how to video biography

Creating a Video Biography

A video biography, a powerful medium combining engaging visuals, evocative music, and personal narratives, offer a unique way to bring these tales to life. LS3 Studios, a leader in the video biography field, understands the value of capturing the essence of ordinary people’s lives and turning them into extraordinary stories. This blog post will delve into the world of video biographies and discuss how LS3 Studios uses its expertise to create captivating and timeless memories for you and your family. In today’s fast-paced, digital world, the importance of preserving and sharing life stories has become increasingly significant.

Unearthing the Extraordinary in Ordinary Lives

Everyone has a story to tell. Ordinary people, with their unique blend of experiences, accomplishments, and challenges, are the unsung heroes of our world. Their life stories, enriched with wisdom and insight, deserve to be preserved and shared. LS3 Studios specializes in capturing these first-person narratives, transforming them into enthralling video biographies that serve as a living narrative for future generations.

The LS3 Studios Difference: Crafting the Perfect Video Biography

LS3 Studios goes above and beyond to create captivating video biographies that showcase each individual’s unique life story. Their dedication to their craft sets them apart from the competition and is evident in the following aspects of their work:

• Personalized Approach: At LS3 Studios, they believe that every person’s story is unique and deserves a video biography that reflects this individuality. They work closely with you to understand your story and vision, ensuring the final product represents your life experiences.
• Expert Storytelling: The team at LS3 Studios comprises experienced professionals who excel at crafting engaging and emotionally impactful narratives. They use their storytelling skills to ensure that your video biography captures the essence of your life story visually stunningly.
• High-Quality Production: LS3 Studios uses state-of-the-art equipment and editing techniques to produce visually and emotionally captivating video biographies. Their commitment to quality ensures that your video biography will be a cinematic experience that does justice to your story.
• Comprehensive Interview Process: The experienced interviewers at LS3 Studios know how to ask the right questions and create a comfortable environment for you to share your story openly and honestly. This enables them to capture the true essence of your experiences, resulting in a more authentic and moving video biography.
• Seamless Archival Material Integration: LS3 Studios seamlessly incorporates your photographs, videos, and other archival materials into your video biography, adding depth and context to your story. This helps bring your story to life and creates a more immersive and engaging viewing experience.

Types of Video Biographies Offered by LS3 Studios

LS3 Studios offers various video biography options catering to your needs and preferences.

These include:

• Life Story Video: A comprehensive, in-depth video biography documenting an individual’s life journey, including personal achievements, milestones, and challenges.
• Family History Video: A video biography that captures the rich history of your family, weaving together ancestral stories, traditions, and experiences.
• Family Legacy Video: A video that showcases the values, beliefs, and accomplishments of a family, serving as an enduring testament to their legacy.
• Memorial Video: A touching tribute video commemorates the life and contributions of a loved one who passed away.
• Testimonial Video: A video that captures personal stories and experiences about a particular subject or event, allowing others to learn from and be inspired by these first-hand accounts.
• Video or Film: A video biography that can be produced in various formats, such as digital video, film, or a combination of both, depending on your preferences and requirements.

The LS3 Studios Process: Bringing Your Story to Life

LS3 Studios’ video biography creation process is an enjoyable and collaborative experience. It involves the following steps:

• Consultation: The journey begins with an in-depth consultation to discuss your goals, vision, and expectations for your video biography. This helps LS3 Studios understand your story and determine the best approach to bring it to life.
• Pre-production: During this phase, LS3 Studios collaborates with you to develop a narrative structure, identify key themes, and gather relevant archival materials. They also plan and schedule interviews, location scouting, and other logistics.
• Production: The LS3 Studios team conducts comprehensive interviews with you and other relevant individuals, capturing your stories and experiences on camera. They also film any necessary b-roll footage, such as locations, events, or other pertinent visuals that enhance your story.
• Post-production: In this stage, skilled editors weave together the interviews, archival materials, and b-roll footage to create a compelling and visually stunning video biography. They also incorporate custom music, graphics, and other elements to enhance your video biography’s emotional impact and storytelling.
• Review and Revisions: LS3 Studios collaborates with you throughout the editing process, gathering your feedback and making revisions to ensure your video biography meets your expectations and tells your story accurately and authentically.
• Final Delivery: Once your video biography is complete and approved, LS3 Studios delivers the final product to you in the format you choose, such as DVD, Blu-ray, or digital files.

Preserving Family Stories through Interview Questions and Living Narratives

A crucial aspect of creating a captivating video biography is asking the right interview questions. LS3 Studios’ experienced interviewers are skilled at asking open-ended, thought-provoking questions encourage you to share your story in-depth. These questions touch on various aspects of your life, such as your childhood, family, career, relationships, and personal beliefs.

By delving into these topics, LS3 Studios creates a living narrative that documents your life and captures the essence of who you are as a person. This approach ensures that your video biography becomes a cherished family heirloom, preserving your legacy for generations.

The power of storytelling is undeniable, and video biographies offer an unparalleled opportunity to capture and preserve life stories in a captivating and emotionally resonant way. LS3 Studios’ personalized approach, expert storytelling, and high-quality production make them the ultimate choice for creating a video biography that will be treasured by future generations. Reach out to LS3 Studios today to begin the journey of transforming your life story or the story of a loved one into a timeless and captivating video biography.

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Get the “Picture” on Video Biographies

“every picture tells a story...don’t it”.

Indeed—there are so many stories that pictures tell. A video biography can be one of the most treasured memories you own.

Many people have played around with video cameras, especially parents when they have their first child or two. Not everyone is skilled in putting together a professional piece that chronicles your life.  But life story videos are now in demand and make great gifts.

I am a fan of stories about people that you can see on the A&E Channel or VH-1’s “Behind the Music”. These documentaries allow us to peer into the lives of the famous...and infamous.

The quality of these productions is apparent. You might think there is no way you could have a video production of your family history or personal biography that has the same quality.

Just as there are many people anxious to write your biography or help you do it yourself, there are a number of video biographers. These professionals can put together a masterful collection of memories for you to keep on video, or more commonly, DVD. "The explosion of interest in tracing one's roots has given rise to another phenomenon. Ordinary people — particularly baby boomers and their elder parents — are hiring filmmakers and writers to immortalize their histories on pricey videos and books that can look good enough for the History Channel or bookstore shelves." - from an article in the Seattle Times (see article here ).

What you are looking for is expertise, professionalism and quality.

You should also be able to see some samples, to ask questions and have a firm idea of cost.

Your-Life-Your-Story.com has some suggestions.

Sharing life stories, connecting generations and preserving the legacies of individuals, families, companies and organizations is the focus of Legacy Multimedia . Stefani Twyford is an award-winning personal historian and combines classic filmmaking techniques with the latest digital tools to craft wonderful tapestries of images and sound. She has been providing her outstanding video legacy service for several years. The company is based in Houston, Texas, but they will travel to meet with clients. Find out more by visiting legacymultimedia.com .

