Case Questions
As part of our process, we ask thoughtful, guided questions to provide depth and context to your film. These questions are designed to help you share your memories, reflect on meaningful moments, and exchange stories that bring your life story to life.
CHILDHOOD & FAMILY LIFE
Describe the home you grew up in
What were you like as a child
Do you have memories of what your parents said you were like as a baby
What was a typical day like in your family when you were little
What would you say makes your family unique from other families
What did you do when you were bored as a child
If you had to create a family motto, what would it be
How did you feel about school, and what type of student were you
Did you have a best friend, and if so, how did that relationship play out over the course of your life
What do you want to be when yougrow up
What were you like as a teenager
FUN & GAMES
What songs have held special meaning to you over the years
Who was the trickster in your family
Do you have any funny stories from your past
What's your favorite family story to recount around the dinner table
Did you play sports growing up, and if so, what were those experiences like
What was the main form of entertainment in your family when you were a kid
Describe what family vacations were like, and if there were any destinations that you traveled to often
Tell me about a time you were incredibly embarrassed
TRADITIONS
What holiday did you most look forward to while you were growing up
What were some of the traditions your family observed related to that holiday
Do you have any family traditions that have been passed down for generations in your family
Does religion hold a strong place in your family
What is the most memorable gift you have ever received, or given
Are there any specific family heirlooms you inherited
How are/were birthdays celebrated throughout your life
In what ways have you/your family kept your culture alive
DECISIONS & LESSONS
What is the best decision you ever made
What is a memorable time you have failed, and how did you recover from that experience
What lessons(s) do you most recall learning from your parents or grandparents
Did you have a favorite teacher or another role model who had a major impact on your life
Can you share about any hardships
Tell me about a significant time you said no
Do you have any regrets
LIFE TRANSITION & MILESTONES
Tell me about your experience, deciding where to go to college, pursuing your career, getting married, getting drafted into the war, serving in the military, becoming a mother/father/grandparent, falling in love for the first time
Tell me about your first job
Did anyone ever throw you a surprise party
How did you feel on your wedding day. What memories of that day stand out for you
What can you tell me about the first time you experienced loss. Who died. Did you go to the funeral. How old were you. How did it effect your outlook on life
FOOD MEMORIES
What meals would be in your family's cookbook—the foods that make you feel nostalgic for your childhood or for home
What are your oldest recipes and where did they come from
What smells transport you to this day right back to your childhood
Who are/were the best cooks in the family
What family dishes would you miss the most if you never tasted them again
BIG-PICTURE
What values would you like to pass down to the younger generations of your family
How did you learn resilience
What would you tell your 20-year-old self
Are there any questions you wish you had asked your own parents