We turn family trees into family documentary films
We’ll create a film following your ancestors’ footsteps – from paper to the screen.
About me
My name is Michal Škach. I’ve been devoted to genealogy since my youth, and after more than 25 years I decided to turn my passion into a profession. I offer a unique service that elevates your family tree to a completely different level.
I am a Czech genealogist, photographer, filmmaker, drone pilot, and AI enthusiast in one, with many years of experience working on family trees. I also have relatives across multiple countries – in the United States as well as Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. My work is my greatest passion, which guarantees a meticulous result.
I use a wide range of equipment: three drones for different conditions and filming styles, cameras, and photo gear. In addition to classic ground and aerial footage, I enjoy creating timelapses, hyperlapses, and 360° videos.
I worked for 15 years as a photographer – from studio work to weddings in castles, chateaux, and historic buildings. I have traced my own family tree back to 1580 and recorded more than 1,500 individuals in the direct lines. I work in all Czech archives and I don’t shy away from challenges.
I’m ready to be commissioned to create an audiovisual work that will serve generations to come – a family documentary about your ancestry.
Want to know more about me? Find more details on the page About me...
How the film is made
Family history is not just a list of names and dates. Every family tree hides stories worth telling. I’ll transform your family tree into a real documentary – your ancestor’s journey to America, the story of their family, and the atmosphere of the era.
I combine archival research with filming on locations where their lives unfolded, complemented by historical maps and photographs. The result is an authentic picture of what your ancestors experienced – not only facts, but also the landscapes and events that shaped them.
1) Where the story begins First, we present your ancestor who emigrated to the USA – when, from where, with whom, and how long the voyage took, including the ship.
2) Where they came from We introduce the parents and siblings, their occupations, and the home village.
3) Family history We uncover earlier generations in the archives – origins, professions, key events, births and deaths, and the reasons behind them.
4) Choosing a lineage You can choose whether we follow the paternal or maternal line, or tell a broader, branching family story.
5) Factual records We find documents related to births, marriages, and deaths, movements, military records, etc. We read and translate these records in the film.
6) Authentic atmosphere We visit the places your ancestors lived and look for traces of the past – houses, churches, chapels, cemeteries, schools, memorial trees, and more. We show you places they knew well and touched with their own hands.
7) Historical connections We find old maps and period photographs – where your ancestors’ homes stood, whether they still exist, and what the village or town looked like back then.
8) Era context We bring the era to life, explaining what life was like in that location at the time and what it meant for your ancestors.
What the final film looks like
The result is not just a collection of shots but a documentary film that connects genealogical facts, visuals, and professional narration into one cohesive whole.
The length depends on the scope of the story, usually from 30 minutes and up. It includes archival records, photographs, maps, and professional contemporary footage of the locations – all in 4K with professional voiceover.
Length By agreement, typically 30–40 minutes or more per film or episode, if the work consists of multiple parts.
Content Parish/civil records, historical photographs, present-day footage, family tree graphics.
Filming Camera + drone, 4K mastering.
Sound Professional voiceover (CZ or ENG), subtle music.
Locations Villages, towns, churches, chapels, cemeteries, historic buildings, landscape.
Graphics Names, dates, chapters, clear visuals.
And that’s not all — besides the film you also receive all collected materials as a bonus: high-resolution scans of parish/civil records, a designed family tree, discovered historical maps, location photos, and much more. More on What the film looks like...
Collaboration step by step
From the first contact to final delivery, I guide you through a clear process. At every stage you’ll know what’s happening and what to expect.
1) First contact Send your request by email or via the contact form. Include basic information about your ancestor.
2) Research & concept I’ll do an initial review and propose story options and sources.
3) Agreement We agree on scope, lineages, locations, and a budget that’s always set in advance.
4) Script We compile the narration script and a filming plan, which you approve.
5) Filming & data collection We secure quality visuals, copies of official documents and parish records, and film professional ground and aerial shots.
6) Voiceover & editing We record the full script with engaging voiceover and edit the film into a compelling story.
7) Delivery We deliver the final documentary about your family history plus all discovered materials.
Pricing & delivery timeline
Individual approach to every story The scope and price are always tailored to your priorities and expectations.
Budget levelWe’ll adapt the budget to how much you wish to invest in preserving your history and what form of the film you prefer.
Simple storytellingFor simple stories based on ancestors from a single location, we can usually deliver a documentary of up to 30 minutes within 1–2 months, starting at $ 999 USD.
Standard package Popular films tell one family line, including reading of records, location filming, and historical context. I can typically deliver this in 2–3 months, starting at $ 2000 USD depending on scope.
Stories for future generationsIf you want to learn as much as possible about your family, I can dedicate more time to research and produce an extensive audiovisual work covering all major lines and telling the lives of each grandparent. The price and timeline are fully individual, with no upper limit, and can be produced in stages as a series.
Want an estimate and to see what affects the price? Go to Pricing...
Interested in my offer?
If you’re intrigued by the idea of a family film about your ancestors, I’m delighted. To help you better imagine what our film can include, let me guide you through our options:
Archives & sourcesBrowse the detailed list and database of sources we use in our work.
Video samples Explore various examples of our ground and drone footage.
Voices & voiceovers Your video will be narrated by a professional voice; you can choose from multiple options.
Options & parameters Choose the film’s length, which lineage we follow, how we present information from records, and whether it’s strictly factual or allows a touch of storytelling.
Explore all the options we can use when making your film. More on What the Film Looks Like...
Give the film as a gift
A film about your family history will delight not only you but can also be given as a present. If you’re looking for a unique gift for your loved ones, this is a deeply personal and valuable work that will bring joy not only to the recipient but to the entire family. Watching the film can bring everyone together as one big family to witness revelations about your lineage.
Parents & grandparents Our film is a wonderful gift for parents or grandparents who already have everything and are hard to surprise. You’ll take their breath away with a lasting work they can revisit anytime.
Children & grandchildren Maybe they’re not into history or combing through records and charts — but if they can watch your story like on Netflix, curiosity won’t let them skip it.
Partners If you’ve run out of original gift ideas for your partner, a film about family history is hard to beat — whether for a birthday or wedding anniversary, it will mean more than perfume or another pair of earrings.
Wedding gift There’s no better opportunity than gifting a family film to newlyweds — ideally for both family lines. If you play such a film during the wedding and show the wider family where their ancestors came from, it will be a stunning and surprising gift at the start of a new marriage. One day it will be a precious treasure for their children.
Please keep in mind that making the film takes time — book your production slot well in advance.