Now maybe you have a video camera and fancy yourself as doing the job. Nothing wrong with that! My only caution is that if you want a really nice professional job and don't have the time, expertise or equipment then you should consider hiring a pro.

However, lots of people are doing their own home videos and with digital software it is getting easier to do. BUT - it helps to have some directions.

Enter Family Legacy Video™ . Steve Pender is a pro who has been creating professional commercial video projects for many years and has also become successful in the family history arena. He's also created a very good website that will tell you more about creating a life story video.

If you decide you want to do the video biography yourself make sure that you prepare properly. You want to have the proper equipment, a script to work from, someone to conduct the interview (you or a trusted friend or professional), and an idea ahead of time of what you want to cover. If, for example, you are going to video your grandfather be sure to take the time to make him comfortable with the proceedings. Spend some time talking about what you hope to accomplish with the interview. Obviously, do this before the camera is rolling! It is also highly recommended that you "storyboard". You can do this before you record (as suggested above), or afterwards in the editing phase. A helpful training aid for those interested in producing your own life story videos is available from Dick Liersch and his My Living Legacy do-it-yourself CD-ROM.  The extensive information on this CD-ROM includes what you need to know for creating a successful video life story or video genealogy. His website, mylivinglegacy.net , also has lots of helpful information.

Below you will find more suggestions. As always, feel free to contact me and I’ll be happy to help any way I can.

Everybody has a story to tell! Your-Life-Your-Story.com Copyright © 2003 - 2020 All rights reserved Email Tom Gilbert

Video Biographies

Students will complete research on a historical figure and create a video biography of that person..

App: Frames™

Authentic Task

Many students are familiar with Ken Burns’ groundbreaking documentaries. While many students dread writing biographies, ask them to transform their writing into a compelling digital documentary about a person’s life to motivate them to practice this type of informational/expository writing.

Introduce your students to biographies by reading a few of them first. Jerry Spinelli’s Knots in My Yo-Yo String: The Autobiography of a Kid or Daniel Dyer’s Jack London: A Biography provide insight into an author’s background and help students learn how personal experiences affect a writer’s voice.

Discuss the factors that make a good biography. A great biography is also a great story, and while a biography needs to include facts, a simple listing of them may not be compelling. Have students brainstorm questions they can ask to make a biography more interesting. You might prompt their thinking with questions like:

• Did the person’s background influence what he or she believed in or how the person acted?
• What personal qualities helped or hindered this person?
• Was this person admirable or simply famous?

Let your student's know that they will be writing biographies and then transforming them into digital documentaries. Provide a list of people for students to choose from or have your class brainstorm a list. You could focus on presidents, famous people from your state, inventors, or authors.

Have students select a person and complete research on this person and the time period in which he or she lived.

Rather than focusing on famous people, consider tasking students with creating short feature films about local community heroes or even family members.

When their research is complete, work through your normal biography writing process. Depending on student writing ability, you may want to give them an outline for what information should be included in each paragraph of the biography.

When a first draft is complete, have students pair with another student to edit and revise their rough draft before publishing a final draft.

Form small teams students who have studied the same person or are interested in making a video of a particular person.

Have the teams review each team member’s biography, highlighting the parts that they like the most. The team should then work together to create an outline of their ideas and begin developing a storyboard.

Teams should now determine roles for completing their video biography> For example, you might want to assign roles and/or tasks such as:

• Producer/Director - oversees all aspects of production and creation
• Visual Effects - locates images appropriate to each scene in storyboard
• Writer - transforms outline and storyboard into screenplay
• Voice Talent - records the screenplay with personality and intonation
• Post-Production Designer - combines and edits all media into final product

Have the teams share the video biographies with the rest of the class, at a school assembly, or even on local access television station.

Make sure to evaluate the rough draft of the biography and the productivity of the team discussions before you assess the final biography. You will also want to evaluate the process the team uses to identify topics and well-written sections of the initial biographies as they write their screenplay. The screenplay serves as another tangible example of understanding and skill, as does the storyboard of the screenplay.

The video biography will serve as the culminating project and summative assessment. You may also want to assess team work, responsibility, organization, and problem solving.

Jerry Spinelli, Knots in My Yo-Yo String: The Autobiography of a Kid. ISBN: 0679887911

Daniel Dyer, Jack London: A Biography ISBN: 0590222171

Denis Ledoux, The Photo Scribe - A Writing Guide: How to Write the Stories Behind Your Photographs ISBN: 0961937343

Writer's Workshop: Biography

National Council for Social Studies - C3 Framework

Common core anchor standards for english language arts - grade 4-12.

Writing Standards

Text Types and Purposes

3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Production and Distribution of Writing

4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

ISTE NETS for Students 2016:

3. Knowledge Constructor Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others. Students:

a. plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits.

b. evaluate the accuracy, perspective, credibility and relevance of information, media, data or other resources.

c. curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create collections of artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or conclusions.

6. Creative Communicator Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals. Students:

a. choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.

b. create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.

d. publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.

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How to Write a Biography

Learn how to write a biography with our comprehensive guide.

Last updated on Dec 8th, 2023

When you click on affiliate links on QuillMuse.com and make a purchase, you won’t pay a penny more, but we’ll get a small commission—this helps us keep up with publishing valuable content on QuillMuse.  Read More .

Table of Contents

How to write a biography can be a fun challenge as you share someone’s life story with readers. You may need to write a biography for a class or decide to write a biography as a personal project. Once you’ve identified the subject of your biography, do your research to learn as much as you can about them. Then, immerse yourself in writing the biography and revising it until it’s best. What I am going to share with you in today’s post is how to write a biography. If you want to know the rules of how to write a biography correctly then this post of ours is essential for you. 

Introduction

While it’s true that most biographies involve people in the public eye, sometimes the subject is less well-known. But most of the time, famous or not, the person we’re talking about has an incredible life. Although your students may have a basic understanding of How to write a biography, you should take some time before putting pen to paper to come up with a very clear definition of biography.

Before knowing how to write a biography, let’s first understand what a biography is. A biography is an account of a person’s life written by someone else. Although there is a genre called fictional biography, by definition biographies are mostly non-fiction. In general, biographies trace the subject’s life from early childhood to the present day or until death if the subject is deceased. 

Biography writing is not limited to describing the bare facts of a person’s life. Instead of just listing basic details about their upbringing, interests, education, work, relationships, and deaths, a well-written biography should also paint a picture of a person’s personality as well as that person’s life experiences.

Tips and Tricks For How To Write a Biography

1. ask the subject’s permission to write a biography.

Here are the first tips on how to write a biography. Before starting your research, make sure you get your subject’s consent to write their biography. Ask them if they’re ready to be the subject. Getting their permission will make writing a biography much easier and ensure that they are open to information about their lives.

