ReelGenie, an innovator in digital storytelling, has been selected as a finalist for the high-profile SXSW Accelerator. The company, based in Washington, D.C., is among eight competitors selected from hundreds of applicants in the Social Technologies category. ReelGenie will unveil its new technology at the live event.

ReelGenie helps people create and share family videos online. Users select a storyline for their movie, and ReelGenie guides them through the process of uploading photos, videos, and historical documents; recording voiceovers; and adding music to generate an online movie that can be shared with family and friends. Geared toward the creation of personal history movies for birthdays, memorials, anniversaries, and reunions, the service is the first of its kind. It improves upon slideshows and photo books by guiding users to tell a compelling story while incorporating a variety of rich content.

“My mother and I were making a video for my Grandmother’s memorial when we realized that the available tools were limited,” said David Adelman, ReelGenie’s founder and CEO. “An online slideshow didn’t give us the capability to tell a story, and editing software was expensive and difficult to use. We just wanted a way to create an inexpensive, compelling video that told a powerful story. That’s how ReelGenie was born.”

ReelGenie was developed to utilize the collaborative advantages of the Internet. Groups of users can work together, so each person can contribute their own material and participate in the creative process. The site also makes it easy to share completed videos with friends and family through social media tools and other publishing options.

“Our mission is to empower people to tell and preserve their stories, no matter how big or small,” said Adelman. “We all have a unique story. Anyone should be able to make an emotional, expressive movie they are proud to share. ReelGenie was created so that everyone has affordable, easy-to-use tools at their fingertips.”

ReelGenie combines three of the most popular computing trends — the collaboration of social media, the visual power of online video, and the technology benefits of the cloud — with a rapidly-growing interest in family history and storytelling. The company will present in front of a live audience and industry judges during the fifth-annual SXSW Accelerator at the Austin Hilton on March 11-12.

About ReelGenie

ReelGenie makes it easy for anyone to create family history stories by turning pictures, documents, text, and voice narration into engaging movies. Featuring intuitive interfaces, a collaborative production process, and seamless social media integration, ReelGenie lets users bring stories to life and preserve them for generations to come. Dubbed “The Genealogy Technology to Watch in 2013” by thought leader Thomas MacEntee, ReelGenie is revolutionizing video storytelling through its Web-based movie platform.

For more information on ReelGenie, please visit http://www.reelgenie.com. Follow ReelGenie’s progress at SXSW on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/reelgeniefilms or on Twitter at @reelgenie.

About SXSW Accelerator

The fifth annual SXSW Accelerator will take place March 11-13 in Austin, Texas. A live audience, as well as a panel of expert judges will be discovering advancements in social media, mobile applications, web entertainment, and more. The best part? Product demonstrations by the most ambitious talents in the world with the most creative new ideas to change it. We will catch a glimpse of the industry’s future, with a guided tour by our emcees and judges.

This competition will be unlike any other. On March 11, 48 companies battle for your taste-making, trend-setting attention, leading to a fireworks display of innovation. Connections will be made and careers launched. On Tuesday March 12, the top 18 companies will be invited back, and at the end of the day winners of SXSW Accelerator will be announced.

Reel Tributes founder David Adelman writes for Forbes about how dogs help entrepreneurs succeed. Read the full article at http://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2012/12/05/4-reasons-fido-can-be-a-startup-founders-best-friend/

By: Victoria Shapiro
December 26, 2012

In this new monthly column Victoria Shapiro asks top young business leaders in the D.C. area to share their thoughts on succeeding in business and life.

Business Leader of the Month: David Adelman, CEO and founder of Reel Tributes, a personal history film production company, and of ReelGenie, an online storytelling platform.
Age: 30
Relationship Status: Married to Melissa Adelman, economist at the World Bank
Education: Undergrad: Harvard University; MBA: The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
About Reel Tributes: The company produces tribute documentaries for families and family businesses. By incorporating oral histories, photos and other content, these films add a special touch to milestones such as birthdays, anniversaries and retirement celebrations.
Reel Tributes’ Key Market Differentiators: The company focuses exclusively on creating personal history films, so their client needs are well-understood and met. The team organizes and guides clients through the production process, ensuring the experience is easy, fun and educational.

Victoria: David, you’re a perfect fit for this column which spotlights business leaders who have shown a sense of adventure, innovation, tenacity, and commitment to community.  It’s going to be fun to interview you.
David: Thanks Victoria!  Looking forward to it

Victoria: Talk to me a little bit more about what Reel Tributes does.
David: We create documentary films, mostly for families and family owned businesses.  Perhaps a grandmother is turning 90, and the family wants to capture her stories.  They would hire us to interview the grandmother and other family members… to make sure her stories and values are never forgotten.  Our family business clients understand the importance of preserving the legacy of the company’s founder and maintaining a sense of tradition.  This is especially critical around a leadership transition, as the founder hands the reigns to a son or daughter.  Every film is customized according to the client’s preferred focus, which makes each project fun and unique.

Victoria: You started Reel Tributes when you were still at Wharton?
David: I started it in the summer between the first and second year of business school.  My grandmother, who was a very impressive woman, passed away.  My mom made a film about her life, and brought the family together to watch it.  No one had ever seen anything like that.  It was great to see the joy and inspiration on everyone’s faces, and that’s how the company got started.

Victoria: I read that genealogy is the second most searched topic online.  You’re tapping into this market with another venture, ReelGenie.
David: Yes, ReelGenie in an online storytelling platform, focused on family history.  Users can showcase all of their research and genealogy findings by creating their own movies using photos, voiceovers, music, and other relevant content.  Often genealogists spend years doing research, and the family yawns at it.  This platform allows family history enthusiasts to share their findings and get the rest of their family engaged in what they’ve done.

Victoria: Has ReelGenie launched yet?
David: We are planning to launch in March 2013, only a few months away!

Victoria: What energizes you?
David: Making a difference in peoples’ lives, and solving challenges.  I love bringing a smile to their faces.  One of the reasons I got into entrepreneurship is that I saw it as the best way to make a difference in the most lives.  Also, every business faces challenges, but the companies that succeed are the ones that come up with creative solutions and are led by individuals who understand that every day is a new challenge.  You can never be complacent. Embracing adversity is part of the fun of growing a company.

Victoria: You’re running a company.  You’re starting a new business.  You’re newly married.  How do you balance the different pieces of your life?

David: Since a young age, I have been a multi-tasker… I’ve always thrived on being really busy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I love work, but there’s a limit.  I make time for being social and doing things that I enjoy… Having an active social life and spending time with my wife and our friends keeps me grounded. We also have a little puppy, a shih tzu named Samson.  I actually wrote an articlefor Forbes about how great dogs are for entrepreneurs.  Also, I prioritize staying in shape.  I believe in the link between staying physically fit and being emotionally and intellectually fresh.

Victoria: Your perspective every day as an entrepreneur is…
David: An entrepreneur with tunnel vision is doomed to fail.  You have to have a goal or plan, but need to stay attuned to the opportunities that arise along the way.  There will always be new information coming in that should change the way you see your business.

Victoria: Talk to me about some of your other philosophies.
David: I was a speaker at my Wharton graduation, and my speech was about how we, as Wharton graduates, can help the world and not just make a lot of money.  The analogy I used in my speech was from when I climbed a mountain called Cotopaxi in Ecuador.  The trip leader had this phrase he used, “Don’t reach the peak but miss the point.”  It’s not just about getting to the top of the mountain, it’s about how you behave along the way and what you do once you reach the top.  There’s a lot more to life than just making money.  It’s important to think about building meaningful relationships and service to the community.  These other aspects make the most difference and add incredible meaning to our lives.

Victoria: Are you a practicing Jew?  How do your Jewish values inform you as a business leader?  What’s your philosophy?
David: I am a practicing Jew.  My philosophy is very consistent with Judaism, but I wouldn’t say it’s because I’m Jewish that I live the way I do.  It’s a combination of upbringing and personality.  Judaism — and especially seeing both of my parents being really active and giving back— taught me important lessons about the value of community and compassion.  My mom raised me on a kibbutz in Israel, to impart the values of community and help get me away from some of the materialism that she saw in America.  I also value Shabbat services and dinners.  I find synagogue to be a soothing time for reflection and spirituality.

Victoria: What kind of a leader do you aspire to be?
David: I want to continue to love what I do.  I want to be the type of leader who has a smile on his face when he’s leading the company and not stressed because every day is a fire drill.  Leading a company should be fun.  On a personal level, I want to make a difference.  If I get to the point where I’m not making a difference, I need to stop.  Also, I want to be fair. It’s really important to me to think about fairness and leading in such a way that no one feels cheated, whether it’s employees, clients, or competitors.  I don’t want to be known as the guy who lied and cheated his way to the top.

Victoria: What advice do you have for people who want to start their own businesses?
David: You need to have thick skin.  Don’t take anything too personally, since you’ll have a lot of people telling you “no” along the way.  That’s just part of the deal. You have to persevere.  There will be times where you think you’re the smartest person in the world and times when you think you’re the dumbest person in the world.  Also, nothing happens as quickly as you expect it to.  You need to be prepared financially and emotionally to weather the storm for a long time.  But if you do, the dividends are enormous.  It’s worth the wait (or so I hear!)

We at GTJ wish David continued success and can’t wait to check out ReelGenie!

Victoria Shapiro is a senior account executive at Susan Davis International, a full-service communications and public affairs firm on K Street. She is also an advisor to her family’s company, The Donald J. Ross LLC, the official licensing company for the legendary 20th century golf course architect.

