The memory of a loved one is truly irreplaceable. With an abundance of stories, facts, and cherished moments to share, keeping their memory alive is a meaningful and special gift. Living Lens Memoirs, based in Tucson, is dedicated to capturing the stories of local residents through in-depth, personalized video memoirs.
Founded by Ryan Rosoff and Arielle Alelunas just over a year ago, Living Lens Memoirs was inspired by an interview Rosoff filmed with his mother on her 80th birthday. With his extensive video production background, he created a 90-minute video where Rosoff uncovered new stories and details he never knew about his mother.
“The light bulb totally went off talking to my mom,” Rosoff said. “Everybody should do this for their folks because everybody has stories.”
It became clear to Rosoff that there was a market for a video memoir service like Living Lens Memoirs in Tucson. After meeting Alelunas on a music video shoot and taking notice of her videography talent, Rosoff knew she would be the perfect business partner. With Tucson’s older population, especially in areas like the foothills, Oro Valley, and Marana, Rosoff saw an opportunity to offer families a way to keep their loved ones' stories alive for years to come.
The Process
Being a good listener is at the heart of what Living Lens Memoirs does. After contacting the business, residents will attend a consultation where they can discuss what they would like to address in their video. If it seems like a good fit, price is discussed which is usually under $1,000.
“It’s a lot of time, effort and work that goes into it,” Rosoff said. “We are happy to do it for a thousand bucks and make them amazing and beautiful.”
It’s up to the customer where they would like to film their video but Rosoff suggests filming at their home because it opens the door to get other family members involved in the process. Footage of the home, garden and photos can be utilized throughout the final video as b roll. Living Lens Memoirs also has a studio for customers who may prefer to film there. What takes about an hour to an hour and half to film, turns into a 30 to 45 minute final product.
“I do a mock interview the week before just to go through and talk through what they want to talk about,” Rosoff said. “If I get people to be comfortable in that pre interview, then likely they will show up and be ready to roll.”
The customer will receive the first edit after about a month. Once the final edits are made, the video will be put on a google drive, where the customer will have access to the video link.
Memorable Moments
Each video is unique, as every person has their own story to tell. Some of Rosoff’s favorite projects have been those that went beyond the surface, such as his mother’s interview and his girlfriend’s father’s video. Rather than focusing on familiar stories, Rosoff digs deeper, capturing personal passions and never before facts.
“If people are watching a video of their loved one, they are going to know most of the things anyways,” Rosoff said. “I don’t want to state too much of the obvious.
While some may think they don’t have a story worth sharing, everyone has a story waiting to be told. Living Lens Memoirs provides a platform for those stories to live on by creating lasting memories for families to hold on to for years to come.