If the theme does not allow you to write a bio, you can choose another theme. If you decide to publish a profile without the subject’s permission, you may be subject to legal action from the subject. 

If the topic no longer exists, you don’t need to ask permission to write about them. 

2. Research primary sources on the topic

Primary sources may include books, letters, photographs, diaries, newspaper clippings, magazines, Internet articles, magazines, videos, interviews, existing biographies, or autobiographies on the subject. Find these resources in your local library or online. Read as much as you can about the topic and highlight any important information you come across in your sources. 

You can create research questions to help you focus your research on this topic, such as: 

What do I find interesting about this topic? Why is this topic important to readers? 

3. Conduct interviews with subjects and their relatives

Interviewing people will turn your research into reality: the people you interview will be able to tell you stories you can’t find in history books. Interview the subject as well as people close to them, such as spouses, friends, business associates, family members, co-workers, and friends. Interview in person, over the phone, or via email.

For in-person interviews, record them with a voice recorder or voice recorder on your computer or phone. You may need to interview the subject and others multiple times to get the documents you need.

4. Visit places important to the topic

Whenever you want to know how to write a biography, to understand the history of the subject, spend time in places and areas that are significant to the subject. This may be the subject’s childhood home or neighborhood. You can also visit the subject’s workplace and regular meeting places. 

You may also want to visit areas where the subject made important decisions or breakthroughs in their life. Being physically present in the area can give you an idea of what your subjects may have felt and help you write about their experiences more effectively.

5. Research the time and place of the subject’s life

Contextualize your subject’s life by observing what’s going on around them. Consider the period in which they grew up as well as the history of the places they lived. Study the economics, politics, and culture of their time. See current events happening where they live or work.

When you studying how to write a biography, ask yourself about time and place: 

What were the social norms of this period? 

What happened economically and politically? 

How has the political and social environment influenced this topic?

6. Make a timeline of a person’s life

To help you organize your research, create a timeline of a person’s entire life, from birth. Draw a long line on a piece of paper and sketch out as many details about a person’s life as possible. Highlight important events or moments on the timeline. Include important dates, locations, and names. 

If you think about how to write a biography You can also include historical events or moments that affect the topic in the timeline. For example, a conflict or civil war may occur during a person’s lifetime and affect their life.

7. Focus on important events and milestones

Major events can include marriage, birth, or death during a person’s lifetime. They may also achieve milestones like their first successful business venture or their first civil rights march. Highlights key moments in a person’s life so readers clearly understand what’s important to that person and how they influence the world around them.

For example, you might focus on one person’s achievements in the civil rights movement. You could write an entire section about their contributions and participation in major civil rights marches in their hometowns.

8. Cite all sources used in  biography

Most biographies will include information from sources such as books, journal articles, magazines, and interviews. Remember to cite any sources that you directly quote or paraphrase. You can use citations, footnotes, or endnotes. If the biography is for a course, use MLA, APA, or Chicago Style citations according to your instructor’s preference.

9. Reread the biography

Check the biography for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Circle all punctuation marks in the text to confirm they are correct. Read the text backward to check for spelling and grammar errors. 

Having a biography full of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors can frustrate readers and lead to poor grades if you submit your work to the class.

10. Show your biography to others to get their feedback

It is a momentous step of how to write a biography. Once you have completed your draft biography, show it to your colleagues, friends, teachers, and mentors to get their feedback. Ask them if they have a good understanding of someone’s life and if the biography is easy to read. Be open to feedback so you can improve the biography and make it error-free. Revise profile based on feedback from others. Don’t be afraid to trim or edit your biography to suit your readers’ needs.

11. Use flashbacks

Flashbacks happen when you move from the present to the past. You can start with the present moment, and then bring in a scene from the person’s past. Or you could have one chapter focusing on the present and one focusing on the past, alternating as you go.

The flashback scene must be as detailed and realistic as the present-day scene. Use your research notes and interviews with subjects to better understand their past to reminisce. 

For example, you can move from a person’s death in the present to reminiscing about their favorite childhood memory.

12. Outline Your Story Chronologically 

This is another important step in how to write a biography is to write an outline that describes your story in chronological order. An outline is a tool that helps you visualize the structure and key elements of your story. This can help you organize your story into chapters and sections. 

You can write your plan in a digital document or draw it with pen and paper. Remember to store your outline in an easily accessible place so you can refer to it throughout the writing process.

What citation style should I use for my biography?

Use MLA, APA, or Chicago Style citations based on your instructor’s preference when citing sources in your biography.

Should I include personal opinions in a biography?

No, a biography should be objective and based on facts. Avoid injecting personal opinions or bias into the narrative.

What’s the difference between a biography and an autobiography?

A biography is written by someone else about a person’s life, while an autobiography is written by the subject themselves about their own life.

Can I write a biography about a living person?

Yes, you can write a biography about a living person with their consent. Ensure you respect their privacy and follow ethical guidelines when writing about them.

Conclusion 

Other than creating a sense of closure, there are no set rules about how a biography ends. An author may want to summarize their main points about the subject of their biography. If the person is still alive, the author can inform the reader about their condition or circumstances. If the person has died, inheritance can be discussed. Authors can also remind readers how they can learn from the biographical subject. Sharing a closing quote or about a person can leave the audience with a point to consider or discuss in more detail.

For further insights into writing and to avoid common mistakes, check out our article on Most Common Mistakes in Writing . Additionally, explore the Best Writing Tools for Writers to enhance your writing skills and discover the tools that can assist you. If you’re looking to improve your typing speed and accuracy, our article on How to Type Faster with Accuracy offers valuable tips.

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• Dec 8th, 2023
• Oct 22nd, 2023

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How to Write a Biography

Last Updated: April 13, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Stephanie Wong Ken, MFA . Stephanie Wong Ken is a writer based in Canada. Stephanie's writing has appeared in Joyland, Catapult, Pithead Chapel, Cosmonaut's Avenue, and other publications. She holds an MFA in Fiction and Creative Writing from Portland State University. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,852,385 times.

Writing a biography can be a fun challenge, where you are sharing the story of someone’s life with readers. You may need to write a biography for a class or decide to write one as a personal project. Once you have identified the subject of the biography, do your research so you know as much about them as possible. Then, dive into the writing of the biography and revising it until it is at its finest.

Researching Your Subject

• If the subject does not give you permission to write the biography, you may want to choose a different subject. If you decide to publish the biography without the subject’s permission, you may be susceptible to legal action by the subject.
• If the subject is no longer alive, you obviously do not need to ask permission to write about them.

• You may create research questions to help focus your research of the subject, such as, What do I find interesting about the subject? Why is this subject important to readers? What can I say that is new about the subject? What would I like to learn more about?

• For in person interviews, record them with a tape recorder or a voice recorder on your computer or phone.
• You may need to interview the subject and others several times to get the material you need.