View full article at http://www.gatherthejews.com/2012/12/what-ive-learned-so-far-gtjs-december-business-leader-of-the-month-shares-insights/

By Jill Anick, Associate Director, Wharton Entrepreneurship

The holiday season is drawing to a close but there’s still time to get the perfect gifts for your friends and loved ones, and Penn and Wharton entrepreneurs are ready to help!

First things first, no one wants to shop with a dead cell phone battery.ChargeItSpot comes to the rescue with secure phone charging stations at several Philadelphia-area retailers, including Honeygrow, Whole Foods, and Ritz Carlton.

On to the gift getting…

Is there someone in your life who loves fashion or could use some help in the style department? Kembrel, ‘The Better Boutique’, showcases unique, independent, local designers alongside highly curated classic brands. For street ware, there’s ARE5, Location Apparel andKusuri Enterprises, and for the office, there’s shoe designer Altum, and custom suit and accessories maker and style consultants Henry A. Davidsen and J. Hilburn. If you’re looking for stocking stuffers from the jewelry department, Stone and Strandhas you covered. For men who love fashion but don’t have time to shop, TrendBentwill send a group of customized items each month. Of course, sometimes you just have to have what your favorite celebrity is wearing – for that, look no further thanStylitics’ shoppable closet feature.

There’s also a wide range of options for foodies. Gia Pronto and Metropolitan Bakery are ideal for lunch and coffee and maybe even some snacks to take home. If you’re getting a gift for someone who wants to improve their eating habits but doesn’t have time to cook, Real Food Works can deliver healthy delicious meals right to their doorstep. For the adventurous food lover, try Bandar Foods’ Monkey Sauce – inspired by Southeast Asian cuisine and designed for American palates. And for that special dinner out on the town, Fork in Philadelphia’s Old City is the perfect place.

If the folks you’re buying gifts for are parents, you could give them a subscription to Stork Stack and each month they’ll receive a highly curated selection of items tailored to their child’s age. If mom and baby need some pampering, Bionée is a line of natural skin care products designed to suit their specific needs. If your gift recipient is in Brazil, check out Baby.com.brfor anything and everything a family could need delivered right to their doorstep. And to save all those precious memories, Reel Tributes will help the family create their own personal history documentary.

Some gifts provide the added benefit of improving the lives of underserved people around the world. For each pair of glasses sold, Warby Parker provides a pair to someone in need.Hydros Bottle uses a part of the proceeds of each sale to fund sustainable water infrastructure projects. And Kenya Spare a Camera uses proceeds from the sale of its photographs to support the Cura Orphanage in Kenya.

Now if you really want to knock their socks off, you can’t go wrong with something shiny from Tesla Motors!

Happy holidays!

Read article on Penn’s Entrepreneurship Blog: http://beacon.wharton.upenn.edu/entrepreneurship/2012/12/need-to-complete-your-holiday-gift-list-penn-entrepreneurs-are-here-to-help/

The following article was written by David Adelman, founder and CEO of Reel Tributes, which produces documentary films to preserve the legacy of families and family businesses, and William Alexander, who teaches a course on strategies and practices of family-controlled companies at Wharton. A longer version of this article appears in the current issue of Family Business Magazine.

For any family business facing a transition from its founders to the next generation, several fundamental questions must be addressed: What are the assumptions behind the company’s culture and values? Are these assumptions helpful or harmful to succession? Do the culture and values lead to artifacts that serve as physical evidence of the company’s mission?

To uncover some helpful assumptions, consider two companies that have enjoyed multiple successful generational transitions: SC Johnson and Son and the J.M. Smucker Company. SC Johnson was founded in 1886 when Samuel Curtis Johnson, at the request of his customers, created a preservative for hardwood flooring sold by his company. To create the product, he studied how Europeans preserved the wood floors in manor houses, and then he developed a formula that he perfected in his bathtub. The company’s culture, in part, is based on an underlying assumption of “doing.” The resulting value is, “We will not stop doing until the customer is satisfied.” The artifact is the founder’s bathtub, which played a central role in the company lore.

Johnson also assumed that people and communities were essential to his success. The resulting value around employee practices is, “We care about you.” The value around community involvement is, “We are part of [the] communities in which we work and, therefore, believe in paying our civic rent.” Artifacts include a pamphlet titled, “This We Believe,” given to all employees. The pamphlet starts with the following powerful statement: “The goodwill of people is the only enduring thing in any business. It is the sole substance…. The rest is shadow.”

J.M. Smucker dates to 1897, when Jerome Monroe Smucker began producing apple cider and apple butter from trees growing near his Orrville, Ohio, home. He was so obsessed with quality and fairness in his pricing that he added a bit more product in his jars to ensure that the customer was not being cheated. He also personally signed every lid of every jar he produced. Smucker assumed that in a business that bore his name, people had to be treated fairly and with respect. From this assumption, the values of quality products, fair treatment of employees, responsibility for the well-being of the communities where the company operates and customer satisfaction had their roots. An artifact that flowed from this basic assumption is the J.M. Smucker signature, which still appears on all jars of Smucker’s products.

Both SC Johnson and J.M. Smucker perpetuate the memory of their founders with artifacts that remind all employees, both family and non-family, of what values the businesses holds dear. Both companies have created a participative culture in which customers, suppliers, family, employees and community all take part in decision making.

Since a participative culture is essential to multigenerational success, how do you keep that type of culture in place through generational change? Knowing that future generations of children will be raised in different economic and social environments than their parents — and marrying spouses whose upbringing may be foreign to the culture of the business family — what is today’s business leader to do?

The answer to this question can be summed up in one simple word: stories. Telling and codifying stories can distinguish a family business and promote its longevity. These stories can share the folklore of the company’s founding. They can explore the rationale for critical decisions that shaped the company’s development. They can recount the achievements, and failures, of past business cycles. They can recount meaningful or silly events that led to employee bonding. As a company’s leadership is being handed from one generation to the next, the stakes are raised for the company to articulate its culture — the assumptions, values and artifacts that have served as the “glue” over the years.

In Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, brothers Chip and Dan Heath write that one key to success is the use of stories, especially those that are emotional or inspirational. Hearing and internalizing stories from a company’s past can fundamentally change the way next-generation members will act when confronted with difficult situations.

Storytelling can also benefit the company’s employees. Stories add color to the principles espoused by the company’s leaders and the assumptions underlying these principles. They help employees identify with the values and culture. A recent Reel Tributes client, a CEO of a family business turning 120 years old, cited his employees as a motivation for storytelling. As he explained early in the film project, “I want my staff to know how special the history of our company is, and how special they are to the history of the company. It’s this link that I want to establish with these stories.” A chapter of the film titled, “Finding and Keeping Passionate People,” is dedicated to the company’s staff.

A company’s customer base is another key audience for its stories. Consumers prefer to buy from companies that share their values. But if the company doesn’t express what its values are, how are customers to know whether they are shared? For this reason, companies are increasingly presenting “Our History and Values” as a central part of their websites and marketing materials. Showing that a certain store has been in the same location for four generations, or that a company has raised millions of dollars for local charities, is a powerful sales tool. However, it is not enough to just list this information. Tying the history and values to stories, such as a personal anecdote from the CEO explaining why his daughter’s struggle with cancer led him to support the local cancer hospital, makes the connection with customers that much deeper.

The key to encourage storytelling is to find the right people and ask the right questions. Chances are, the older generation holds a wealth of knowledge. Ask about the company’s founding, its background and its challenges. Find out what values were established early on, and how those values have changed over the years.

Avoid limiting the storytelling to management and family. Invite employees to participate in the conversations. Multiple perspectives on the same story will emerge, and new information will be revealed about the company culture. This information may be glowing, or it may be difficult to swallow, but it will certainly be enlightening.

Once the stories are told, the question then becomes, “What do we do with this information?” Technology has provided many options for recording and preserving stories. Companies can post their stories on their website. They can publish a book detailing the history and values of the company, and present copies to employees and customers. Digital tape recorders can collect oral histories for the company archives. Social media presents an engaging outlet for telling a company’s stories to its network of followers and receiving valuable feedback. And video documentaries allow for the compilation of interviews, photographs and other memorabilia in an engaging format.

No matter what method is chosen, the process of sharing stories should start today. The reality is that while companies and their cultures can live on, founders and family members will not. Recording stories will ensure that the business — and the culture it has created – will not be forgotten.

The blog post can be viewed on the Knowledge@Wharton website: http://knowledgetoday.wharton.upenn.edu/2012/11/the-power-of-storytelling/

By: David Adelman, Founder/CEO of Reel Tributes
and Bill Alexander, Family Business expert at the Wharton School
November/December 2012 Issue

In a 1988 article in Family Business Review, W. Gibb Dyer Jr. wrote: “The culture of the family firm plays an important role in determining the success of the business beyond the first generation.” Dyer stated that culture is a bundle of interconnected traits that begin with basic assumptions, usually instilled in the company by its founder. These assumptions establish a foundation for the company’s values, which are defined as the guiding rules for all situations employees face. These values ultimately lead to artifacts that serve as the physical evidence of the assumptions and values.

For example, consider a founder who assumes people are good and trustworthy. A resulting value would be “Our people are key to our success,” and a resulting artifact would be a sophisticated employee training facility. Conversely, if the underlying assumption is “People are basically lazy and untrustworthy,” the resulting value might be “We run a tight ship,” and an artifact might be a time clock or observation window overlooking the production floor.

