimes, as in this case, we bring both together.

From planning and filming to editing

This film began as a family. We spoke about:

  • the stories we already knew

  • the ones we wanted to explore further

  • and what felt important to hold onto

This process helps shape the direction of the film, ensuring it reflects not just a life, but what matters most to the people closest to it.

In this case, there was also a sense of urgency. A terminal diagnosis meant we had a limited window to capture these moments, even as energy and health declined.

Although this documentary had been something we had discussed before, it became clear that this was the time to do it.

Creating the right environment

Where and how someone is filmed matters.

We chose to film in a familiar, comfortable space, a chair in his lounge that he always sat in, surrounded by the things that were part of everyday life.

Rather than overly styling or simplifying the environment, we kept it honest: stacks of newspapers and magazines remained, just as they always had (he was a bit of a hoarder). These details matter, they help the film feel true to them.

Lighting was carefully introduced to support this:

  • a natural key light to softly shape his face

  • a subtle background light designed to resemble sunlight falling across his display cabinet

  • small personal details, like his model buses, quietly highlighted

Everything was considered, but never staged to the point it lost authenticity.

Filming the conversation

Natural, not performed

Family members sat around him, asking questions and responding in a familiar way.
This helped create a relaxed atmosphere, allowing stories to surface naturally rather than feeling prompted or rehearsed.

The role behind the camera was to gently guide, keeping things on track, while allowing space for moments to unfold.

The interview took place across two sessions, several months apart, each lasting around two hours.

The recording setup was kept professional but unobtrusive:

  • high-quality broadcast microphone to capture voice clearly

  • two professional 4K cameras to preserve natural flow and allow subtle shifts in perspective

The focus, however, was never on the equipment, it was on capturing something honest.

Building the film

All directions considered

The film was carefully constructed using a rich personal archive.

This included:

  • photographs spanning his entire life

  • rare colour 16mm family footage from the early 1940s

  • moments recorded by him and family that reflected his interests and character

These elements allowed the film to extend beyond the interview, offering a fuller picture of how he lived and experienced the world.

Sound and music were chosen with equal care. The piece featured a recording of The Lark Ascending, performed by a musician he knew personally and the opening animated logo was one he had commissioned for his business in the mid 80’s.

The result is not just a sequence of answers or memories.
We have a vivid record of his voice, humour, mannerisms and his way of telling a story.

This film is something we return to, not just to remember the stories, but to feel close to him again.
That is ultimately what a Retold film is designed to be: not just a record of a life, but a way of holding onto a person.

For now and for the future

Start preserving their story

If you’ve been considering having a documentary made of your family, your story, or you’d like to give a gift that could last for generations, we’d be delighted to start a conversation.