• You may also want to visit areas where the subject made a major decision or breakthrough in their life. Being physically in the area can give you a sense of how the subject might have felt and help you write their experiences more effectively.

• When researching the time period ask yourself: What were the social norms of that time? What was going on economically and politically? How did the social and political climate affect the subject?

• You may also include historical events or moments that affected the subject on the timeline. For example, maybe there was a conflict or civil war that happened during the person’s life that affected their life.

Writing the Biography

• You may end up focusing on particular areas of the person’s life. If you do this, work through a particular period in the person’s life chronologically.

• For example, you may have a thesis statement about focusing on how the person impacted the civil rights movement in America in the 1970s. You can then make sure all your content relates back to this thesis.

• Flashbacks should feel as detailed and real as present day scenes. Use your research notes and interviews with the subject to get a good sense of their past for the flashbacks.
• For example, you may jump from the person’s death in the present to a flashback to their favorite childhood memory.

• For example, you may focus on the person’s accomplishments in the civil rights movement. You may write a whole section about their contributions and participation in major civil rights marches in their hometown.

• For example, you may notice that the person’s life is patterned with moments of adversity, where the person worked hard and fought against larger forces. You can then use the theme of overcoming adversity in the biography.

• For example, you may note how you see parallels in the person’s life during the civil rights movement with your own interests in social justice. You may also commend the person for their hard work and positive impact on society.

Polishing the Biography

• Revise the biography based on feedback from others. Do not be afraid to cut or edit down the biography to suit the needs of your readers.

• Having a biography riddled with spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors can turn off your readers and result in a poor grade if you are handing in the text for a class.

• If the biography is for a class, use MLA , APA , or Chicago Style citations based on the preferences of your instructor.

Biography Help

Community Q&A

• Be careful when publishing private or embarrassing information, especially if the person is not a celebrity. You may violate their "Right of Privacy" or equivalent. Thanks Helpful 31 Not Helpful 5
• Have the sources to back up your statements about the subject's life. Untruthful written statements can lead to litigation. If it is your opinion, be clear that it is such and not fact (although you can support your opinion with facts). Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 15

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• ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-biography.html
• ↑ https://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/3-tips-for-writing-successful-flashbacks
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-bio/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://www.plagiarism.org/article/how-do-i-cite-sources

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Before you write a biography, gather as much information about the subject that you can from sources like newspaper articles, interviews, photos, existing biographies, and anything else you can find. Write the story of that person’s life, including as much supporting detail as you can, including information about the place and time where the person lived. Focus on major events and milestones in their life, including historical events, marriage, children, and events which would shape their path later in life. For tips from our reviewer on proofreading the biography and citing your sources, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Biography

Biographies are big business. Whether in book form or Hollywood biopics, the lives of the famous and sometimes not-so-famous fascinate us.

While it’s true that most biographies are about people who are in the public eye, sometimes the subject is less well-known. Primarily, though, famous or not, the person who is written about has led an incredible life.

In this article, we will explain biography writing in detail for teachers and students so they can create their own.

While your students will most likely have a basic understanding of a biography, it’s worth taking a little time before they put pen to paper to tease out a crystal-clear definition of one.

What Is a Biography?

A biography is an account of someone’s life written by someone else . While there is a genre known as a fictional biography, for the most part, biographies are, by definition, nonfiction.

Generally speaking, biographies provide an account of the subject’s life from the earliest days of childhood to the present day or, if the subject is deceased, their death.

The job of a biography is more than just to outline the bare facts of a person’s life.

Rather than just listing the basic details of their upbringing, hobbies, education, work, relationships, and death, a well-written biography should also paint a picture of the subject’s personality and experience of life.

Full Biographies

Teaching unit.

Teach your students everything they need to know about writing an AUTOBIOGRAPHY and a BIOGRAPHY.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ( 26 reviews )

Features of a Biography

Before students begin writing a biography, they’ll need to have a firm grasp of the main features of a Biography. An excellent way to determine how well they understand these essential elements is to ask them to compile a checklist like the one-blow

Their checklists should contain the items below at a minimum. Be sure to help them fill in any gaps before moving on to the writing process.

The purpose of a biography is to provide an account of someone’s life.

Biography structure.

ORIENTATION (BEGINNING) Open your biography with a strong hook to grab the reader’s attention

SEQUENCING: In most cases, biographies are written in chronological order unless you are a very competent writer consciously trying to break from this trend.

COVER: childhood, upbringing, education, influences, accomplishments, relationships, etc. – everything that helps the reader to understand the person.

CONCLUSION: Wrap your biography up with some details about what the subject is doing now if they are still alive. If they have passed away, make mention of what impact they have made and what their legacy is or will be.

BIOGRAPHY FEATURES

LANGUAGE Use descriptive and figurative language that will paint images inside your audience’s minds as they read. Use time connectives to link events.

PERSPECTIVE Biographies are written from the third person’s perspective.

DETAILS: Give specific details about people, places, events, times, dates, etc. Reflect on how events shaped the subject. You might want to include some relevant photographs with captions. A timeline may also be of use depending upon your subject and what you are trying to convey to your audience.

TENSE Written in the past tense (though ending may shift to the present/future tense)

THE PROCESS OF WRITING A BIOGRAPHY

Like any form of writing, you will find it simple if you have a plan and follow it through. These steps will ensure you cover the essential bases of writing a biography essay.

Firstly, select a subject that inspires you. Someone whose life story resonates with you and whose contribution to society intrigues you. The next step is to conduct thorough research. Engage in extensive reading, explore various sources, watch documentaries, and glean all available information to provide a comprehensive account of the person’s life.

Creating an outline is essential to organize your thoughts and information. The outline should include the person’s early life, education, career, achievements, and any other significant events or contributions. It serves as a map for the writing process, ensuring that all vital information is included.

Your biography should have an engaging introduction that captivates the reader’s attention and provides background information on the person you’re writing about. It should include a thesis statement summarising the biography’s main points.

Writing a biography in chronological order is crucial . You should begin with the person’s early life and move through their career and achievements. This approach clarifies how the person’s life unfolded and how they accomplished their goals.

A biography should be written in a narrative style , capturing the essence of the person’s life through vivid descriptions, anecdotes, and quotes. Avoid dry, factual writing and focus on creating a compelling narrative that engages the reader.

Adding personal insights and opinions can enhance the biography’s overall impact, providing a unique perspective on the person’s achievements, legacy, and impact on society.

Editing and proofreading are vital elements of the writing process. Thoroughly reviewing your biography ensures that the writing is clear, concise, and error-free. You can even request feedback from someone else to ensure that it is engaging and well-written.

Finally, including a bibliography at the end of your biography is essential. It gives credit to the sources that were used during research, such as books, articles, interviews, and websites.

Tips for Writing a Brilliant Biography

Biography writing tip #1: choose your subject wisely.