For the family business facing a transition, two fundamental questions must be addressed: What are the assumptions from which the culture derives, and are these assumptions helpful or harmful to succession?

Participative cultures

To uncover some helpful assumptions, let’s turn to two companies that have enjoyed multiple successful generational transitions: SC Johnson and Son Inc. and the J.M. Smucker Company. SC Johnson was founded in 1886 when Samuel Curtis Johnson, at the request of his customers, created a preservative for hardwood flooring his company was selling. To create the product, he studied how Europeans preserved the wood floors in manor houses, and then developed a formula that he perfected in his bathtub. The company’s culture, in part, is based on an underlying assumption of “doing.” The resulting value is, “We will not stop doing until the customer is satisfied.” The artifact is the founder’s bathtub, which played a central role in the company lore.

Johnson also assumed that people and communities were essential to his success. The resulting value around employee practices is, “We care about you”; the value around community involvement is, “We are part of our communities in which we work and, therefore, believe in paying our civic rent.” Artifacts include a pamphlet entitled “This We Believe,” given to all employees. The pamphlet starts with the following powerful statement: “The goodwill of people is the only enduring thing in any business. It is the sole substance … the rest is shadow!”

J.M. Smucker dates to 1897, when Jerome Monroe Smucker began producing apple cider and apple butter from apple trees growing near his Orrville, Ohio, home. He was so obsessed with quality and fairness in his pricing that he added a bit more product in his jars to ensure the customer was not being cheated. He also personally signed every lid of every jar he produced. Smucker assumed that in a business that bore his name, people had to be treated fairly and with respect. From this assumption, the values of quality products, fair treatment of employees, responsibility for the wellbeing of the communities where the company operates and customer satisfaction had their roots. An artifact that flowed from this basic assumption is the J.M. Smucker signature, which still appears on all jars of Smucker’s products.

Both SC Johnson and J.M. Smucker include in their value systems the importance of customer satisfaction, respect for and appreciation of their employees, and a commitment to the communities in which they operate. Both perpetuate the memory of their founders with artifacts that remind all employees, both family and non-family, of what values the businesses holds dear. Both companies have created a participative culture — a culture in which customers, suppliers, family, employees and community all participate in decision making.

Since a participative culture is essential to multigenerational success, how do you keep that type of culture in place through generational change? Knowing that future generations of children will be raised in different economic and social environments than their parents, and marrying spouses whose upbringing may be foreign to the culture of the business family, what is today’s business leader to do?

The role of storytelling

The answer to this question can be summed up in one simple word: stories. Telling and codifying stories can distinguish a family business and promote its longevity.

Family business stories can share the folklore of the company’s founding. They can explore the rationale for critical decisions that shaped the company’s development. They can recount the achievements, and failures, of past business cycles. They can recount meaningful or silly events that led to employee bonding.

The more stories are shared in an organization, the more the benefits are felt. Take a succession, for example. As a company’s leadership is being handed from one generation to the next, the stakes are raised for the company to articulate its culture — the assumptions, values and artifacts that have served as the “glue” over the years. In a research paper for clients, GenSpring listed communicating “family history and culture” as one of the 25 best practices of multigenerational families. As we saw with the Johnsons and Smuckers, the communication of culture, mission and values is what helps companies maintain cohesion for successive generations.

In Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, brothers Chip and Dan Heath write that one key to success is the use of stories, especially those that are emotional or inspirational. Hearing and internalizing stories from a company’s past can fundamentally change the way next-generation members will act when confronted with difficult situations.

Storytelling can also benefit the company’s employees. Stories add color to the principles espoused by the company’s leaders, and the assumptions underlying these principles. They help employees identify with the values and culture. SC Johnson’s “This We Believe” pamphlet describes the company’s commitment to “Maintain good relations among all employees around the world based on a sense of participation, mutual respect, and an understanding of common objectives.” This would not be possible unless management clarifies what those objectives are.

A recent Reel Tributes client, a CEO of a family business turning 120 years old, cited his employees as a motivation for storytelling. As he explained early in the film project, “I want my staff to know how special the history of our company is, and how special they are to the history of the company. It’s this link that I want to establish with these stories.” A chapter of the film, titled “Finding and Keeping Passionate People,” is dedicated to the company’s staff.

A company’s customer base is another key audience for its stories. Consumers prefer to buy from companies that share their values. But if the company doesn’t express what its values are, how are customers to know whether they are shared? For this reason, companies are increasingly presenting “Our History and Values” as a central part of their websites and marketing materials. Showing that a certain store has been in the same location for four generations, or a company has raised millions of dollars for local charities, is a powerful sales tool. However, it is not enough to just list this information. Tying the history and values to stories, such as a personal anecdote from the CEO explaining why his daughter’s struggle with cancer led him to support the local cancer hospital, makes the connection with customers that much deeper.

Recording your stories

Many business owners ask us, “Where do we start? How do we encourage stories?” The key is to find the right people and ask the right questions. Chances are, the older generation holds a wealth of knowledge. Ask about the company’s founding, its background and its challenges. Find out what values were established early on, and how those values have changed over the years. Probe into how the company’s culture has developed. Start small, perhaps with a few questions at lunch or at a family meeting, and build up to in-depth “storytelling sessions” over time.

Avoid limiting the storytelling to management and family. Invite employees to participate in the conversations. Ask them what stories they hold dear. Multiple perspectives on the same story will emerge, and new information will be revealed about the company culture. This information may be glowing, or it may be difficult to swallow, but it will certainly be enlightening. As SC Johnson writes on its website, it is impossible to maintain healthy relations without “Fostering open, two-way communications between management and employees.”

Once the stories are told, the question then becomes, “What do we do with this information?” Technology has provided many options for recording and preserving stories. Companies can post their stories on their website. They can publish a book detailing the history and values of the company, and present copies to employees and customers. Digital tape recorders can collect oral histories for the company archives. Social media presents an engaging outlet for telling a company’s stories to its network of followers, and receiving valuable feedback. And video documentaries allow for the compilation of interviews, photographs and other memorabilia in an engaging format.

No matter what method you choose, start sharing your stories today. Don’t wait until it is too late. The reality is that while companies and their cultures can live on, founders and family members will not. We recently met with a client who is retiring at the age of 70. In the course of the interviews with the CEO and his family, and in explaining why stories were so important to them, the word “stewardship” repeatedly came up. The CEO’s daughter said proudly, “My father is not focused on himself. Money and awards aren’t important; what matters to him is creating an avenue for future generations to thrive.”

The tenure of an individual leader is limited. What stories is your family recording to ensure the business — and the culture it has created — is not soon forgotten?             FB

David Adelman is founder and CEO of Reel Tributes, which produces documentary films to preserve the legacy of families and family businesses (www.reeltributes.com). William Alexander teaches a course on Strategies and Practices of Family-Controlled Companies at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (alexwh@wharton.upenn.edu).

Click here to read the article on the Family Business Magazine website. 

By: Tom Heath
September 17, 2012

District-based ReelGenie, founded by Silver Spring resident David Adelman, closed a $100,000 friends and family round from 10 investors, including three professors from Penn’s Wharton School, Adelman’s alma mater. The online service helps users make their own family videos. Advisers include a well-known genealogy blogger and some chief executive officers. Adelman, nephew of diplomat and Shakespeare wonk Kenneth Adelman, founded Reel Tributes, which makes films for families and businesses.

For more on ReelGenie, visit www.reelgeniefilms.com

See original article at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/documentary-on-boxer-to-premiere-in-dc/2012/09/14/fc493c94-fd2b-11e1-8adc-499661afe377_story.html

 

Wayne Zell of Blueprint for Wealth interviewed Reel Tributes’ founder David Adelman. The radio interview, which aired on July 28th on FederalNewsRadio 1500 in Washington, DC, touched on a range of topics related to estate planning and preserving family memories through film. Mr. Zell, one of the leading estate planners in Washington, said these films are “a great legacy to leave to future generations.”

Listen to the full interview here:

For more information on Wayne Zell and Blueprint for Wealth, visit: http://www.blueprintforwealth.org/

Listen to the interview here:

 

To download the transcript, visit http://collaborativefamilyoffice.com/david-adelman/

Learn more about Michael Palumbos, Collaborative Family Office, and the Authors & Experts Interview Series at http://collaborativefamilyoffice.com/

Looking for a timeless Father’s Day gift? WTOP’s Bob Madigan explains how Reel Tributes offers “the next best thing” to buying your dad immortality.

Click below to Play the segment:

http://www.wtop.com/817/2890710/Giving-the-gift-of-memories

By: Susan Belford
Potomac (MD) Almanac
May 23, 2012

Potomac — Most of us would like to leave a legacy of the history of our family — and of our personal lives for our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren — and into perpetuity. However, many never record their personal histories, let alone that of their families. The research, interviews, writing and organization are just too overwhelming, confusing and time-consuming. But now, a company called “Reel Tributes” will help with the planning and implementation — and will make certain the project is completed in a professional manner with a meaningful result — a video documenting the history, genealogy and special memories of a family or a family business.

A little over a year ago, while a student at Wharton, David Adelman decided to forgo a career in finance to launch Reel Tributes. His impetus was a video his mom made and shared at his cousin’s wedding which highlighted his family history and stories from his relatives, Adelman recalled. “I was blown away by the emotional impact of the video and what it meant to every family member. That’s when I decided to start a business to help families capture memories on film to honor the lives of loved ones as well as their history and genealogy.”

