The Cape Breton Video History Project

 We have started the Cape Breton Video History Project!  We've met so many interesting people here.  As we have gotten to know them, we realize that no one has a boring or ordinary life - everyone is an extraordinary person and the experiences of their lives are fascinating and memorable.  We started a project to preserve their life stories.  

We realized that we had nearly all the technology in hand that was needed.  All I had to get (easily sourced from Amazon.ca) was a ring light and small tripod.  My iPhone 13 has a great camera, and clips into the center of the ring.  The light is variable for color and brightness, we use just enough to take the shadows out of the person's face.

We made a list of 35+ "prompts" that we get to the person beforehand to jog their memory and get their thoughts organized.  It starts out with:  My name is .  .  .  I was born at .  .  .  My parents are .  .  .  and continues through:  What most people don't know about me is .  .  .   My favorite memories are .  .  . and it continues.  The prompts are printed on cardstock and bound as a flipchart, they act as cue cards.  We usually do a practice run for a few minutes so that they are comfortable, then go back and start the recording.


When we're finished (usually about an hour, sometimes more), I upload the video file to my computer, then download it onto a jump drive and give it to them.  If they are affiliated with any group:  ethnic, family, genealogical, church, First Nation, etc, we will also provide a copy of the video file to that organization.  If they're interested we will help them set up a Family Search account and upload the video to that, so it will be preserved forever and visible to anyone who would like to see it.  

We make new friends in the course of this Project, and believe it's a great service for people to be able to preserve and share the significant events of their lives with family and friends.  After all, there will come a time when it's too late, and the memories and life events of these wonderful folks will be lost of they are not preserved.

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