There are several points for students to reflect on when deciding on a subject for their biography. Let’s take a look at the most essential points to consider when deciding on the subject for a biography:

Interest: To produce a biography will require sustained writing from the student. That’s why students must choose their subject well. After all, a biography is an account of someone’s entire life to date. Students must ensure they choose a subject that will sustain their interest throughout the research, writing, and editing processes.

Merit: Closely related to the previous point, students must consider whether the subject merits the reader’s interest. Aside from pure labors of love, writing should be undertaken with the reader in mind. While producing a biography demands sustained writing from the author, it also demands sustained reading from the reader.

Therefore, students should ask themselves if their chosen subject has had a life worthy of the reader’s interest and the time they’d need to invest in reading their biography.

Information: Is there enough information available on the subject to fuel the writing of an entire biography? While it might be a tempting idea to write about a great-great-grandfather’s experience in the war. There would be enough interest there to sustain the author’s and the reader’s interest, but do you have enough access to information about their early childhood to do the subject justice in the form of a biography?

Biography Writing Tip #2: R esearch ! Research! Research!

While the chances are good that the student already knows quite a bit about the subject they’ve chosen. Chances are 100% that they’ll still need to undertake considerable research to write their biography.

As with many types of writing , research is an essential part of the planning process that shouldn’t be overlooked. If students wish to give as complete an account of their subject’s life as possible, they’ll need to put in the time at the research stage.

An effective way to approach the research process is to:

1. Compile a chronological timeline of the central facts, dates, and events of the subject’s life

2. Compile detailed descriptions of the following personal traits:

•      Physical looks
•      Character traits
•      Values and beliefs

3. Compile some research questions based on different topics to provide a focus for the research:

• Childhood : Where and when were they born? Who were their parents? Who were the other family members? What education did they receive?
• Obstacles: What challenges did they have to overcome? How did these challenges shape them as individuals?
• Legacy: What impact did this person have on the world and/or the people around them?
• Dialogue & Quotes: Dialogue and quotations by and about the subject are a great way to bring color and life to a biography. Students should keep an eagle eye out for the gems that hide amid their sources.

As the student gets deeper into their research, new questions will arise that can further fuel the research process and help to shape the direction the biography will ultimately go in.

Likewise, during the research, themes will often begin to suggest themselves. Exploring these themes is essential to bring depth to biography, but we’ll discuss this later in this article.

Research Skills:

Researching for biography writing is an excellent way for students to hone their research skills in general. Developing good research skills is essential for future academic success. Students will have opportunities to learn how to:

• Gather relevant information
• Evaluate different information sources
• Select suitable information
• Organize information into a text.

Students will have access to print and online information sources, and, in some cases, they may also have access to people who knew or know the subject (e.g. biography of a family member).

These days, much of the research will likely take place online. It’s crucial, therefore, to provide your students with guidance on how to use the internet safely and evaluate online sources for reliability. This is the era of ‘ fake news ’ and misinformation after all!

COMPLETE TEACHING UNIT ON INTERNET RESEARCH SKILLS USING GOOGLE SEARCH

Teach your students ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF THE INFORMATION ERA to become expert DIGITAL RESEARCHERS.

⭐How to correctly ask questions to search engines on all devices.

⭐ How to filter and refine your results to find exactly what you want every time.

⭐ Essential Research and critical thinking skills for students.

⭐ Plagiarism, Citing and acknowledging other people’s work.

⭐ How to query, synthesize and record your findings logically.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip #3: Find Your Themes In Biography Writing

Though predominantly a nonfiction genre, the story still plays a significant role in good biography writing. The skills of characterization and plot structuring are transferable here. And, just like in fiction, exploring themes in a biographical work helps connect the personal to the universal. Of course, these shouldn’t be forced; this will make the work seem contrived, and the reader may lose faith in the truthfulness of the account. A biographer needs to gain and maintain the trust of the reader.

Fortunately, themes shouldn’t need to be forced. A life well-lived is full of meaning, and the themes the student writer is looking for will emerge effortlessly from the actions and events of the subject’s life. It’s just a case of learning how to spot them.

One way to identify the themes in a life is to look for recurring events or situations in a person’s life. These should be apparent from the research completed previously. The students should seek to identify these patterns that emerge in the subject’s life. For example, perhaps they’ve had to overcome various obstacles throughout different periods of their life. In that case, the theme of overcoming adversity is present and has been identified.

Usually, a biography has several themes running throughout, so be sure your students work to identify more than one theme in their subject’s life.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip: #4 Put Something of Yourself into the Writing

While the defining feature of a biography is that it gives an account of a person’s life, students must understand that this is not all a biography does. Relating the facts and details of a subject’s life is not enough. The student biographer should not be afraid to share their thoughts and feelings with the reader throughout their account of their subject’s life.

The student can weave some of their personality into the fabric of the text by providing commentary and opinion as they relate the events of the person’s life and the wider social context at the time. Unlike the detached and objective approach we’d expect to find in a history textbook, in a biography, student-writers should communicate their enthusiasm for their subject in their writing.

This makes for a more intimate experience for the reader, as they get a sense of getting to know the author and the subject they are writing about.

Biography Examples For Students

• Year 5 Example
• Year 7 Example
• Year 9 Example

“The Rock ‘n’ Roll King: Elvis Presley”

Elvis Aaron Presley, born on January 8, 1935, was an amazing singer and actor known as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Even though he’s been dead for nearly 50 years, I can’t help but be fascinated by his incredible life!

Elvis grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a tiny house with his parents and twin brother. His family didn’t have much money, but they shared a love for music. Little did they know Elvis would become a music legend!

When he was only 11 years old, Elvis got his first guitar. He taught himself to play and loved singing gospel songs. As he got older, he started combining different music styles like country, blues, and gospel to create a whole new sound – that’s Rock ‘n’ Roll!

In 1954, at the age of 19, Elvis recorded his first song, “That’s All Right.” People couldn’t believe how unique and exciting his music was. His famous hip-swinging dance moves also made him a sensation!

Elvis didn’t just rock the music scene; he also starred in movies like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock.” But fame came with challenges. Despite facing ups and downs, Elvis kept spreading happiness through his music.

Tragically, Elvis passed away in 1977, but his music and charisma live on. Even today, people worldwide still enjoy his songs like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Elvis Presley’s legacy as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll will live forever.

Long Live the King: I wish I’d seen him.

Elvis Presley, the Rock ‘n’ Roll legend born on January 8, 1935, is a captivating figure that even a modern-day teen like me can’t help but admire. As I delve into his life, I wish I could have experienced the magic of his live performances.

Growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis faced challenges but found solace in music. At 11, he got his first guitar, a symbol of his journey into the world of sound. His fusion of gospel, country, and blues into Rock ‘n’ Roll became a cultural phenomenon.

The thought of being in the audience during his early performances, especially when he recorded “That’s All Right” at 19, sends shivers down my spine. Imagining the crowd’s uproar and feeling the revolutionary energy of that moment is a dream I wish I could have lived.