Adelman pulled together a management team that is “as passionate about film as you are about the stories you want to commemorate. Together we transform stories into a timeless tribute.” The team consists of Founder and CEO Adelman, Chief Videographer and Editor Caleb Green, Interviewer Lin Joyce, Director of Genealogy Rebecca Whitman Koford and Videographer and Editor Robert Lodge.

Most of Reel Tributes’ films are for special celebrations such as birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions and holidays, or to honor one’s life accomplishments.

The company also produces videos for multi-generational businesses that would like to preserve their history for both the owners and the employees. Reel Tributes is producing a film for a family business’s 120th anniversary and another for a CEO’s retirement.

Potomac resident Ellie Slotkin is planning to make a film for her family. Currently, she is using the services to research her family genealogy. “I was thrilled to hear about Reel Tributes. I’m a fan of NBC’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ Learning about a family’s heritage is an amazing adventure. It’s not just for celebrities anymore. I’m eager for the Reel Tributes team to uncover my family’s roots and capture it on film.”

The process begins with a meeting in which the family explains their purpose and goals. Members then complete a questionnaire documenting important dates and materials they have in their possession, including photographs, certificates, records, etc.

Personal historian Lin Joyce works with families to decide what is important to include in the film and also helps them collect and organize their photos and documents. She also aids them in sorting out the oral history and gathering the stories that are most important.

Genealogist Koford assists families in finding their roots or confirming them. Joyce then interviews family members, employees, and significant friends — anyone that the family deems important to the story. These interviews are then edited into a 30-minute video.

“Every project is customized,” said Adelman. “We preserve the film on DVDs and hard-drives and also keep them on our back-up files. The video can be kept forever as a living document for each family.

Memories are so important. Stories have the power to connect us with generations past, while at the same time preserving our own gems for future generations. Imagine how disappointed you’d be if in 2-3 generations, nobody remembers you. If we don’t record our stories, so much rich history will be lost. We work so hard in our lifetimes to do well and do good; it’s a shame if that doesn’t get remembered.”

Reel Tributes is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association to raise awareness for the disease and of the importance of preserving memories. Adelman said, “Through our partnership, we’ve met many families that have been impacted by this terrible disease. Very few recorded their stories and for most families it is too late. We’re trying to spread the message that as soon as someone in your family is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, the family should spend some time getting their story down. Film is the best format, but even writing stories on paper and recording them in audio is much better than doing nothing and regretting it for many years.”

Adelman has a goal in mind for his company. “My team and I would love to see every family record their story.”

To find out more about Reel Tributes, go to www.reeltributes.com or contact Adelman at 202-631-3456.

View the original article at http://www.potomacalmanac.com/news/2012/may/23/reel-tributes-preserves-family-histories/ or  http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2012/may/23/reel-tributes-preserves-family-histories/

     

Over 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Such a statistic is what motivated David Adelman to use what his company does best – capture memories on film – to make a difference.

Reel Tributes helps families capture memories on film to honor the lives of loved ones. Recently, the company partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association to raise awareness for the disease and preserving memories, offering up a film as the grand prize. We recently had a chance to interview David Adelman, founder and CEO of Reel Tributes about the contest, how video is bringing people closer together, and what his big dream for the world is.

CPC: Why do we need to get the stories of our families on film?
Adelman: Stories have the power to connect us with generations past, while at the same time preserving our own gems for future generations. If we don’t record our stories, so much rich history will be lost. Think about how much information you know about your great-grandparents. It’s probably limited, if any. Imagine how disappointed you’d be if in 2-3 generations nobody remembers you. We work so hard in our lifetimes to do well and do good; it’s a shame if that doesn’t get remembered. That’s where stories come in.

CPC: Stories can be powerful. How does your work help people to remember, share, and pass on family stories?
Adelman: We combine a variety of media into 30-minute films. We record interviews with family members, and incorporate pictures, home videos, important documents, and music into the narrative. Our goal is to create high-quality films that family members of all ages will enjoy watching, and will continue to watch for many years.

CPC: You recently raised awareness about Alzheimer’s with a recent contest. Can you tell us more about that?
Adelman: The Your Favorite Memory Contest was a wonderful success. We asked caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients to write down a story of their loved one. Then, through an online vote and a panel of judges, we picked the best stories. The grand prize winner received a free Reel Tribute film, which was extremely well received by the family. Other sponsors included Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, and Massage Envy.

Through our partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, we’ve met many families that have been impacted by this terrible disease. Very few record their stories, and for most families it’s too late. We’re trying to spread the message that as soon as someone in your family is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, the family should spend some time getting their story down. Film is the best format, but even writing stories on paper or recording them in audio is much better than doing nothing and regretting it for many years.

CPC: The last five years have seen a rapid growth in video creation and consumption. Is it bringing people closer together?
Adelman: Indeed, video creation and viewing has taken off in recent years. The combination of faster Internet, the ease of uploading and watching on YouTube, and the improvement in video production equipment and software has been a powerful combination. In some ways, this brings people closer together, especially if families are watching the content together. That’s why we’re big fans of video; it’s engaging, entertaining, and an experience that can be enjoyed with large groups of family and friends.

CPC: Can you share a story of how your work is positively impacting families?
Adelman: One client recently produced the film for her mother’s 90th birthday celebration. They brought 130 people together in one room watching the film. By the end, the client told us there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Her mom was so excited about the film and the reaction it got that she asked us to “Please come back for my 100th birthday celebration!” At the end of the day, it’s the client’s satisfaction that keeps us passionate about our work. So far every film has been extremely well received.

CPC: What’s your big dream for the world?
Adelman: My team and I would love to see every family record their story. It’s much easier than people think, and the small amount of time and effort is certainly well worth it. It’s an investment that will only go up in value over time.

About Cool People Care:
We share ideas every day for ways you can make the world a better place. We also have a full line of eco-friendly and inspirational merchandise (like organic T-shirts and posters) that raise money and awareness for some of the most important causes in the world.
See the full interview at http://www.coolpeoplecare.org/memories-matter/ 

David Adelman is the Founder and CEO of Reel Tributes, the premier producer of high-end personal history documentaries. He founded Reel Tributes after his grandmother passed away, and his mom made an amazing film about their family. Prior to founding Reel Tributes, David received his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, where he majored in Entrepreneurial Management. David graduated as a Palmer Scholar (top 5% of his graduating class) and was selected as Wharton’s McGowan Fellow. He serves on the advisory board of Boston International, a nonprofit he co-founded.

Before Wharton, David was an associate with Charlesbank Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm in Boston. He also worked for the management consulting firm Bain & Company, advising clients in Los Angeles, Australia, and India. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Government, cum laude, from Harvard University, and grew up in Israel where he was the Israeli junior national golf champion.  He now lives in Washington, DC with his wife Melissa, and enjoys playing golf and traveling in his (minimal) spare time. David is a member of the prestigious Young Entrepreneur Council and has been featured in Forbes, Modern Luxury, and several other publications.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on my startup, Reel Tributes. The company produces high-end films for families, organizations, and companies looking to preserve and share their history. It has been a great experience.

Where did the idea for Reel Tributes come from?

I was in business school last year when my grandmother passed away. My mom made a film to honor her, and when the family came together to watch it, the reaction was amazing. People were stunned and had never seen a documentary about a “regular” family like this. I immediately knew there would be a market for this, and went back to school for my second year to launch the company.

What does your typical day look like?

My days involved a combination of working on client projects and sales and marketing to bring in new clients and raise awareness for the company. No two days are alike, or boring, which is why I love being an entrepreneur.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Through hard work and never giving up. There’s always going to be rough days; the key is to keep on fighting and know that there are plenty of good days ahead.

What’s one trend that really excites you?

Video. We’re only at the tip of the iceburg when it comes to video creation. As the technology continues to improve, more and more families will be able to create and share their videos.

What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?

I’ve actually enjoyed all of my jobs, even being a barista at Starbucks when I was 17. Working there showed me the importance of customer service; it’s all about being efficient and friendly.

If you were to start again, what would you do differently?

That’s a tough question. I don’t have many regrets (yet).

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I’m religious about responding to emails and phone calls in a timely manner. I find it rude when people ignore their communications. It sends a bad signal that they either don’t care or are too disorganized to stay in touch.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Anything in the senior care space. It’s a booming market.

Tell us a secret.

My mom may be in the Mossad.

What are your three favorite online tools and what do you love about them?

I love Google+ video hangouts. We use them for interviews and client meetings; it’s great way to see folks without having to travel.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Rework, by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier. It’s a good motivator to get started with your business idea, even if it’s not 100% ready (Hint: it never is).

What’s on your playlist?

I listen to Podcasts all the time. My favorites are NPR’s Planet Money and ESPN’s the BS Report (Bill Simmons).

If you weren’t working on Reel Tributes, what would you be doing?

I’d be at another startup. I love building companies and products. There’s nothing like watching something evolve from an idea to reality.

Three people we should follow on Twitter and why?

@ReelTributes – that’s us!

@TheYEC – a great community of young entrepreneurs doing amazing things

@JLin7 – Jeremy Lin is the real deal. And his tweets are entertaining.

When was the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?

Today, when I read a poll showing 50%+ of voters in Mississippi and Alabama still think President Obama is Muslim. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but I prefer laughing.

Who is your hero?

Former Israeli president Yitzhak Rabin. He was a true hero who was willing to speak out for what he believed was right. I admire that in him and in many other strong leaders.

How easy is it for a family to create a Reel Tribute?

It’s actually surprisingly easy. We help our clients with every step of the process. It takes a few weeks from start to finish, but it’s a fun and educational experience for everyone involved. We also make sure it gets done; many of our clients tried doing it themselves and couldn’t get the motivation to even get started.

