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Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the appropriate heading to find the answers to our most commonly asked questions
- Can we include some of our personal video footage in our Golden Memoir?
- Do you shoot High Definition Video (HD)?
- How much does a Golden Memoirs Film (on DVD) cost?
- I live in the Chicago area but my parents live out of state. Is it still possible to have Golden Fox Productions do a Golden Memoir of my parents?
- At what resolution do you scan my slides, negatives, and photos?
- If I have printed photos and the corresponding negatives/slides, which should I send?
- If you put my scanned photos on a DVD, will it play in my DVD player?
- Is it safe? Will you return my original 35mm slides and negatives?
- Can I edit my photos on my home computer? Can I simply drag and drop my CD or DVD files onto my computer?
- Do you have any restrictions regarding the content of the film or photos?
General Questions
How much lead time do you need?
Memory Book lead times will depend on the number of pages and how quickly you are able to get the pictures and text to us. It will take approximately two to four weeks to complete and publish the book of your dreams.
A Photo Montage will take just one week once Golden Fox Productions has received your photos and music.
For Personal Tributes and Video Messages scheduling and availability will affect the timetable. On average it will take one to two months.
For Golden Memoirs it will depend on scheduling the pre-production discussion with the biographer, availability for interview filming, editing timetable, accessibility and of family photos and other crucial ingredients. On average it will take three to six months to complete a typical life legacy documentary. We will try to accommodate special events like a last minute milestone birthday, retirement or anniversary. However, it is best to start the process as far in advance as possible.
With photo preservation orders, in most cases you will have your order completed within 7-10 business days. Some orders may take more time depending on the amount of photos you have done.
Will you keep a copy of my completed project?
Memory Books will always be kept on file. If a pages get torn or liquid is spilt on your book, we will have your book on file so you can reorder. All video projects will be kept on file for 1 year. The reason for this is due to the large file sizes that are associated with these projects.
Can I send you prints and negatives?
If you want to use prints or negatives instead of digital photos, we will professionally scan your images so they look their best in your completed video or Memory Book. If you are scanning the photos yourself, please do keep the following in mind... The media used for your video montage should be high-resolution for the best production quality. We recommend photos to be scanned with at least 600 DPI and saved as jpeg (.jpg) files. We also will accept Tagged Image File Format (.tiff) or Portable Network Graphics (.png).
What methods of payment do you accept?
Golden Fox Productions accepts cash, personal checks, money orders or cashier's checks.
Memory Book
How many pictures can you fit on a Memory Book page?
Your Memory Book is limited to 440 pages. Keep in mind that the more pictures there on a page the smaller they are. You choose your favorite pictures and we will design a first class book that you will never tire of viewing. Your images and text are blended for a truly unique presentation.
How much text can I have on a Memory Book page?
You can have an entire page of text only. There is no limited space since every page is customized.
Photo Montage
How do I select the right music?
When selecting music, it's very important to think of the mood you want to create. Song selection is critical because it is the background music that will ultimately create the emotions the viewers will feel. Remember to pick songs that best suit the occasion. We require that you provide us with the song(s) you would like to use for your Photo Montage, or we can purchase the song(s) on your behalf and give it to you after the creation of the piece.
Do I select the order the pictures will be shown in my Photo Montage?
You simply need to number the pictures showing the order you would like them in. If you are not sure we will help with some suggestions.
How many pictures should I include for my Photo Montage?
You can include as many pictures as you wish! We’ve found that photo montages that are between 8 – 12 minutes in length are ideal for most events. This usually works out to about 3 songs and 50 -100 pictures.
Video Message
Can we include some of our personal video footage in our Video Message?
Including your existing personal videos in your Golden Fox Production is one of our specialties. We are happy to discuss your ideas and the materials you'd like to include. We can quote the costs associated with converting, editing and incorporating your existing footage.
Do you shoot High Definition Video (HD)?
Yes, we are able to shoot HD video. However, the final dvd will be down converted to Standard Definition video since High Definition DVD players have a very small market share. If you do own a High Definition DVD player, you will still be able to view your DVD since they all play Standard Definition DVDs. Since we originally film to HD, your down converted footage will still look better than if we filmed with SD cameras.