Elvis wasn’t just a musical prodigy; he was a dynamic performer. His dance moves, the embodiment of rebellion, and his roles in films like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock” made him a true icon.

After watching him on YouTube, I can’t help but feel a little sad that I’ll never witness the King’s live performances. The idea of swaying to “Hound Dog” or being enchanted by “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in person is a missed opportunity. Elvis may have left us in 1977, but he was the king of rock n’ roll. Long live the King!

Elvis Presley: A Teen’s Take on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Icon”

Elvis Presley, born January 8, 1935, was a revolutionary force in the music world, earning his title as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Exploring his life, even as a 16-year-old today, I’m captivated by the impact he made.

Hailing from Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis grew up in humble beginnings, surrounded by the love of his parents and twin brother. It’s inspiring to think that, despite financial challenges, this young man would redefine the music scene.

At 11, Elvis got his first guitar, sparking a self-taught journey into music. His early gospel influences evolved into a unique fusion of country, blues, and gospel, creating the electrifying genre of Rock ‘n’ Roll. In 1954, at only 19, he recorded “That’s All Right,” marking the birth of a musical legend.

Elvis wasn’t just a musical innovator; he was a cultural phenomenon. His rebellious dance moves and magnetic stage presence challenged the norms. He transitioned seamlessly into acting, starring in iconic films like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock.”

However, fame came at a cost, and Elvis faced personal struggles. Despite the challenges, his music continued to resonate. Even now, classics like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” transcend generations.

Elvis Presley’s impact on music and culture is undeniable. He was known for his unique voice, charismatic persona, and electrifying performances. He sold over one billion records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling solo artists in history. He received numerous awards throughout his career, including three Grammy Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Elvis’s influence can still be seen in today’s music. Many contemporary artists, such as Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and Justin Timberlake, have cited Elvis as an inspiration. His music continues to be featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials.

Elvis left us in 1977, but his legacy lives on. I appreciate his breaking barriers and fearlessly embracing his artistic vision. Elvis Presley’s impact on music and culture is timeless, a testament to the enduring power of his artistry. His music has inspired generations and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING TEACHING IDEAS AND LESSONS

We have compiled a sequence of biography-related lessons or teaching ideas that you can follow as you please. They are straightforward enough for most students to follow without further instruction.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 1:

This session aims to give students a broader understanding of what makes a good biography.

Once your students have compiled a comprehensive checklist of the main features of a biography, allow them to use it to assess some biographies from your school library or on the internet using the feature checklist.

When students have assessed a selection of biographies, take some time as a class to discuss them. You can base the discussion around the following prompts:

• Which biographies covered all the criteria from their checklist?
• Which biographies didn’t?
• Which biography was the most readable in terms of structure?
• Which biography do you think was the least well-structured? How would you improve this?

Looking at how other writers have interpreted the form will help students internalize the necessary criteria before attempting to produce a biography. Once students have a clear understanding of the main features of the biography, they’re ready to begin work on writing a biography.

When the time does come to put pen to paper, be sure they’re armed with the following top tips to help ensure they’re as well prepared as possible.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 2:

This session aims to guide students through the process of selecting the perfect biography subject.

Instruct students to draw up a shortlist of three potential subjects for the biography they’ll write.

Using the three criteria mentioned in the writing guide (Interest, Merit, and Information), students award each potential subject a mark out of 5 for each of the criteria. In this manner, students can select the most suitable subject for their biography.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 3:

This session aims to get students into the researching phase, then prioritise and organise events chronologically.

Students begin by making a timeline of their subject’s life, starting with their birth and ending with their death or the present day. If the student has yet to make a final decision on the subject of their biography, a family member will often serve well for this exercise as a practice exercise.

Students should research and gather the key events of the person’s life, covering each period of their life from when they were a baby, through childhood and adolescence, right up to adulthood and old age. They should then organize these onto a timeline. Students can include photographs with captions if they have them.

They can present these to the class when they have finished their timelines.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 4:

Instruct students to look over their timeline, notes, and other research. Challenge them to identify three patterns that repeat throughout the subject’s life and sort all the related events and incidents into specific categories.

Students should then label each category with a single word. This is the thematic concept or the broad general underlying idea. After that, students should write a sentence or two expressing what the subject’s life ‘says’ about that concept.

This is known as the thematic statement . With the thematic concepts and thematic statements identified, the student now has some substantial ideas to explore that will help bring more profound meaning and wider resonance to their biography.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 5:

Instruct students to write a short objective account of an event in their own life. They can write about anyone from their past. It needn’t be more than a couple of paragraphs, but the writing should be strictly factual, focusing only on the objective details of what happened.

Once they have completed this, it’s time to rewrite the paragraph, but they should include some opinion and personal commentary this time.

The student here aims to inject some color and personality into their writing, to transform a detached, factual account into a warm, engaging story.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING BIOGRAPHIES

Teach your students to write AMAZING BIOGRAPHIES & AUTOBIOGRAPHIES using proven RESEARCH SKILLS and WRITING STRATEGIES .

• Understand the purpose of both forms of biography.
• Explore the language and perspective of both.
• Prompts and Challenges to engage students in writing a biography.
• Dedicated lessons for both forms of biography.
• Biographical Projects can expand students’ understanding of reading and writing a biography.
• A COMPLETE 82-PAGE UNIT – NO PREPARATION REQUIRED.

FREE Biography Writing Graphic Organizer

Use this valuable tool in the research and writing phases to keep your students on track and engaged.

WRITING CHECKLIST & RUBRIC BUNDLE

To Conclude

By this stage, your students should have an excellent technical overview of a biography’s essential elements.

They should be able to choose their subject in light of how interesting and worthy they are, as well as give consideration to the availability of information out there. They should be able to research effectively and identify emerging themes in their research notes. And finally, they should be able to bring some of their personality and uniqueness into their retelling of the life of another.

Remember that writing a biography is not only a great way to develop a student’s writing skills; it can be used in almost all curriculum areas. For example, to find out more about a historical figure in History, to investigate scientific contributions to Science, or to celebrate a hero from everyday life.

Biography is an excellent genre for students to develop their writing skills and to find inspiration in the lives of others in the world around them.

HOW TO WRITE A BIOGRAPHY TUTORIAL VIDEO

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO BIOGRAPHY WRITING

How to write an Autobiography

How to Write a Historical Recount Text

15 Awesome Recount & Personal Narrative Topics

Personal Narrative Writing Guide

How To Produce A Family Biography Using a Video Camera & Editing Software

Recently I wrote an article about preparing for the digital afterlife . In part it's about how we preserve and pass down the physical and digital aspects of our life. With today's digital technology it's a lot easier to document our own life and/or the lives of people we care about. You could pay a videographer in your area to do the project for you, but even so, you will still have to have to do lots of preparation work before the video production can begin.

