Memory Keeper

Personal story films

Start with a simple recording View expanded film options

Memory Keeper — Personal Documentary Films in Perth

Life Story Recording

A simple place to begin

$1,000

A straightforward filmed conversation where you sit down and tell your story. Recorded clearly and respectfully, creating a lasting record to keep and share with family. No preparation required.

Best for: families who want a clear spoken life story captured on film, without a fully crafted documentary edit.

  • One filmed session in a familiar setting (approx. 45–60 minutes)
  • Light editing for clarity and flow
  • Private 4K digital delivery, ready to keep and share
Start with a simple conversation

Some families later choose to expand this into a more crafted Memory Keeper film.

Why it matters...

Imagine pressing play in twenty years and hearing their voice, their laughter, their memories.

Preserve their stories
Share their wisdom
Create a lasting legacy
For people who want more than a recording. A crafted documentary-style film.

Personal Story Films

A Memory Keeper film goes beyond a simple recording. It is a shaped documentary, guided and edited with intention, so it reflects the person, project, or world being captured.

It can be a life story, a passion project, a collection, or a world someone has built. We bring it together with thoughtful filming and a crafted edit into a film you can enjoy now and treasure for years to come.

When moments fade, stories remain.

Crafted with care

Begin with a conversation

We plan the focus together, who the film is for, what matters most, and what you’d love preserved.

Time spent in your world

Filmed at home and in meaningful places, with a guided conversation and thoughtful coverage.

Crafting the film

Edited with careful pacing, music, and gentle structure so the story feels alive and easy to revisit.

Keeping and sharing

Delivered privately to view and share with family, with optional keepsake copies if you’d like.

Dr Russell’s Imaginarium

Broadcast on SBS Australia

The story of a passionate antiques collector who followed his childhood dreams.

Excerpt from the full 28-minute film.

Commissioning a Memory Keeper Film

Most families commission a Memory Keeper film as a once-in-a-lifetime record for themselves or for future generations.

Below are three ways families choose to preserve a life, story, or world.

If you’re not sure where to begin, The Portrait and The Keepsake are the most common starting points. Many films also draw on photographs, letters, and other archives, woven carefully into the story.

The Portrait

A focused personal film

From $3,000

A short, intimate film centred on one person, collection, or moment in time.

Often chosen when there is a specific story, passion, or period that feels important to preserve.

  • One filming session in your home or chosen space
  • A guided conversation exploring key memories
  • Filming of surroundings, objects, photographs, letters, or collections
  • A thoughtfully edited personal film, typically 5–10 minutes
  • Private online viewing page and digital delivery
Short form

The Keepsake

A fuller personal story

From $5,000

A longer-form film with space to explore more memories, places, and details.

This option allows time to slow down and follow the story where it naturally leads.

  • One half-day filming session
  • Expanded conversation with room for deeper reflection
  • Filming across multiple rooms or meaningful locations
  • A blend of conversation, observed moments, and family archives
  • Beautifully finished film, typically 10–20 minutes
  • Private online viewing page and digital delivery
  • Optional keepsake USB
Popular choice

The Chronicle

A complete record

From $15,000

A deeply crafted documentary film created across time, places, and memories.

Chosen when the aim is to preserve a rich, detailed record of a life, family legacy, body of work, or world.

  • Multiple filming days across selected locations
  • In-depth conversations with the subject, and optional family members
  • Extensive use of archives: photographs, letters, home video, and records
  • Carefully crafted long-form film with detailed sound and colour work
  • Private online viewing page, digital delivery, and keepsake USB package
Signature piece

Additional options

  • Multi-person portraits
  • Archival photos & home video woven in
  • Written stories and letters shaped into narration
  • Full conversation recording provided
  • Travel across WA & Australia
  • Custom projects and creative concepts welcome

If you’re unsure which option is right, the best place to start is a conversation. I’m happy to talk things through and recommend what fits your story best.

Crafted by filmmaker Brendan Joel Hildebrandt

Memory Keeper grew from a long love of storytelling and the belief that every story is special. For over 15 years I’ve worked across Western Australia as a director/cinematographer, stepping into people’s homes, sheds, shops and everyday worlds to capture the stories already living there.

My passion is to explore someone’s life and story with genuine curiosity, shaping a film that honours the person at the heart of it.

Studied at WA Screen Academy (Master of Screen Studies). WA Screen Culture Award winner · Silver ACS Cinematography Award winner.

Personal documentary and legacy film in Perth – filmmaker capturing stories in a vintage shop setting

Let’s start with a few details.

I’ll help you work out what feels right from there.

Prefer to email or call directly?
info@stirfilms.com.au | Brendan - 0433 824 911

Questions and answers

What is a Memory Keeper film?
A Memory Keeper film is a personal documentary, crafted with a filmmaker’s eye. It can capture a life story, a passion project, a collection, a place, or a chapter of someone’s life. The goal is to reflect what’s meaningful in a way that feels honest, engaging, and beautifully made.
Who is this for?
Families who want to preserve a parent or grandparent’s story, and also people who want to document something they care about. A craft, a shed, a collection, a creative project, a business with history, or simply a story worth keeping.
What is the filming like?
Calm and guided. I’ll shape the session so it feels natural, not formal. If we are filming a person, it’s a conversation rather than an interview. If we are filming a passion or collection, it’s more observational and story-led. Either way, I’m looking for what’s real, not something cookie cutter.
What kinds of stories work best?
The best stories are the ones with meaning. How someone grew up, how work shaped them, relationships, turning points, the things they’ve learned, or the objects and projects they’ve poured time into. It doesn’t need drama. It needs truth and personality.
What if someone feels camera shy?
That’s very common. I guide gently, keep the pace relaxed, and we take breaks anytime. I do bring proper lighting and sound, but I keep it controlled and comfortable. Nothing harsh in the eyes, nothing rushed, and we only film what feels right.
How much does it cost?
Life Story Recording is $1,000. Crafted Memory Keeper films begin at $3,000 for a short portrait, with fuller films typically ranging from $5–8k. Larger commissioned pieces begin from $15k. All projects include filming, editing, colour grading, sound work, music, and private digital delivery.
Can you include photos, letters or old video?
Yes. Photos, letters, albums and home movies can be woven in thoughtfully. If there’s a lot to scan or restore, I’ll quote that separately depending on volume and condition.
Do you travel?
Yes. I film across Perth and regional Western Australia, and can travel by arrangement for stories that need me elsewhere.
Can the film be kept private?
Absolutely. Some families keep their film private, others share it with extended family & friends. You decide how and where it’s seen.
How do we begin?
Start by sharing a few details in the contact form below, or email me at info@stirfilms.com.au. I’ll reply personally and help you choose the best starting point.