Give the Gift of a Lifetime
Cinematic, Emmy-winning documentaries that preserve your loved one’s story as a one-of-a-kind digital heirloom
Created by an Emmy-winning team with work featured on Netflix, ESPN, and major networks
Give the Gift of a Lifetime
Cinematic, Emmy-winning documentaries that preserve your loved one’s story as a one-of-a-kind digital heirloom
Created by an Emmy-winning team with work featured on Netflix, ESPN, and major networks
Give the Gift of a Lifetime
Cinematic documentaries that preserve your loved one’s story as a one-of-a-kind digital heirloom
Created by an Emmy-winning team with work featured on Netflix, ESPN, and major networks
Give the Gift of a Lifetime
Cinematic, Emmy-winning documentaries that preserve your loved one’s story as a one-of-a-kind digital heirloom.
Created by an Emmy-winning team with work featured on Netflix, ESPN, and major networks.
Everyone Has A Story
What if you could preserve their voice, their spirit, their story—forever?
Preserve Your Family’s Legacy
Most families only have scattered photos, a voicemail, or a few home videos to remember their loved ones by. But memories fade, and legacies can be lost.
At illumin8 films we capture the heart of a life story, woven into a cinematic documentary that your family will cherish for generations.
Award-Winning Storytelling
Our filmmakers bring the highest level of craft to every story, elevating legacies with cinematic storytelling that feels like a feature film.
One-of-a-Kind Digital Heirloom
Unlike fleeting gifts, your illumin8 film becomes a lasting heirloom. It’s a modern alternative to luxury items, crafted to be rewatched, shared, and passed down.
Effortless Experience
From prep to filming to delivery, we handle every detail. Most shoots are completed in a single day, leaving your family with a meaningful story without the stress.
Stories That Move Generations
Night and Day
John and Susie recount a life built together from very different beginnings—his filled with restless adventure, and hers shaped by quiet devotion—woven into one enduring love story.
Lisa's Secret
John never understood his mother, Lisa, until a secret kept for sixty years finally came to light.
Somebody Has To Care
Faith, family, and frozen dreams collide in the inspiring journey of Joe Battista, the relentless architect behind Penn State Hockey’s rise to glory.
The Writer
As she writes her memoir, Mitzi recounts the chapters of her life — illustrated by love, heartbreak, and prophecy.
Life is Like a Song
Though John Puchalski only plays the stereo, his lifelong love of music became a soundtrack for generations — a passion now shared with his son, Drew.
Work Hard, Good Things Will Happen
From a dirt road in West Virginia to the NFL gridiron, Mike McKibben always followed the wisdom of his grandfather: "If you show up and work hard, good things will happen."
A Seamless, Meaningful Experience
We’ve designed our process to feel effortless while capturing the heart of a life.
Production steps
1. Pre-Production Call
We learn your story, your vision, and prepare together.
We begin with a simple Zoom conversation. During this call, our team learns about the story you want to preserve and answers any questions. You’ll receive a beautifully designed booklet and a digital message from the gift-giver to introduce the experience. We’ll also share a starter list of questions, so on the filming day, the conversation feels natural and effortless.
2. Single-Day Home Shoot
A relaxed interview and b-roll filmed in meaningful spaces.
Our award-winning filmmakers come to you. In just a day or two we capture the heart of your story. Filming is relaxed and conversational, never forced or scripted. We also begin digitizing your photos, videos, and personal heirlooms, so your family history is preserved in one place. Most subjects describe the experience as surprisingly fun and deeply meaningful.
2. Single-Day Home Shoot
A relaxed interview and b-roll filmed in meaningful spaces.
Our Emmy-winning filmmakers come to you. In just a day or two we capture the heart of your story. Filming is relaxed and conversational, never forced or scripted. We also begin digitizing your photos, videos, and personal heirlooms, so your family history is preserved in one place. Most subjects describe the experience as surprisingly fun and deeply meaningful.
3. Editing & Digitization
Photos, videos, and heirlooms are digitized and woven into the film.
After filming, we carefully transcribe interviews and begin weaving together your story with digitized archives, music, and visuals. The process is cinematic, not chronological, designed to capture your essence rather than just your timeline. You’ll see updates along the way, and once a first-look cut is ready, we invite you to share feedback. Every detail is shaped with care until the film feels true, timeless, and deeply loved.
4. Delivery
A cinematic heirloom presented in a custom coffee table video book + digital files.
The final film is presented in a luxurious coffee table video book, designed to be displayed and replayed for years to come. You’ll also receive a digital copy for sharing with family and friends, plus a polished archive of the full interviews and digitized materials. The result is more than a film, it’s a legacy your loved ones can hold, watch, and pass down across generations.
4. Delivery
A cinematic heirloom presented in a custom coffee table video book + digital files.
The final film is presented in a luxurious coffee table video book, designed to be displayed and replayed for years to come. You’ll also receive a digital copy for sharing with family and friends, plus a polished archive of the full interviews and digitized materials. The result is more than a film, it’s a legacy your loved ones can hold, watch, and pass down across generations.
1. Pre-Production Call – We learn your story, your vision, and prepare together.
We begin with a simple Zoom conversation. During this call, our team learns about the story you want to preserve and answers any questions. You’ll receive a beautifully designed booklet and a digital message from the gift-giver to introduce the experience. We’ll also share a starter list of questions, so on the filming day, the conversation feels natural and effortless.
2. 1-Day Home Shoot – A relaxed interview and b-roll filmed in meaningful spaces.
Our Emmy-winning filmmakers come to you. In just a day or two we capture the heart of your story. Filming is relaxed and conversational, never forced or scripted. We also begin digitizing your photos, videos, and personal heirlooms, so your family history is preserved in one place. Most subjects describe the experience as surprisingly fun and deeply meaningful.
3. Editing & Digitization – Photos, videos, and heirlooms are digitized and woven into the film.
After filming, we carefully transcribe interviews and begin weaving together your story with digitized archives, music, and visuals. The process is cinematic, not chronological, designed to capture your essence rather than just your timeline. You’ll see updates along the way, and once a first-look cut is ready, we invite you to share feedback. Every detail is shaped with care until the film feels true, timeless, and deeply loved.
4. Delivery – A cinematic heirloom presented in a custom coffee table video book + digital files.
The final film is presented in a luxurious coffee table video book, designed to be displayed and replayed for years to come. You’ll also receive a digital copy for sharing with family and friends, plus a polished archive of the full interviews and digitized materials. The result is more than a film, it’s a legacy your loved ones can hold, watch, and pass down across generations.
What You Receive
30–45 minute cinematic documentary.
Custom-designed coffee table video book.
Full interview footage, cleaned and archived.
Digitized photos & videos on USB.
A beautifully crafted trailer for sharing.
Optional add-ons: testimonial reel, event coverage, posters, additional video books.
From a Personal Gift to a Global Legacy
illumin8 films was founded by Barry Reese, who created his first legacy documentary as a gift for his mother’s 95th birthday. The impact it had on his family was profound and sparked the vision for illumin8.
Barry left a successful international career to work with Emmy-winning director Alex Gibney, where he served as a producer on a documentary film. Today, he leads a team of filmmakers in Pittsburgh, crafting cinematic heirlooms for families around the world.
“What began as a gift for my mom turned into a new way to honor lives and preserve legacies - stories that deserve to be remembered.”
Give the Gift of a Lifetime
Booking is limited. Reserve your consultation today to create a legacy film your family will treasure forever.
Give the Gift of a Lifetime
Booking is limited. Reserve your consultation today to create a legacy film your family will treasure forever.