So if you have a digital video camera and editing software like iMovie or Movie Maker, you can create a family video biography yourself.

Gathering Resources

If you have never seen a family video biography, do a Google search on the topic and you will find samples produced by professional videographers and amateurs. Here's one YouTube sample, The Turner Family Biography , that illustrates well what I will explain in this how-to.

Most family videos consist of an interview with one or more individuals about their history of their life. Interviewing at least two people, say a mother and a father, is often more interesting, providing an additional voice and perspective in the video.  Most good family video productions run from 30-90 minutes - the shorter the better - and includes lots of cutaway images and video footage which illustrate the content of the interview.

You will need to collect and scan as many family photos, existing digital images and other artifacts as possible related to your interviewee(s). Most of today's home printers include a scanner feature for converting paper photos into digital format. There are also several free Photoshop alternatives for retouching photos. See this article for recommendations.

Interview Questions & Outline

Next, you will need to come up with a list of 25-50 questions for your interview. Great Life Stories has a good starter list of questions , for the various times and aspects of an individual's life. They include questions about birth place, school days, employment, hobbies, travel, places of worship, triumphs and tragedies, and words of wisdom.

Next, you will want to have an outline of your video in mind. You don't have to necessarily start off with the beginning of a person's life. You can start off with the most important time of a person's life and then work backwards and then forwards from there.

Interview Setup

The setup for an interview is fairly easy. Select an area with lots of window light, especially if you don't have lighting equipment to do your interview. Have the interviewee(s) facing the light.

If need be, you can purchase an affordable 500 watt mechanic's light system. See this Videomaker magazine tutorial for setting up a light system.

Video Camera Setup

You will definitely want to put your video camera on a tripod. Since your tripod will be stationary throughout most of the interview, you don't need to buy an expensive one. About every three or four questions, you should vary the range of your shots from wide, medium to close-up. Experiment also with shooting from slightly different angles.

If you have the skills, you can also zoom in close on the person's face during very emotional responses. See my article, 10 Simple Tips to Make Home Videos Look Professional for additional ideas.

Home video editors like Apple"˜s iMovie or Movie Maker offer all you need to edit and complete your project. After importing projects in iMovie, for example, most of your production will consist of cutaway images and cross dissolves.

iMovie '11 provides a very easy drag-and drop feature for adding cutaway images or other short video clips. This means that your viewers can still hear your interviewee talking, but the cutaway photos and video clips illustrate what is being talked about.

To create a cutaway, you simply drag it to the top of a designated part of your main footage. Choose Cutaway from the pop-up menu.

You can also adjust the position, duration, and panning of your cutaways.

In addition to setting the duration of your cutaways, be sure to select Manual under Cutaway Fade so that your cutaways fade in and out more smoothly. You can also adjust the speed of a very short cutaway footage. You can, for example, slow it down if the original clip moves too fast.

iMovie also includes royalty-free music for your productions. Here are other iMovie features you can use, including tips on how to manage your project, control the audio, and export it for online sharing and DVD formatting.

These type of video projects do require some work, but with good planning and execution they can be shot and produced in a couple of weekends.

Let me know if you any questions about this type of project. Also please share your strategies for completing a family video tribute if you have already produced one.  In the meantime, here is some further reading on iMovie and Windows Movie Maker :

How To Add Opening & Closing Credits To Your Movies With iMovie '09 [Mac] - Bakari

10 Reasons To Use Apple's iMovie '09 [Mac] - Bakari

Make Quick & Professional Looking Videos with Windows Movie Maker (Part 1) - Mark

Make Quick & Professional Looking Videos with Windows Movie Maker (Part 2) - Mark

How To Watermark Your Videos In Windows Movie Maker - Jessica

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How to Create a Video Biography ... a Legacy for Your Family Paperback – September 1, 1999

• Print length 210 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Arrowhead Pub
• Publication date September 1, 1999
• Dimensions 6.25 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
• ISBN-10 0964856379
• ISBN-13 978-0964856370
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

It is written in a simple, concise style and printed in larger, easy-to-read typeface. The simplified technical aspects of this book are worth the price of admission, but the added benefits of the scripting are truly beneficial in creating a wonderful biography. -- Ira Heffler and Jerry Schneider This book guides the reader through the process to capture the essence of a loved one. My husband and I are amazed this hasn't been done before! And it's not only for "older" family members. They've included a wonderful script of questions geared for youngsters. We've already video taped two of our children. So now their candid responses to these clever,age-appropriate questions will be seen for generations yet to come. I wish I could see what my father was like when he was a youngster. How wonderful is that?! A treasure for any family. -- Reader in Los Angeles This book will take you through the steps to make an effective video biography of a loved one. So far, I've done one of my father. We're going to do my uncle next week! The best part of this book is the script of questions the authors have included -- questions that are very textured, designed to produce detailed, thoughtful responses to gain insight -- and the see the personality of a family member. The end result is a treasure! What a great holiday gift! -- Reader in Los Angeles With aging family members, it is good to know there is a guide out there for those of us that need a place to start the legacy process. While a lifetime is spent creating memories, not much time is taken sharing them any more. How to Create a Video Biography is the perfect way to get the process going. Step by step, easy to follow procedures for preparation, recording and editing the video coupled with a script of insightful questions made the life story of my mom a,'Gift', I know my daughter and eventually her family will treasure. This book is a,'Must', for those interested in making a video or just sitting down with a family member and getting the,'Story'. Not just for family elders, the script for the younger family members is probing and insightful. Something they will use to look back on as they mature. -- Paul E. Kissimmee, FL

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Arrowhead Pub (September 1, 1999)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 210 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0964856379
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0964856370
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
• #284,882 in Parenting & Relationships (Books)

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Video Project Lesson Plan: Video Autobiography

Mar 30, 2016

Autobiographies have one big advantage when you’re teaching language arts literacy — namely, the students are already interested in the subject and know all about it. As a result, autobiographies offer an opportunity to focus on style, organization, and editing.

And while students may have written about themselves before, you can breathe new life into the assignment by making your students’ autobiographies a lesson in digital literacy. Take a look at our lesson plan for student-created video autobiographies, and find out how you can teach students to extend what they know about good writing to make compelling videos.

Grade and subject recommendations

This assignment would work best for middle and high school language arts literacy classes (though we offer some suggestions for other subjects below).

Here are a few ways to modify a lesson involving autobiography videos to either extend the assignment or adapt it to other subjects:

• Other Subjects: Create a video biography of a historical figure, scientist, musician, artist or other notable person related to your subject.
• Literature: Create a video autobiography for a fictional character rather than a personal one.
• Extension activities: Create an autobiography unit where students not only create a video, but develop a website with images and written texts to accompany their Animoto video.
• Thematic Autobiography: Make an autobiography focused on one specific part of students’ lives, like their history with reading, as English teacher Beth Hughes does in the video below. Or ask students to choose one major life event and develop a video story about it.

