Filmmaker launches project to preserve stories

WHEN the son of a friend passed tragically, filmmaker and video production company owner Luke Massey was called in to help document the funeral.

Massey stayed for the wake, talking with friends, capturing stories, and crafted all of these special moments into a short documentary the family can carry forward through their grief.

He began helping other friends, creating tribute films to preserve the stories and memories of their loved ones. For some, the process of putting together the documentary has even helped them move forward through their grief.

“One was a family friend, Pat, who passed away and his wife Sally was devastated.

“She actually said on camera, and she said it to me as well, that hearing what other people said about and hearing those stories and the love that they had meant that she knew that she didn’t have to carry the burden of remembering him — everyone was going to remember him.”

He created another for a young comedian, Ben, who left behind two young children, one who had yet to be born. Massey organised a “day of comedy”, bringing together friends and family, and also met with this widow Hayley separately to develop a film she can one day share with her children.

“[Hayley] said ‘I can’t wait for the time when we can sit down and watch this together’ and ‘It’ll just be something we’ve always got’,” Massey said.

“They’ll get to learn about their dad; they’ll get to learn all these great things that they wouldn’t have known.”

These experiences inspired Massey to open the offering up to others outside his own circle.

“It’s about helping people, whether it is getting through a stage of grief, or whether it’s having something to hold onto… It’s purely about trying to give people something they didn’t have an option to get before.”

The outcome is Memoryscape, a project that offers celebration films, designed around each individual’s passions, that brings together all the people who helped shaped them.

Massey and his team are now working on expanding the offering to legacy, or farewell, films, for those who may be nearing the end of their journey and want to leave something behind for their friends and family.

“You always say you want to go to your own funeral, now you’ve got the chance to hear what everyone’s got to say.

“I know my parents are getting older, and I’ll do one for them because I want to have that memory and show my great grandkids what they were like.”

Additional videos can also be recorded during the process to mark special occasions and events, like birthdays, weddings and anniversaries, with each to be released to the family on the date of choosing.

Massey will officially launch the Memoryscape project in October, and in the lead-up is offered one family the opportunity to receive a complimentary Legacy Film experience.

He’s hoping the family will also be opening to some additional filming, so the Memoryscape team can better guide others through the process of creating their own tributes.

“If you or someone you love is facing a terminal or palliative diagnosis and would like to preserve their story, memories and wisdom on film, we invite you to reach out,” Massey said.

“This is our way of giving back, to ensure one more legacy is captured, cherished and carried forward.”

For more information, or to get in touch with Massey about the complimentary Legacy Film experience opportunity, head to memoryscape.com.au