What do you do for fun?

I’m always looking for a new adventure. Send me a Tweet (info below) with ideas.

Connect

Twitter: @ReelTributes
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/adelmandavid
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReelTributes

To see the article on the IdeaMensch website, visit http://ideamensch.com/david-adelman/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Ben Fischer
Washington Business Journal
February 17, 2012

Download (PDF, 1.68MB)

Subscribers can read the article online at http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/print-edition/2012/02/17/david-adelmans-company-reel.html

By: Ed Komenda
The Patriot-News (Harrisburg, PA)
February 17, 2012

Ask about home, and McNulty will tell you stories about her six children and her grandchildren and plenty more about growing up.

McNulty turned 90 in the fall and there was a grand party at a New Cumberland church. There, her family aired a gift more telling than most — a documentary about her life produced by Washington D.C.-based film company Reel Tributes.

McNulty tells her own story in the film, fielding questions from her oldest daughter. Pictures from a massive family collection accompanied the tales, floating across the screen in black and white, putting faces to her memory’s massive collection of names.

To McNulty, storytelling is the most natural of things.

David Adelman agrees. It just took him a while to realize it.

The 30-year-old CEO of Reel Tributes had spent years at business school, graduating from Harvard University, cum laude, later earning his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He was there when he got the call that his grandmother had died.

With the news, he thought about all those years she roamed the earth. What had he learned from her?

From a very young age, Adelman knew he wanted to start his own business.

But what business? The question burned inside him as he worked days as a private equity investor and consultant.

But at his grandmother’s funeral, he met serendipity.

He and his mother had produced a documentary telling the story of his family’s heritage, trailing from 19th century Russia to modern-day San Francisco.

The documentary used photographs and anecdotes from Adelman’s grandmother, Eunice, the family’s chief storyteller. By the end of the film, most members of the family were in tears.

There it was, a permanent record, preserving his family’s stories forever.

Adelman felt lucky to have that. He knew that with his grandmother’s death, many stories would have died, too.

Sure, there were photos. But it’s easy to forget names and faces on a fading piece of paper.

After honoring his grandmother’s memory, Adelman knew he wanted to help other families preserve their history. That day, Reel Tributes was born.

“Everyone should have the right to capture their family’s history,” Adelman said. “The stories are so important. They help us discover and understand who we are and where we came from.”

McNulty came from a place of literary significance.

As a child in grade school, she had felt inspired to become an English teacher by her own teacher. He’d assign the class to write a story for the next day, but McNulty always waited until the next morning, before class.

It wasn’t because she was lazy. It was because she had already done a lot of writing.

“It was very easy for me to write,” she said. “I loved to do it.”

She wrote many short stories, but never sent them to magazines.

Before she could become an English teacher and famous author, she became a mother, and realized it was an occupation that would consume the rest of her days.

She enjoyed keeping to herself and raising her family. She got a kick out of watching them grow and learn to hold conversations. McNulty never ran out of things to say. But she still felt nervous sitting in front of lights and a camera a few months before her 90th birthday.

She took extra care that morning to apply her makeup, style her hair and pick out her best dress.

Dolling herself up was usually nothing to fret about. But on the ride to Philadelphia, disaster struck.

She forgot her nail polish.

McNulty gets dressed up every morning, even if only to bake pies or clean the house.

“She’s very conscious about the way she presents herself,” said Ann Hoffman, McNulty’s oldest daughter. “She always has to look good.”

But more than her love of looking good, Hoffman knew of her mother’s love for stories.

McNulty could catapult you back in time with the turn of a phrase. You could see her wit at the family cemetery on Memorial Day, down a long, winding Potter County road called Lick Run. There, McNulty walks along graves and connects tales with tombstones.

“Here’s Virginia,” she says, looking down at her sister’s grave.

Virginia died of polio before polio had a name.

“Here’s Jack,” she goes on, talking about her late brother.

Another one lost before he could share his own stories.

“Here’s Daddy,” she says, and shortly after there’s a story about her stout, Irishman husband, who was a cook in the war and cook at a prison, but he never — not once — cooked at home.

So it was natural for Hoffman to enter an auction in early 2011 offering a chance to document her mother’s life.

Reel Tributes had decided to give away a film for free. The average price tag for a film? $5,000.

After airing the film at her mom’s party, Hoffman knew the money would be worth it to any family.

“There were a lot of wet eyes,” Hoffman said.

McNulty, who walked from table to table, singing to guests, didn’t know her stories had that kind of power.

“I hope we can get together again when I’m a hundred,” McNulty said.

The family clapped, got ready to leave, feeling the film had really been a gift to them.

Read the full article online at http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/02/reel_tributes_documentary_pres.html

We are honored to be featured as the cover story of the Association of Personal Historians (APH) Winter 2012 newsletter. The article can be read below. To learn more about the great work of the APH, and to read the newsletter in its entirety, visit www.personalhistorians.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Reel Tributes and TrustedFamily Enter Partnership Agreement to Promote Family Communication

Partnership to provide families with advanced tools to
communicate and enhance their legacy for future generations

January 11, 2012 (Washington, DC) – Reel Tributes, the premier producer of personal history films, has entered into a partnership agreement with TrustedFamily. TrustedFamily is a leading online communications platform for family businesses and family offices. As part of the agreement, the companies will cross-promote their services to their respective clients, offering families new tools to preserve memories and encourage effective collaboration.

Reel Tributes and TrustedFamily share a similar client base of successful family businesses and family offices. Both companies also share a mission of encouraging their clients to communicate with each other through personal interaction and modern technology. “As a result of this partnership, Reel Tributes will be able to offer its clients a valuable resource that will strengthen communication, preserve family legacy, and promote meaningful engagement with the next generation of family business leaders,” says David Adelman, Reel Tributes’ Founder and CEO.

“TrustedFamily is pleased to be working with Reel Tributes. For us, this is a confirmation of a common belief in the strength of communication and collaboration amongst family members. It is also an indication of the type of relationships we intend to build going forward: an engagement with organisations that can offer value-generating products to our client base, while generating revenue through the sale of the TrustedFamily platform to a new audience.” says Edouard Thijssen, TrustedFamily’s co-founder and Director of Business Development.

About Reel Tributes
Reel Tributes produces high-end personal history documentaries that uniquely capture what matters most, from an individual’s life story to an entire family’s lineage to the successes of a family business. The company combines interviews, photographs, archival footage and music into artistic, television-quality documentaries. Reel Tributes helps families sustain long-lasting businesses by helping leaders establish meaningful connections with their roots and with future generations. Reel Tributes operates in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C, and travels to clients all over the world. For additional information, and sample films, visit http://www.reeltributes.com.

About TrustedFamily
TrustedFamily is a young, growing business established in 2007 by Edouard Thijssen and Edouard Janssen, two next – generation members from leading European family businesses. The company has developed a secure, web based communications platform that enables business families and family offices to manage their affairs more effectively.

The platform enables family members to have access to all the things that matter in their family eco-system in one single place (family info, business info, financial info, philanthropic info). Families use TrustedFamily to communicate more effectively and securely, to educate next generation members, to capture their legacy and to improve family governance. TrustedFamily is currently used by over 50 families in 15 countries, controlling operating companies with over 300 Billion USD in combined sales. For more information visit www.trustedfamily.net

Reel Tributes Media Contact:
David Adelman, Founder and CEO
267-217-3355
adelman@reeltributes.com

TrustedFamily Media Contact:
Edouard Thijssen, Founder and Business Development
+32 473 378 323
edouard.thijssen@trustedfamily.net

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By Christina Mitchell
Courier Post Online
January 9, 2012
View full article at http://on.cpsj.com/xzI1Nh

The “apple turkeys” were a surprise.

Danielle Rago, program director at Care One Harmony Village at Moorestown, deals exclusively with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. During one regular “reminiscing session” with patients and their families, the daughter of one client in her mid- to late-80s recalled how her mother would dress up apples like turkeys for the holidays.

The mother promptly recreated one of the turkeys and has taught other patients how for three years since.

“So this lifelong memory the daughter brought in, she (the patient) was able to teach other residents,” Rago says. “And now it’s a tradition here.”

Recovered memories can be as revealing to families as to patients. Today’s mobile technology is prompting offspring to embark on projects documenting their parents’ lives before dementia takes its course.

“They (children) will say to me, ‘I can’t believe Mom remembers the cabin house in the Poconos,’ ’’ Rago relates. “It’s exciting how often people say to us, ‘I can’t believe what mom or dad remembers.’ ”

In an attempt to prompt those memories, the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter is partnering with Philadelphia-based Reel Tributes to encourage patients and families to record life stories. Founder and CEO David Adelman was inspired by his participation in September’s Philadelphia Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

“We had a table set up there,” Adelman recalls. “And what we realized by talking to a lot of people was pretty much everyone said, ‘It’s too late. My parents are gone.’ Or, ‘My mom’s memory is gone.’

“I can almost script how these conversations are going to go. People will say they were in denial. Or they got crazy because it was such a stressful time. And then it was too late.

“The message we heard over and over was, ‘I wish I had done this before.’ ”

It’s a familiar refrain to Claire Day, vice president of constituent services for the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Reminiscing is the success of people with dementia,” Day believes.