Session 1: Discuss organization in storytelling. Let students know they’ll be creating a video autobiography using Animoto. Videos must be under five minutes and share a few of the most important events in the students’ lives. Students must show “pre-writing” for their video in the form of a storyboard, indicating events or images they plan to include. Give students time in class to work on their storyboards, and let them research images for their video in class if possible. Encourage students to bring in materials for their video the next day (if possible, you could allow them to upload images and video clips to folders in Dropbox or using Google Drive).

Questions for discussion:

• What are some ways to organize a story?
• How do different media require different storytelling techniques — for example, how is a video different from a written story?

Session 2: If necessary, review how to use Animoto. Then, have students work individually to build their Animoto autobiographies based on the storyboards they created the day before. Remind them to select music that’s meaningful to them, and to choose a style that helps them tell their story.

Session 3: Discuss how to make an effective video (i.e. keeps attention, follows a logical progression, has a clear purpose, etc.) Break students into groups and let them review each other’s videos for possible edits. Give students your rubric , so they can analyze the videos based on the assignment criteria. Then ask students to create a copy of their original video in Animoto. They should re-label the copy so it indicates that it’s the final draft version of their video. Be sure to give them time to make edits based on what they learned in their peer review group.

After the assignment

Assessment: Collect storyboards along with both rough and final drafts of the video for assessment based on your rubric.

Looking for more ways to use video in your classroom? Check out these ideas for students and teachers !

• Marketing video
• How-to video
• Slideshow video
• Social media
• Promo video
• Birthday video
• Intro / Outro videos
• Explainer video
• Email marketing
• Training video
• Internal communications video
• Presentation video
• Photography
• Real Estate
• Marketing Agency
• HR / People Ops
• Video commenting tool
• Screen recorder
• Photo video maker
• Music library
• Online video editor
• Video trimming
• Stock library
• Privacy policy
• Terms of use
• Animoto Tutorials

© 2024 Animoto Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Legacy Video Production

Video biography packages & prices.

A Video Biography by Family Tree Video captures a parent or grandparent in a filmed interview sharing their life story, family history and memories. Skillfully edited together with family photos, documents, maps and other memorabilia, this beautiful “moving portrait” is a modern-day heirloom your family will treasure for generations to come.

Covid Update We offer both in-person filmed and online video recorded interviews. In-person filmed interviews take place in the comfort of your home using professional equipment. Online interviews are recorded over Zoom.

To learn more about the Video Biography packages below or to design a package to your needs, please contact us .

A Video Biography is an ideal gift for a milestone birthday (ie. 75th birthday), Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or retirement.

“There are only two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots, and the other, wings.”  H.S. Carter

Unedited Video Interview

Interview A 3 hour interview with your parent or grandparent, covering the family history with a more in-depth review of their life story – from early childhood up to the present day.

Family Receives The 3 hour unedited interview capturing your parent or grandparent sharing their life story, family history and memories..

• Zoom Video Interview: $425.
• In-Person Filmed Interview: $850.*

Video Biography Gold

Interview A 3 hour filmed or Zoom interview with your parent or grandparent, covering the family history with a more in-depth review of their life story – from early childhood up to the present day.

• Interview is edited into a captivating and cohesive, 1.5 hour Video Memoir.
• Up to 75 family photos, documents, maps and other memorabilia are woven throughout.
• Light research for additional images to include such as a childhood home, grade school or church/temple.
• Titles, chapters, music and more are added throughout.
• Families can review the movie and provide feedback throughout the editing process.

Family Receives A 1.5 hour, beautiful “moving portrait” capturing your loved one as they recount their life story, family history and memories .

• Movie on 6 Heirloom Flash-Drives or on 12 standard flash-drives. (Movie files are easy to copy and share.)
• Movie available for viewing on a private webpage for 3 years.
• Movie available for unlimited downloads for 3 years.
• The unedited interview on a standard flash-drive.

Price (paid in 3 installments over course of production)

• Zoom Interview: $4,600.
• In-Person Interview: $5,200.*

Video Biography Platinum

Interview A 4 hour filmed or Zoom interview with your parent or grandparent, covering the family history with a more in-depth review of their life story – from early childhood up to the present day.

B-Roll: additional footage shot outside the interview (ie. of the family farm, playing with the grandchildren).

• Interview is edited into a captivating and cohesive, 1.5-2 hour Video Memoir.
• Up to 100 family photos, documents, maps and more are woven throughout.
• Light research for additional images to include such as a childhood home, grade school, church/temple.
• Titles, chapters, music and more are added throughout.

Family Receives A beautiful, 1.5-2 hour “moving portrait” capturing your parent or grandparent sharing their life story, family history and memories.

• Movie on 8 Heirloom Flash-Drives or on 16 standard flash-drives. (Movie files are easy to copy and share.)
• A 5-8 minute Video Tribute for shorter viewing occasions.
• Zoom Interview: $5,600.
• In-Person Interview: $6,200.*

To learn more about capturing your parent or grandparent’s life story for your family to know, contact us.

A Video Biography is a gift your family will treasure for generations to come.

Family Tree Video LLC Legacy Video Production (312) 402-6406

Susan Saunders Producer

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Looking to capture both parents or grandparents’ stories? Check out our Anniversary Videos !

* In-Person prices reflect filming in one day, in one location, with one camera. Additional cameras/crew, interviews, locations and hours can be added to Video Biography packages. Travel outside the Chicago area is additional.

Legacy Videos

Capturing life stories & family history for future generations, ~ the gift of a lifetime ~.

Family Tree Video Video Biographies ~ Video Memoirs ~ Family History Videos Anniversary Videos ~ Family Documentaries Heirloom Videos ~ Video Tributes Legacy Video Production ~ Since 2008 ~

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14 years later, ‘scrubs’ stars stage mini-reunion: who was there & who wasn’t, ‘all american’: layla questions olivia’s first interview for billy’s biography in exclusive season 6 clip — watch.

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EXCLUSIVE: New year, new Liv. For real this time.

After her tiff with Jordan (Michael Evans Behling) during Monday’s episode of All American , it looks like Olivia (Samantha Logan) has learned her lesson when it comes to her dad’s biography.

Deadline has an exclusive clip from next week’s episode, where Liv is off to her first interview for her book.

She excitedly tells Layla (Greta Oniegou) that she’s off to interview Grace James (Karimah Westbrook), but Layla has some hesitancies about Billy’s high school sweetheart being the first person to contribute to Liv’s book.

All American  is exec produced by Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, John A. Norris, Jameal Turner, Mike Herro and David Strauss.

Season 6 kicks off over a year after Season 5 left off, with Olivia back in LA after spending a year in London. Meanwhile, Jordan and Spencer are locked in on GAU football as their NFL prospects become closer than ever.

Episode 3 airs Monday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

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