Does anyone ever shoot 'living wills'? at DVinfo.net

Mark Argerake · January 5th, 2003, 10:12 PM

Not sure if this fits into this forum but I thought I'd ask.

As a means of shooting anything and everything someone is willing to pay for, I'm considering doing living wills for people.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Technically, they should be only single camera shoots with a lapel mic, but I doubt that's necessary. Maybe some lighting...

Anything else? Are there legalities that I'd need to worry about, or is that between my client and their lawyer?

What can I charge for this kind of thing? Hourly rate plus maybe?

Ken Tanaka · January 6th, 2003, 01:19 AM

Mark,
By "living will" do you mean wishes documented on video? My knowledge of the term "living will" is that it provides a statement of life support wishes and is always provided in paper document form. I doubt that a video version of such wishes would be respected by health care providers. For example, here's a site that facilitates the creation of such a document.

If you actually mean a statement of bequests documented strictly on video, that too will be a shakey proposition from a legal support perspective. Courts generally require that such documents be prepared on paper and in very specific formats with signature guarantees and notary seals to be considered valid.

Richard Alvarez · January 6th, 2003, 07:35 AM

Ken is right, that courts will require written documentation for many binding wills. (Provided the state requires it)

And the term "living will" is used to express the written instructions for life-support and organ donation.

I think the term you are looking for is "Legacy Video". At least, that's the term I've used. Only done two, and did them for free.

Cheers,

Bill

Mark Argerake · January 6th, 2003, 08:35 AM

Thanks guys --

Yup I was using the wrong term. I guess 'Video Legacy' would be more in line with what I was thinking. Maybe it can be a quickie "hi from the grave, I had a good life and I'll miss you all" sort of thing. If I offer delivery on DVD, I'm sure that'll be a selling point. (better shelf life than VHS).

Richard Alvarez · January 7th, 2003, 04:31 PM

Perhaps it has a better shelf life, but at the present moment, lower compatibility factors... SOme dvd players have trouble with some disks, some times...

Everyone's vhs player will play a vhs tape.

Just a thought.

January 5th, 2003, 10:12 PM	#1
Mark Argerake Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 227	Does anyone ever shoot 'living wills'? Not sure if this fits into this forum but I thought I'd ask. As a means of shooting anything and everything someone is willing to pay for, I'm considering doing living wills for people. Does anyone have any experience with this? Technically, they should be only single camera shoots with a lapel mic, but I doubt that's necessary. Maybe some lighting... Anything else? Are there legalities that I'd need to worry about, or is that between my client and their lawyer? What can I charge for this kind of thing? Hourly rate plus maybe?

January 6th, 2003, 01:19 AM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Mark, By "living will" do you mean wishes documented on video? My knowledge of the term "living will" is that it provides a statement of life support wishes and is always provided in paper document form. I doubt that a video version of such wishes would be respected by health care providers. For example, here's a site that facilitates the creation of such a document. If you actually mean a statement of bequests documented strictly on video, that too will be a shakey proposition from a legal support perspective. Courts generally require that such documents be prepared on paper and in very specific formats with signature guarantees and notary seals to be considered valid. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

January 6th, 2003, 08:35 AM	#4
Mark Argerake Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 227	'Video Legacy' Thanks guys -- Yup I was using the wrong term. I guess 'Video Legacy' would be more in line with what I was thinking. Maybe it can be a quickie "hi from the grave, I had a good life and I'll miss you all" sort of thing. If I offer delivery on DVD, I'm sure that'll be a selling point. (better shelf life than VHS).

January 6th, 2003, 07:35 AM	#3
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Ken is right, that courts will require written documentation for many binding wills. (Provided the state requires it) And the term "living will" is used to express the written instructions for life-support and organ donation. I think the term you are looking for is "Legacy Video". At least, that's the term I've used. Only done two, and did them for free. Cheers, Bill

January 7th, 2003, 04:31 PM	#5
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Perhaps it has a better shelf life, but at the present moment, lower compatibility factors... SOme dvd players have trouble with some disks, some times... Everyone's vhs player will play a vhs tape. Just a thought.