Evoking memories can be as casual as asking a parent to tell a story, or as formal as a professionally produced video. But Day cautions the extent of the project depends on the patient. Memories can be stirred by old movies with a favorite Hollywood star. Music almost always jogs the memory. Day recalls two female patients who hadn’t spoken in months until they heard the song “You Are My Sunshine.” They were subsequently able to sing every lyric perfectly.

Day also recommends mixing nostalgia with routine.

“If you’re a caregiver at home, you have to make dinner every night. Maybe you have them (the patient) thumb through pictures while you’re cooking dinner.”

But a direct question that requires an answer can be off-putting.

“You don’t want to say, ‘Mom, do you recognize this or that?’ Or ‘Who is this person?’

“When you think about Alzheimer’s, it’s a disease that’s full of losses. As every year progresses, the loved one loses more and more memory.”

Yet certain traits are sustained by the long-term memory that lasts longer in Alzheimer’s patients than the short-term. Former musicians may still be able to play a simple tune. Long-ago painters can still move a brush across a canvas.

“A lot of preserving these abilities is about families being able to adapt, but also just going with the flow,” Day says. “Mom may not be a concert pianist, but she can still bang out a Christmas carol. Families have to look at that as a preserved skill instead of a loss.”

Pictures or videos, Day adds, “can ignite the spark of the familiar.”

“Show them a picture from two weeks ago and they draw a blank. But they can pick themselves out in a 20-year-old photo.”

Small devices such as digital tape recorders and cell phones can unobtrusively record memories, according to geriatric psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Scheinthal. But he cautions that not every patient is the same when it comes to tripping down memory lane.

“What works for one person is not necessarily going to work for the other,” says Scheinthal, associate director of geriatrics for the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging at UMDNJ’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford.

“It also depends on what the legacy is and who it’s for. Is it for the grandkids? Is it for the children? You want to be careful you don’t put the older adult on display.

“Some of them have lived through some very difficult times, world wars, the Depression. While we may find that interesting, (the patient) may not want to relive those memories at all, and you have to respect that.”

“It has to be casual,” says Rago.

Other recommendations:

• Ask fewer current questions and more based on past history
• If there’s a familiar story you’ve heard as a child, start telling it to trigger a patient’s memory. “We all know a story,” Day says.
• Take out old pictures and allow the patient to remember faces and dates in his or her own time. Old Hollywood movies are particularly effective in identifying a particular era. “I’ve heard from both family members and patients some really remarkable stories centered around movies people saw, because (theaters) were one of the few places that were air-conditioned and kids used to hop from one movie to another,” explains Scheinthal.
• Negotiate in advance. Make sure the patient is comfortable with a camera or tape recorder. Make them part of a soundtrack they can narrate rather than the object of a photograph. The latter can be off-putting to a patient whose appearance has been altered dramatically by Alzheimer’s.

“You should always ask, ‘Do you mind if I do this?’ ” Scheinthal warns. “You also need to know your loved one.

“On the other hand, having a legacy can be an awesome thing. It’s a way to be immortal.”

Family Continuity

Every family has stories of success and failure, hardships and recovery, lessons learned and long forgotten, and it is these stories that enable members of the family to gain a sense of the family’s uniqueness, connect with the source of the family’s financial wealth, and deal with losses and transitions. The author suggests three ways to begin preserving these valuable stories. Read more »

The Power of Storytelling:
Why your family’s future depends on preserving its past

David Adelman, Founder and CEO of Reel Tributes
FOXConnects issue: December 14, 2011

What’s your story?

Storytelling has been part of human culture since the dawn of time. It has been used to pass on traditions, bind communities together, and warn of upcoming threats. But only recently have experts started to grasp its ability to power and preserve family businesses.

We are all too familiar with the dim prospects for sustaining a family’s wealth through multiple generations. However, few recognize that the hazards that many associate with squandering of money—reckless spending, poor investments, or questionable estate planning—rarely lie at heart of the demise.

However, leading experts and practitioners are now taking note. In their recent book Freedom from Wealth, Charles Lowenhaupt and Donald Trone dedicate a chapter to the importance of family legacy and values. “‘Legacy’ takes us together as a family through history, and ‘values’ bind us forevermore,” they write. “Those words give perpetuity to the family just as trust now give perpetuity to the wealth.”

In a research paper for clients, GenSpring listed communicating “family history and culture” as one of the 25 best practices of multi-generational families. Stressing the merits of family cohesiveness, GenSpring references James Hughes in noting that “Families who recognize with ritual the important passages in their member’s lives seem to fare better at overcoming the shirtsleeves proverb.”

Every family has remarkable stories: stories of success and failure, hardships and recovery, lessons learned and long forgotten. These are not just fanciful recollections of days gone by. As Charles Collier argues in Wealth in Families, the sharing of family stories is the first organizing principle to creating effective families. Stories “give meaning to the experience of the family,” Collier writes. According to Collier, there are many purposes to telling the stories: “To gain a sense of the family’s uniqueness, to connect with the source of the family’s financial wealth, and to deal with losses and transitions.”

I saw this first-hand last year. To honor my grandmother’s passing, my mother spent two months interviewing family members close and distant. She discovered new relatives, including Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres. She heard stories about her grandparent’s origins in what is now Belarus. And she crafted the stories and photographs into a 30-minute film, which was premiered at my cousin’s wedding last summer.

Watching this film was a life-changing experience for me and for many in the room that afternoon. It taught me a history lesson I will never forget. It helped me appreciate the struggles my ancestors went through to allow me to be where I am today. And it showed me that the true happiness comes not from giving material gifts, but by sharing stories and experiences with those who love you the most. I cannot recall another time in my life where the bonds across family members were so strong.

We all recognize that family history is important. And yet few families do much about it. Take a moment to think about it: How have you shared stories with your family? Do you have a system to record important family milestones? Are relatives encouraged to be open about their experiences, concerns, and shared values?

Chances are, you are thinking to yourself, “Sure, but where do I start?” I get asked that question several times a day, and my answer is the same every time. Start with three easy steps:

1)     Share the stories you do know with family. If nothing comes to mind, you can conduct an interview between two family members. The interviewer should start with simple questions like “How did you first get involved with the family business?” As the conversation moves along, address more probing questions including “What do you regret not doing?” and “What personal values do you hold most dear?” Websites including NPR’s StoryCorps provide questions that can serve as a starting point.

2)     Record those conversations. There are plenty of options for doing this. You can use digital voice recorders or software such as GarageBand. You can write them down in a word processor or get more elaborate with a book from Blurb. Or, my personal favorite, you can record the stories with a video camera. Nothing compares to hearing the story as told by the family member who lived through the experience. The emotions are powerful when recorded in high-definition. And it’s the best format if you want future generations to actually pay attention to the stories.

3)     Take the next step. Select someone in the family to be the “legacy keeper”. That person would determine what content can supplement the stories. Pictures from the early days of the company? Memorabilia from family retreats? Old home videos of milestone celebrations? As you start looking through these items, you’ll start to realize how rich of a story you can create when all these pieces come together.

Not sure when to start? Avoid the mistake of waiting until it’s too late. Celebrate your family and family business now, during happy times. Hardly a day goes by without someone lamenting to me, “If only I had met you 6 months ago, before my father passed away, I’d do anything to have him on camera.” Act now while your family is healthy, vibrant, and full of stories.

In fact, the holidays provide an ideal setting for storytelling. Go around the dinner table and ask each family member to retell a story that he or she cherishes. The time you spend collecting and recording these stories is worthwhile. In fact, it is the rare investment that will never depreciate in value as the years go by.

How many times have you said “I should record my life story for my children” or “I wish my mom and dad would write down their stories”? This holiday season, turn these wishes into reality. It will be the best gift you’ll give all year.

About David:
David Adelman is the Founder and CEO of Reel Tributes, the premier producer of personal history films. He earned his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Palmer Scholar (top 5% in class) and awarded the prestigious McGowan Fellowship. At Wharton, David enrolled in a family business course which inspired him to help families and family businesses communicate effectively through the generations. Prior to founding Reel Tributes, David was a private equity investor and a strategic consultant. David is a graduate of Harvard University, cum laude, and is an avid golfer and snowboarder. To learn more about Reel Tributes, visit www.reeltributes.com or call 267-217-3355.

About FOX:
Family Office Exchange (FOX) is the definitive source of information and best practices associated with the business of managing family wealth. The strength of the FOX network is derived from the collective knowledge and experience of over 500 FOX members. Since 1989, FOX has made solutions accessible to financial families by fostering dialogue among wealth owners, family office executives and wealth advisors. FOX remains true to its founding mission of objectivity in wealth management, member education and shared knowledge across a sophisticated, global network. To learn more, visit http://www.foxexchange.com.

Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine
December, 2011

Here’s how David Adelman describes his personal history film company Reel Tributes: “My grandmother passed away last year when I was in business school. As a tribute to her, my mother researched our family and traveled the world collecting photos, letters, and stories. Later, we turned her findings into an iMovie, which we premiered at my cousin’s wedding. Doing this made me think that there must be others who would like a family history documentary, so I launched Reel Tributes earlier this year. Here’s how it works: First, we come to your home to map out the tone and content of your film. Then, we devise a production schedule and budget. Meanwhile, you and your relatives can upload pertinent photos and documents to our site or send us hard copies to scan. Next, our oral historian conducts interviews with various family members, while our genealogist uncovers data about your lineage. Finally, we turn this raw information into a compelling, 30-minute film that we upload to a private Web page that you can share. We also give you a DVD, and we can even organize a premiere at your local theater. Because each project varies in scope, so do prices, which have ranged from $5,000 to $30,000. The response has been overwhelming. In the end, life is not about possessions, but time spent with family.”