Personal Tribute
Can we include some of our personal video footage in our Personal Tribute?
Including your existing personal videos in your Golden Fox Production is one of our specialties. We are happy to discuss your ideas and the materials you'd like to include. We can quote the costs associated with converting, editing and incorporating your existing footage.
Do you shoot High Definition Video (HD)?
Yes, we are able to shoot HD video. However, the final dvd will be down converted to Standard Definition video since High Definition DVD players have a very small market share. If you do own a High Definition DVD player, you will still be able to view your DVD since they all play Standard Definition DVDs. Since we originally film to HD, your down converted footage will still look better than if we filmed with SD cameras.
Golden Memoir
Can we include some of our personal video footage in our Golden Memoir?
Including your existing personal videos in your Golden Fox Production is one of our specialties. We are happy to discuss your ideas and the materials you'd like to include. We can quote the costs associated with converting, editing and incorporating your existing footage.
Do you shoot High Definition Video (HD)?
Yes, we are able to shoot HD video. However, the final dvd will be down converted to Standard Definition video since High Definition DVD players have a very small market share. If you do own a High Definition DVD player, you will still be able to view your DVD since they all play Standard Definition DVDs. Since we originally film to HD, your down converted footage will still look better than if we filmed with SD cameras.
How much does a Golden Memoirs Film (on DVD) cost?
In general, the package prices include all the necessary ingredients to produce a professional and personalized keepsake for you to enjoy for years to come. Things that may affect the cost are: How many interviews there are and will it take more than one day to shoot? Will photos need major touch ups? Will archival research be needed? How extensive your project will be and the final cost will be determined and approved by you before we start. Family members and co-workers will often invest in a project together to make it more cost-effective
I live in the Chicago area but my parents live out of state. Is it still possible to have Golden Fox Productions do a Golden Memoir of my parents?
Definitely. Many of our projects have taken us across the US and Europe. When you sit down with a Golden Fox biographer you can go over the additional costs of traveling to the destination. It is always best to film people in there homes where they are most at ease.
Photo Preservation
At what resolution do you scan my slides, negatives, and photos?
We strive to bring you high quality scans of your pictures. Slides and negatives are scanned at 3000 dpi (dots per inch) which will produce excellent quality printouts up to 8x10 inches. Photo prints are scanned at 300-600 dpi depending on the file size you want. The reason photo prints are scanned at a lower dpi is because most of your regular photo finishers will print photos with only 300 dpi of detail. So in most cases, scanning at 300 dip will give you the same quality as 600 dpi or more. Scanning beyond the detail contained in a given image only ads more data without any extra detail. However, we will not charge more if you would like your prints scanned at 600 dpi.
If I have printed photos and the corresponding negatives/slides, which should I send?
Scanning negatives or slides will produce a much cleaner image with more detail that prints, except in the case of damaged negatives or slides.
If you put my scanned photos on a DVD, will it play in my DVD player?
No. If your scanned photos are put onto a DVD, it is a DVD-ROM disc for your computer. They are files only a computer can read and it is not intended for viewing purposes in any DVD player. However, you can order the additional Slide Show DVD which will be able to be played your DVD player. We use high quality DVD-R discs which has been shown to be the most compatible general use media. Our discs have been found to be compatible with over 95% of home DVD players.
Is it safe? Will you return my original 35mm slides and negatives?
The slides and negatives are not destroyed or damaged in the process. We take care of your order in house, which means your pictures never leave our facility and a technician is with your slides, negatives, and photos during every step. When we are finished with your order we return everything that you gave to us- photos, albums, slides, negatives, boxes, and carousels.
Can I edit my photos on my home computer? Can I simply drag and drop my CD or DVD files onto my computer?
Yes. You can edit your scanned slides, negatives, and photos on your home computer with photo editing programs.
Do you have any restrictions regarding the content of the film or photos?
There are several instances where your slides, negatives, or photos will be returned without being converted to DVD. If we do not transfer the slide, negative, or photo for any of the following reasons:
• Blank or Undeveloped Film
• Non-supported Format
• Objectionable Material
• Copyrighted Material
• Excessive Physical Damage
You will not be charged for any of the photos that were not scanned.