The Power of Personal Narratives in Family Filmmaking

Ron Watermon • June 9, 2023

Why You Should Invest in a Professional Legacy Interview

St. Louis, MO – June 9, 2023 - In the fast-paced world we live in, where technology is constantly evolving, it's easy to overlook the importance of preserving our personal stories and family legacies. However, there is a powerful tool that can bridge the gap between generations and ensure that our loved ones' stories are cherished for years to come - the legacy interview in family filmmaking.

In this blog post, we will explore the significance of personal narratives in family filmmaking and present a compelling case for investing in a professional video legacy interview.


1. Capturing Authentic Voices:

Personal narratives hold immense value as they provide a glimpse into the lives, experiences, and wisdom of our loved ones. Unlike written accounts or photographs, video interviews capture the essence of an individual's voice, facial expressions, and emotions. The power of these elements cannot be understated, as they bring stories to life in a way that transcends mere words on a page.


2. Preserving Family History:

Each family has a unique history, woven together by countless personal stories. Unfortunately, memories fade, and details become blurred over time. By investing in a professional video legacy interview, you are preserving an invaluable piece of your family's history. These interviews become cherished heirlooms that can be passed down through generations, ensuring that future family members will have the opportunity to connect with their roots and gain a deeper understanding of their heritage.


3. Strengthening Family Bonds:

Family filmmaking has the power to strengthen bonds between generations. As you embark on the journey of capturing a loved one's story, you create an opportunity for meaningful conversations and a deeper appreciation of one another. Engaging in a legacy interview allows both the interviewer and interviewee to forge a stronger connection, fostering a sense of belonging and shared values within the family.


4. Learning from the Past:

One of the most significant advantages of preserving personal narratives is the opportunity to learn from the past. By documenting the stories, experiences, and lessons of our elders, we gain insights and wisdom that can guide us through our own lives. These narratives serve as a wellspring of inspiration, reminding us of our roots and providing guidance during challenging times.


5. Honoring and Celebrating Lives:

Every individual has a story worth telling, and a legacy interview is the perfect platform to honor and celebrate a loved one's life. It allows them to reflect on their achievements, share their triumphs and tribulations, and leave behind a lasting legacy that future generations can be proud of. By investing in a professional video legacy interview, you are giving your loved one the recognition they deserve while providing a meaningful and tangible gift to your family.


What Are You Waiting For? Invest in Professional Family Filmmaking

Preserving personal narratives through family filmmaking is a gift that keeps on giving. The power of a legacy interview lies in its ability to capture authentic voices, preserve family history, strengthen bonds, facilitate learning, and honor lives. By investing in this invaluable process, you ensure that the stories and legacies of your loved ones endure for generations to come. So, don't let the opportunity slip away - seize the chance to create a lasting testament to the remarkable lives within your family.

You have numerous ways in which you can go about investing in a legacy interview. You can go the DIY (Do It Yourself) route or hire a professional to help. Our team at STORYSMART would love to help you figure out what makes the most sense for you and your family.

You have an open invitation from me personally to do a FREE storytelling consultation with you where I’ll walk you through various options so you can decide what is best for you and your family.

Don’t let time get away from you. Preserve your family’s legacy now.

-- Ron Watermon , with Ghostwriting Assistance from ChatGPT


About STORYSMART®


Nothing is more enduring than a beautiful film that brings a story alive on screen and in our hearts. Great stories demand nothing less than cinematic Hollywood-quality storytelling. STORYSMART® specializes in helping public figures such as professional athletes, entertainers, former elected officials and celebrities make the most of their story using a proprietary approach that blends Hollywood-style cinematic storytelling with museum-like collection curation and story-focused brand licensing.


STORYSMART® provides Hollywood Quality filmmaking and storytelling consulting services, functioning as a high-end work-for-hire ghostwriting service specializing in cinematic storytelling rather than being limited to traditional book publishing (hint - you can do both if your are smart about your storytelling derivative rights). STORYSMART® services range from story preservation digital archive services like those used by Oprah Winfrey, Bon Jovi and Billy Graham, to story development, screenwriting, licensing, and professional documentary filmmaking.


STORYSMART® is ideal for clients interested in controlling and monetizing their own storytelling through story-based media production, publishing, and merchandising.


Learn more about our customized white glove approach and book your FREE CONFIDENTIAL consultation at storysmart.net


Filmmaking For ALL™ My Own Story™ Storytelling For ALL™



About Ron Watermon

Ron Watermon is the founder and CEO of STORYSMART, a nationwide premium storytelling service that empowers clients to have their stories professionally produced by experienced Filmmakers while retaining their intellectual property rights.

Ron, who lost his father when he was five years old, knows how profoundly important and deeply personal storytelling is within families. He founded STORYSMART because he believes everyone matters, deserves to be remembered and is entitled to have their story told professionally.

A creative and innovative communications leader with nearly three decades of experience, prior to founding STORYSMART, Ron spent 18 MLB seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals where he was responsible for modernizing the team's communications by leading their investment in video storytelling, brand journalism, fan engagement and social media.

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There are moments in your career that don’t feel particularly significant at the time, but years later, you realize they changed everything. The television show we started when I was with the St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals Insider, is now heading into its 11th season. In an industry where most things don’t last, there’s something meaningful about building something that endures. While I've already shared the story of how the show almost didn’t happen, what’s been on my mind recently is what we were doing before it ever aired. For me the show was never the starting point, it was a destination on a journey that began seventeen years ago when I decided to fully commit to becoming a brand journalist. A Baseball Brand Journalist When I moved over to the Baseball Operations Department to work with our Media Relations team in September 2009, the media landscape looked very different than it does today. Social media was still in its infancy. We had exactly one platform we controlled, Twitter, and even that was a bit of a mess. Our account was @MLBstlcardinals, while Major League Baseball operated @stlcardinals out of New York. It was confusing for fans and limiting for us. But it also created an opportunity. Instead of waiting for others to tell our story, we decided to start telling it ourselves. Not as marketers, but as actual storytellers. More specifically, we adopted a mindset rooted in journalism. The fundamentals I learned years earlier in college—who, what, when, where, why, and how. The discipline of getting it right. The importance of clarity, structure, and credibility. We weren’t trying to spin the story. We were trying to tell it honestly, accurately, and from a clearly defined point of view. That point of view mattered. We made a promise to our audience: we would cover the team like journalists, but from the inside. We weren’t going to pretend to be something we weren’t. We were insiders. That was the advantage. And instead of hiding from it, we leaned into it. At the same time, we understood the responsibility that came with that position. We didn’t need to be first. We needed to be right. That meant establishing standards. It meant covering the good moments like the wins, the milestones, and the behind-the-scenes access fans couldn’t get anywhere else. But it also meant not ignoring the harder stories when they arose. Credibility was always at stake, and we treated it that way. I knew were building something. A system. A mindset. A way of approaching storytelling that went beyond promotion and into something far more durable. Over time, that approach evolved into a weekly TV show that’s still on the air more than a decade later. But none of that happens without what came first. The decision to think as brand journalists with a point of view. Brand Journalists with a Point of View What we were building in those early days didn’t look like much from the outside. There was no studio. No formal production schedule. No distribution strategy beyond posting to social media and linking out to photos and video. In fact, some of the earliest tools we used would feel almost laughable today.
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