Read the story online at http://www.spiritmag.com/click_this/article/reel_tributes/

David Adelman founded his company, Reel Tributes, after his grandmother passed away and his mother made an incredible film for the family. Seeing the reaction of his family members in the room– at that moment he knew there was something unique about these films. David decided to resist the temptation of returning to finance after his MBA and followed his inspiration and passion instead. And he’s loving it so far.

Last year he founded Reel Tributes, the premier producer of high-end personal history documentaries. Their films uniquely capture what matters most, from an individual’s life story to an entire family’s lineage. Reel Tributes combines, interviews, photographs, music, and other content into artistic, television-quality documentaries.

MO: Who do your main clients tend to be?

David: Our client base is diverse, but has one common thread: people seeking to preserve stories and memories. Clients range from individuals celebrating their parents’ 90th birthday to organizations celebrating major accomplishments and thanking donors. Film is by far the most powerful medium for telling stories.

MO: Do you ever get people who feel are uncomfortable, thinking that they don’t any special stories to tell or is everyone usually quite happy to share their life and experiences with you?

David: That’s certainly a concern. Many people don’t want to share their stories. This can be because they’re private, shy, or feel like they don’t have any unique life experiences. In almost every case, this turns out to be false. One client went from feeling shy and guarded to asking us to return for another interview… all within 2 hours. Everyone has a powerful story to share and a life worth preserving. Sometimes it just takes some convincing—usually from their children—before they recognize this.

MO: How has Reel Tributes evolved since you started just over a year ago?

David: We’ve come a long way since we started. We’ve created some powerful partnerships, including with the Alzheimer’s Association and a luxury hotel chain. Our name is starting to make its way into the market as a premier film producer. This is a word-of-mouth business, so that’s a critical part of our marketing plan.

MO: Can you reveal the kind of cost involved with creating a high-end personal documentary? Is this a product that’s easily attainable for most people or will it take a bit of saving up?

David: Our goal is to provide the highest-quality product for families. Therefore, each film requires careful attention and customization. Given the amount of labor involved and the quality of the film, our price points are quite reasonable. They start at $5,000, which is less than most wedding films. And the film is typically split among multiple family members, which makes it even more affordable. It’s certainly an investment, but one that will only appreciate over time.

MO: How does it feel to be redefining the lineage of oral histories?

David: It’s a big task, but we’re up for it! Few families do enough to preserve their history. People talk about doing more, but life always gets in the way. The amazing thing is it’s really not as much effort as most people think! If we can encourage more families to spend a few minutes recording their stories, we’ll be leaving behind an important legacy. We have a lot to learn from our past. There’s no excuse for knowing more about the Kennedys or Kardashians about your own grandparents.

MO: You’re currently working on some innovative partnerships, including one with the Alzheimer’s Association. Your goal is for every person diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s to record their life story. What are the biggest challenges you’ll face during this project? Would you like to reach more people with terminal illness to pass on their histories to future generations?

David: We are excited about the Alzheimer’s Association partnership and the prospects for spreading the values of storytelling. A few weeks ago, my business partner and I volunteered at the Philadelphia Walk to End Alzheimer’s. We met dozens of individuals who said “I should have done more while my father was still alive. Now it’s too late.” That shouldn’t happen. People should recognize that we’re all mortal. The challenge is taking action while the parent or grandparent is still alive and healthy. It’s never too early to start. Most people wait until their parent is sick, and that makes our job much more difficult. This applies to anyone, whether they have a terminal illness or not. As one Alzheimer’s patient told us, “I want my grandchildren to know me as a healthy and productive woman, not a sick patient, so it’s important to tell my story today.” To learn more about our Alzheimer’s Association partnership—and a contest to encourage Alzheimer’s families to record their stories— visit www.reeltributes.com/memory.

MO.com is proud to partner with The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC):

The Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only nonprofit organization comprised of the country’s most promising young entrepreneurs. The Y.E.C promotes entrepreneurship as a solution to youth unemployment and underemployment and provides its members with access to tools, mentorship, and resources that support each stage of a business’s development and growth.

For the full article, visit http://www.mo.com/david-adelman-reel-tributes

DC Magazine/ Modern Luxury wrote a great full-page feature on Reel Tributes in their latest issue: “Revolutionizing what once fell in the same arts-and-craftsy category as scrapbooking, Adelman is redefining the lineage of oral histories one pixel at a time.”

DC Magazine Nov-2011

Check it out online, or at your local newsstand:

http://digital.modernluxury.com/publication/?i=87222&p=76

From Phillyburbs.com
November 29, 2011

The Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter, the region’s leader in Alzheimer’s care and support and Reel Tributes, the premier producer of personal history films, have joined forces to encourage patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s to record their life stories through customized interviews with oral historians. Reel Tributes will donate a portion of the company’s proceeds to support the programs and support services offered by the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Our motto at the Alzheimer’s Association is, ‘The compassion to care, the leadership to conquer,’” says Wendy Campbell, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter. “Reel Tributes’ staff shows great compassion during the filming process, and helps patients and families capture some of the memories that Alzheimer’s will destroy. We hope that through this partnership, most of our constituents will take advantage of this rare opportunity to professionally capture cherished stories before it’s too late.”

Under the new partnership, Reel Tributes and the Alzheimer’s Association will hold presentations offering helpful tips on how families can record and preserve their history. The partnership also includes the launch of “My Favorite Memory,” a contest for Alzheimer’s patients and their families, with valuable prizes including a free Reel Tribute. The deadline for entries is Jan. 4.

“There could not be a more important group than Alzheimer’s patients and their families. Alzheimer’s affects nearly half of people older than 85, and its impact on memory loss is devastating,” said David Adelman, Reel Tributes’ founder and CEO. “Memories are stories that should be told and preserved. We look forward to providing patients with a therapeutic benefit from telling their life stories, and to producing a precious heirloom that their families will enjoy for generations to come.”

For more information about the “My Favorite Memory” contest, visit: www.reeltributes.com/memory. To learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter, go to: www.alz.org/desjsepa or call 1-800-272-3900.

Update 11/19/11: If you missed it, listen to the full interview with Thomas MacEntee at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/geneabloggers/2011/11/19/celebrate-your-family-in-film. Reel Tributes is on for the first 25 minutes.

Tune in this Friday evening for the Reel Tributes interview on Thomas MacEntee’s hit show GeneaBloggers Radio. The segment, titled “Celebrate Your Family in Film”, will feature Reel Tributes’ founder David Adelman and director of genealogy Rebecca Whitman Koford. We will be discussing the amazing power of film in bringing ancestry research to life. We hope you can join us and look forward to your questions on air!

Details:
When: Friday, November 18. 9:00 PM ET
For more information on how to listen:
http://www.geneabloggers.com/geneabloggers-radio-friday-night-november-18-2011/
If you miss it, the segment will be available on iTunes and at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/geneabloggers

About Geneabloggers:
GeneaBloggers is a community of genealogists and family historians who augment their passion for genealogy by blogging. We currently have over 2,000 genealogy blogs listed in our blogroll from around the world and have a vibrant and vocal group of people seeking to define what it is to be a genealogist in the 21st century.

Want to know why Reel Tributes believes so strongly in helping Alzheimer’s patients and their families? Tune in to Alzheimer’s Speaks Radio as Lori La Bey interviews Reel Tributes’ founder, David Adelman, and our partner Claire Day of the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley. We’ll be discussing ways that Alzheimer’s patients can preserve their stories and the exciting Your Favorite Memory contest.

Update 11/19/11: Listen to the full interview below. The Reel Tributes interview begins at minute 60:

The National Genealogical Society featured Reel Tributes’ Director of Genealogy, Rebecca Whitman Koford, in its latest issue of NGS Magazine. Rebecca’s article, titled “Using Video to Better Understand a Family’s Past“, explains how video is revolutionizing the world of genealogy research and preservation.

You can download the article by clicking here.

NGS members can also read the article on pages 16-17 of the October-December 2011 issue, available at: http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/members_only/publications_archive/magazine_online

The National Genealogical Society, a nonprofit organization founded in 1903, is the premier national society for everyone from the beginner to the most advanced family historian. Its mission is to serve and grow the genealogical community by providing education and training, fostering increased quality and standards, and promoting access to and preservation of genealogical records.

 

Visit our friend Bob Brody’s wonderful blog, “Letters to my Kids”, for a guest post by Reel Tributes founder David Adelman:
http://letterstomykids.org/guest-columnist-david-adelman-a-letter-to-my

Reel Tributes and the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter Partner to Encourage the Preservation of Memories

Alzheimer’s patients now have access to powerful storytelling tools

September 7, 2011 (Philadelphia, PA) – Reel Tributes, the premier producer of personal history films, announces a partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter. The partnership will encourage individuals in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease to record their life stories in customized interviews with oral historians. Reel Tributes will donate a portion of the company’s proceeds to fund the programs and support services offered by the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Reel Tributes produces films for individuals and families who care deeply about their stories and heritage,” David Adelman, Reel Tributes’ founder and CEO. “There could not be a more important group than people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. The disease affects nearly half of people over the age of 85, and its impact on memory loss is devastating. Memories are stories that should be told and preserved. We look forward to providing patients a therapeutic benefit from telling their stories, and to producing a precious heirloom that their families will enjoy for generations to come.”

