Pricing

The price of producing a family documentary is always individual. It depends on the scope of the story, the number of people to be included in the film, and the locations that need to be visited and filmed. Therefore, a fixed price list cannot be set – each project is unique and tailored to your wishes and possibilities.

What affects the price

Number of people in the family tree The more generations and individuals we include, the more demanding the research and processing.

Number of filming locations The film can cover just one village or dozens of places across the country.

Distance and travel costs With more or distant locations, travel expenses are reflected in the price.

Scope of supporting materials Archival research, translations, graphic processing of the family tree.

Special requirements For example, multiple language versions of the voiceover, a longer film, or splitting into several episodes.

To produce a film, it is necessary to divide the costs into several sections and categories. For basic understanding, here is a price overview of individual phases – from preparation, through filming, to the final editing.

Family tree compilation

Before we begin, we need to compile a complete family tree of all individuals of the selected branch, about which the film will be made.

Searching immigration records Immigration records are important to locate for the ancestor where we usually start the story. These records can reveal residence and origin.

Searching birth records Obtaining a birth record is essential for filming. It defines the person, including parents and grandparents.

Searching marriage records Marriage records are necessary to define partners and family ties.

Searching death records Death records are optional but add context – at what age, where, and under what circumstances a person died.

If you already have a family tree and provide complete documents, we can skip this part and you will not be charged.

Price: depending on the type of register, I charge 10–20 USD for finding one record of one person.

Saving high-resolution scans into the video

To present and read the records in the video, we must save them as high-resolution images, transcribe the content into text, and translate it into the chosen language of the narration. For each record, we save a full-page scan and a zoomed detail of the specific entry.

You will also receive all these scans as JPG or PNG images in high resolution.

Price: I charge 10 USD per record – including saving, transcription, and translation.

Family tree graphics

In the film, we intersperse narration with graphic visualizations of the family tree, so the viewer can easily understand the relationships. These graphics are created for different stages of the story and transitions between individuals. The background can be standard, or custom-made to suit your family’s character.

Price: I charge 15 USD for each hand-crafted graphic.

Script creation

To record and narrate the video, it is necessary to create a script that includes both spoken text and a list of shots to be filmed. The film alternates between stories of individuals and stories of locations. A script must be prepared for both.

For a person, the script also includes full transcriptions of records and their arrangement into coherent storytelling. For a location, it includes historical background of the village/town, maps, and research of historical buildings, churches, or landmarks.

Price: I charge 80 USD for creating a script for each person or location.

Filming

Based on the approved script, we travel to the specific locations where your ancestors lived or worked. We film with both camera and drone to capture authentic shots. Key places include historic churches, cemeteries, memorial trees, schools, and other relevant sites.

Price: I charge 100 USD for filming one location. In the case of extensive cities like Prague or Brno, filming is limited to one district or individually priced.

Travel costs

For each filming, I calculate travel costs individually based on actual mileage and time, instead of applying a flat rate. In rare cases of very distant locations, accommodation may also be charged, but this is seldom needed within the Czech Republic.

Price: I charge 1 USD per kilometer, calculated in advance at contract signing according to Google Maps.

Narration – voiceover

Each video includes professionally narrated storytelling. We use advanced AI tools for voiceover. Samples can be found on our website and in our videos. All voiceovers are produced using the same technology, enabling multiple language versions.

Different voices are used for different parts, e.g., one voice for narration and another for reading records. You can also choose from several styles and voices for the main narration.

Price: I charge 5 USD per minute of narration. (e.g., a 60-minute film with 40 minutes of speech = 40 × 5 = 200 USD).

Editing

Editing is the most time-consuming part and directly affects the final quality. Based on the script, we combine narration, music, and video material – selecting the best shots, drone footage, graphics, photos, and archival records.

Price: I charge 10 USD per final video minute.

Additional services

If you wish to enrich the film with additional elements, we can include a wide range of extras by agreement. Examples include:

Searching historical photographs We can find historical photos of the location in archives and add them to your story, or compare them with current images.

AI-generated thematic images If no photos are available, we can generate thematic illustrations or images to recreate historical atmosphere – e.g., a military officer, a priest recording a birth, or depictions of your ancestors’ professions.

360° video tour As a bonus, we can record a 360° video of a place – village, square, or cemetery – allowing you to look around freely on YouTube.

Terms and contract

All cooperation details are always agreed in advance. Before starting work, you will receive:

Terms and conditions Download here

Sample contract/order Download here

This way, you always know what is included, the price, timeframe, and final scope of the project.

Pricing – How much does it cost to make a film?