Posted on 07/20/2026 5:22:39 PM PDT by knarf
When Billy Christal gave his tribute to his friend, Robin Williams, a clip that played shortly after was of him stating that Robin had been up since 1948. I was born in 1948 . . . . February 29th in particular, and as The Dead stated . . . "What A Long Strange Trip It's Been".
My 31 year old son and I have become very close in the last couple of years and I find myself remembering little vignettes of my life I relate back to him, and he said; "Dad, you should sit down and youtube all these things"
Great idea, but I don't know how.
Howe do I start a youtube (or SOME kind of recording) that will never end and I can just click in to say (like Mary Lou Retton) ... " and another thing"
How can I start an audio/video recording that I can just keep adding in ?
I am a writer...I am writing little short stories of happenings in my life...and to fill in some info for my son..then I may take photos of those writings. I think books are more accessible, unless you want to spread it around to a bunch of people...then maybe video or computer youtube, etc makes sense.
Mark to follow for inspiration!
Thank you FRiend, and good luck!
Tatt
Because I used to make productions professionally, I worked with a lot of crews setting up interviews. After I retired, I used a lot of the tricks to get interviews with older family members. I put those on my Youtube channel under restrictions so that family members I give the address to can see them, but no one else.
Main things to do if you’re setting up with a question format - the easiest to get a watchable video from. Sit with the camera directly next to you with the height of the camera at the height of your own eyes. Sit opposite your talent on an identical chair at the identical height. Flood the room with light from as many sources as you can find. Have a list of questions in such large type and few words that a simple glance will let you remember what to ask about next without distracting your talent from the topic at hand.
My experience with such interviews is that they’re rarely watched by the family afterwards, though almost everyone watches once. But once they’re made, they’re keepable for the future.
I’m the eldest of the family now so I spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to pass on information to the later generations. I tried writing things out. I wrote a couple of books that were hard sloughs, especially for the younger ones who hate reading and only watch things. So I switched to making music video stories of my immediate family and ancestors. Those worked. Ten minutes with music and images and captions underneath pass information better than anything else I’ve tried.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnnb63UEk9c
Family - Grandfather Jack Bell - miner, reporter, lawman, naturalist
Write a diary/journal.
Write in a journal.
A little planning like this makes
an easier and much better
Thing to watch!
True. YouTube allows you to keep videos "private," but still. It's up there, available to see for those who run the servers.
But why put it on the internet? If you want to record memories for the family, why not just record it and keep it in your computer. Make back-ups on flash drives and external SSDs. Possibly even burn a DVD.
Storyworth has a series of questions designed to get you talking about your youth, upraising, what’s important to you, etc. They seemed mostly interested in written responses, but you could always use the questions to prompt individual video recordings.
CDs have a relatively short lifespan...
https://welcome.storyworth.com/
Seriously!
It’s affordable. Less than $200
They lead you through telling your story. They will prompt you with question. You provide the answers. They write your story and put it in book form. You then give the books to your loved ones.
EC
Everyone is focused on YouTube or videos. In the case of the letters, write your fathers bio then transcribe the letters and publish them on Kindle. Easy to do. Order author copies at greatly reduced cost $2-$3 dollars depending on how long the book is and what you set the Amazon cost at. Then give as gifts to family, local library or school. Then make videos based on the book. You will not make money. But the book will be out there. I am writing a second edition and doing it in hardcover with color photos to donate to libraries and schools. Not that it is that good, but as a memorial to those in the book who have passed away. Digital copies will also be available as the paper format fades away. Who knows maybe one day a great great grandchild will find the book a learn about you or your father.
19 AN’A HAHF, I’ll have you to know !
All I want to do is leave a life sized image of me talking to "the audience" whom may be my grandchildren, the youngest now is less than a year old and most likely may never hear of me.
I started this thread a few daze ago and purposefully stayed away to see how it developed.
I like the idea of speaking that gets transcribed into the written word.
All I want to do is leave a life sized image of me talking to "the audience" whom may be my grandchildren, the youngest now is less than a year old and most likely may never hear of me.
I started this thread a few daze ago and purposefully stayed away to see how it developed.
I like the idea of speaking that gets transcribed into the written word.
I have looked around and there are a TON of used/refurbished ipads for a C-note and thereabouts . . . very affordable, AND I have the leisure and comfort to record when I please . . . and maintain relative continuity.
I know nothing of what the RAM is capable of, but 32gb seems to be a standard.
Can 32 gb record the equivalent of an hour's worth of viewing? . . . I'd want to carry the thing around and record as I'm struck with a memory which should make for more interesting viewing/listening.
If this works out, I can purchase 5 (children) units and when it's all done (on my deathbed ? . . .why not? . . hmmm) . . . the one master will then be transcribed to the other 5.
THAT sounds like a very logical choice.
I have looked around and there are a TON of used/refurbished ipads for a C-note and thereabouts . . . very affordable, AND I have the leisure and comfort to record when I please . . . and maintain relative continuity.
I know nothing of what the RAM is capable of, but 32gb seems to be a standard.
Can 32 gb record the equivalent of an hour's worth of viewing? . . . I'd want to carry the thing around and record as I'm struck with a memory which should make for more interesting viewing/listening.
If this works out, I can purchase 5 (children) units and when it's all done (on my deathbed ? . . .why not? . . hmmm) . . . the one master will then be transcribed to the other 5.
THAT sounds like a very logical choice.
I have looked around and there are a TON of used/refurbished ipads for a C-note and thereabouts . . . very affordable, AND I have the leisure and comfort to record when I please . . . and maintain relative continuity.
I know nothing of what the RAM is capable of, but 32gb seems to be a standard.
Can 32 gb record the equivalent of an hour's worth of viewing? . . . I'd want to carry the thing around and record as I'm struck with a memory which should make for more interesting viewing/listening.
If this works out, I can purchase 5 (children) units and when it's all done (on my deathbed ? . . .why not? . . hmmm) . . . the one master will then be transcribed to the other 5.
THAT sounds like a very logical choice.
I have looked around and there are a TON of used/refurbished ipads for a C-note and thereabouts . . . very affordable, AND I have the leisure and comfort to record when I please . . . and maintain relative continuity.
I know nothing of what the RAM is capable of, but 32gb seems to be a standard.
Can 32 gb record the equivalent of an hour's worth of viewing? . . . I'd want to carry the thing around and record as I'm struck with a memory which should make for more interesting viewing/listening.
If this works out, I can purchase 5 (children) units and when it's all done (on my deathbed ? . . .why not? . . hmmm) . . . the one master will then be transcribed to the other 5.
.mpg was introduced in 1991. You can still play them with free add-on or convert them to MPEG-4 with free converters.
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