“There are so many benefits to having long-term memories and stories readily available for individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families,” says Wendy Campbell, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter. “Reel Tributes’ staff shows great compassion during the filming process, enabling the film’s production to be a great family memory in itself. We hope that through this partnership, most of our 294,000 constituents will take advantage of this rare opportunity to professionally capture cherished stories while they can.”

Under the new partnership, Reel Tributes and the Alzheimer’s Association will hold presentations with helpful tips on how families can record and preserve their history. The partnership is also launching a contest for Alzheimer’s patients and their families, with valuable prizes including a free Reel Tribute. For more information on the “Preserving Life Stories” series and the “My Favorite Memory” contest, visit the Reel Tributes website: www.reeltributes.com.

About Reel Tributes

Reel Tributes produces high-end personal history documentaries that uniquely capture what matters most, from an individual’s life story to an entire family’s lineage to the successes of a family business. The company combines interviews, photographs, archival footage and music into artistic, television-quality documentaries. Reel Tributes operates in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C, and travels to clients all over the world. For additional information, and sample films, visit http://www.reeltributes.com.

About the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter
The Alzheimer’s Association is the world leader in Alzheimer’s research and support. The Delaware Valley Chapter is the local arm of the national organization, covering 18 counties in South Jersey, Southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware and serving more than 294,000 individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder. For more information, visit www.alz.org/desjsepa, or call, 1-800-272-3900.

Reel Tributes Media Contact:
David Adelman, Founder and CEO
267-217-3355
adelman@reeltributes.com

Alzheimer’s Association Media Contact:
Claire Day, Vice President Constituent Services
215-561-2919
claire.day@alz.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Reel Tributes and the National Association of Senior Move Managers Partner to Preserve Precious Memories
NASMM members now offer broadcast-quality history films to their clients

August 26, 2011 (Washington, DC) – Reel Tributes, the premier producer of personal history films, announces a partnership with the National Association of Senior Move Managers^®  (NASMM). NASMM members specialize in helping older adults and their families with the process of downsizing and relocating to senior homes. Senior Move Managers^® often help clients organize and store family photographs, home videos, and heirlooms. With the partnership, these items can now be incorporated into the family’s customized Reel Tributes film, along with personal interviews with family members.

“NASMM and Reel Tributes share a similar client base: families who wish to preserve their cherished memories, and look to experts to provide them with the highest level of service. NASMM members offer a valuable service to their clients by helping them organize their physical belongings through the downsizing and relocation process. Now, with our partnership, Senior Move Managers^® will offer clients an innovative way to celebrate their precious stories, pictures, and memories for generations to come,” says David Adelman, Reel Tributes’ founder and CEO.

“I am confident that NASMM members and clients will value the unique family history preservation that Reel Tributes provides,” says Jennifer Pickett, NASMM’s Associate Executive Director. “Moving is often an emotional experience. Expert Senior Move Managers show clients how to part with their possessions without parting with memories, and do so with compassion and care. NASMM is excited to partner with Reel Tributes; they share our members’ dedication to the careful preservation of family memories.”

With the new partnership, NASMM clients qualify for a 10% discount off Reel Tributes’ films. Clients should ask their move manager for the discount code to take advantage of this promotion.

About Reel Tributes
Reel Tributes produces high-end personal history documentaries that uniquely capture what matters most, from an individual’s life story to an entire family’s lineage to the successes of a family business. The company combines interviews, photographs, archival footage and music into artistic, television-quality documentaries. Reel Tributes operates in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C, and travels to clients all over the world. For additional information, and sample films, visit http://www.reeltributes.com.

About the National Association of Senior Move Managers
The National Association of Senior Move Managers^® – NASMM is a 501(c)(6), not-for-profit, professional association of organizations dedicated to assisting older adults and families with the physical and emotional demands of later life living including downsizing, relocating, or modifying their homes. As the only professional association in North America devoted to helping the rapidly increasing 55+ population with middle and later life transition issues, NASMM members are committed to maximizing the dignity and autonomy of all older adults.

With a membership of over 600 in the US and Canada, NASMM is widely recognized for its innovative programs, leadership and expertise on issues related to senior move management, transition and relocation issues affecting older adults.

Reel Tributes Media Contact:
David Adelman, Founder and CEO
267-217-3355
adelman@reeltributes.com

NASMM Media Contact:
Jennifer Pickett, Associate Executive Director
877-606-2766
jennifer@nasmm.org

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Reel Tributes Welcomes Director of Genealogy
Rebecca Whitman Koford makes ancestry come alive

Washington, DC
August 11, 2011

Reel Tributes, a company that researches family histories and transforms the information into artistic films, welcomed its new Director of Genealogy, Rebecca Whitman Koford, last week. Koford is a professional researcher, instructor and lecturer in American genealogy. She has lectured at museums and conferences and for historical societies in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca Whitman Koford to the Reel Tributes Team,” said David Adelman, the company’s founder and CEO. “Her years of professional genealogy experience will be a tremendous asset to our clients and will strengthen Reel Tributes’ position as the leader in personal history filmmaking.”

Reel Tributes is the leading family history company presenting genealogical information in high-definition film. The process begins with the genealogist helping the client uncover the secrets of his or her family heritage. Genealogical research delves into the family’s roots and stories. The company’s videographers and documentary filmmakers then craft the stories into customized films.

“I have helped many clients discover their genealogy and piece together incredible stories,” said Koford. “But Reel Tributes’ films take this information to a whole new level. It is incredible to see the magic of genealogy mixed with the power of film. A professionally made documentary is like Grandma’s quilt—it is precious, irreplaceable, and tells a story that should never be forgotten.”

The films produced by Reel Tributes expose genealogy to a broader audience. Clients can share the video documentaries with friends and distant relatives via the internet. Unlike books of a family’s heritage, videos capture voices and expressions, and are much easier to preserve. The compelling medium also makes it possible for people to learn about their families without digging through stacks of old papers and photographs.

About Reel Tributes

Reel Tributes produces high-end personal history documentaries that uniquely capture what matters most, from an individual’s life story to an entire family’s lineage to the successes of a family business. The company combines interviews, photographs, archival footage and music into artistic, television-quality documentaries. Reel Tributes operates in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C, and travels to clients all over the world. For additional information, and sample films, visit http://www.reeltributes.com.

Q: Tell me how your company will innovate in its respective industry.

A: Reel Tributes is essentially creating a new industry that’s built on very old traditions. Storytelling has been an art since the advent of language, and yet only now with the advancement in digital technology can families and individuals preserve their stories through creative films. Our innovation lies in our process; we turn what many people think is a daunting task into a project that is fun and educational. At the core of this process is our innovative webpage that allows each project’s collaborators to contribute to the film’s message and content.

The buzz today is that all media is becoming social, which is another way of saying it is becoming personal. People can now get media tailored to their particular interests. Reel Tributes takes that to the next level by generating high-quality custom content that can be enjoyed and shared forever.

Q: What is Reel Tributes? What services do you provide?

Reel Tributes preserves family stories and memories by producing high-end personal history documentaries. The documentaries are customizable, featuring a combination of interviews, photographs, narration, archival footage, and music. Reel Tributes’ films capture the stories of an individual’s life as well as the family’s lineage through several generations. The average film is 30 minutes, but the length varies depending on the package selected and the family’s content.

Q: How did you come up with the concept?

Last year, my grandmother passed away. My mom produced a DVD to honor her and capture our family’s history. When she showed the video, it was an amazing moment. I realized just how powerful these films can be. Documentaries are much more touching and vivid than a photo album or a book. I started researching the concept, and found out that most families don’t have a way of organizing and preserving their pictures, stories, or lineage. In addition, there are few companies producing high-quality documentaries that bring all these pieces together.

Q: What differentiates you from other companies that provide similar services?

Reel Tributes’ is differentiated in three ways. The first, and most important, is quality. We have experienced and talented videographers and editors, and use top-of-the-line digital film-making equipment. Our interviewers have experience in news media and elder care, putting our clients at ease and bringing out the best stories. We also offer a range of product and feature options, including genealogy research, voiceovers, and make-up artists. Second, Reel Tributes makes the process an easy and rewarding one for the family. Our password-protected website allows customers to upload pictures, chat with other family members, and view and distribute the final video. Our third strength lies in marketing. Reel Tributes has partnered with a number of organizations who believe in the value of our product and will promote Reel Tributes to their members and clients.

Q: What are some of the unique challenges you faced or still face in starting the venture? How did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge is estimating the demand for a Reel Tributes documentary at various price points. Since most people haven’t thought of making a film about their families, it’s difficult for them to determine whether a certain price is reasonable or not. Once customers see the final product, they are extremely satisfied with the film and consider it an invaluable part of the family’s collection. However, it’s a difficult decision to make ahead of time. We are trying to overcome this problem by talking to as many potential customers as possible, learning what features they are interested in, and tailoring our product offering to the demands in the market.

Q: What have been some of the most rewarding aspects of the venture?

It’s been an exciting ride so far! This is my first startup and I must say it’s always an adventure…in a good way. The most rewarding part has been working on our customers’ films. One is a 92-year old former governor of Pennsylvania. Listening to his stories during the interview and knowing that his children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy them for years to come, that’s a great feeling.

Q: What advice would you give to others at Wharton looking to start their own ventures?

Use the school’s resources as much as possible. There are a lot of them out there, but you have to know where to look. It’s not going to jump out at you. The resources I’ve found most helpful are professors, who are always eager to learn about students’ startup ideas, and fellow classmates. Also, now is the perfect time to start a business because people are always eager to help a student. Once we graduate, it’s going to be harder to convince customers and advisors to give you their time.