Commission a film
A film about the person who shaped you.
Past Forward Pictures makes legacy films — biographical documentaries built from interviews, archival footage, and AI-recreated story scenes. Birthday, retirement, memorial, or just because. We deliver a master file and a private streaming page on this site.
Unhurried, private, no obligation.
Who we make films for
Three kinds of life.
The Family Portrait
For anyone whose story shaped your family
A heartfelt cinematic memoir built around the lessons, advice, and quiet wisdom of someone you love — a parent, grandparent, sibling, mentor, anyone whose presence defined a life. Often gifted on a milestone birthday, anniversary, or remembrance.
The Life Well-Lived
For anyone whose work or calling reached beyond them
A film about a life of accomplishment — the work, the people, the passions that defined it. Athletes, artists, teachers, faith leaders, public servants, philanthropists, anyone whose story has an audience and a family who knew them first.
The Founder's Story
For anyone who built something that wasn't there before
An institutional-grade portrait of the person behind a company, a community, a movement, or a body of work. Often commissioned at retirement, an exit, an anniversary, or any moment when it's time to record what got built — and who built it.
Tiers
Three tiers, one signature format.
Final pricing is determined after a discovery conversation and depends on travel, runtime, and scope. Quoted prices are starting points.
Heirloom
From $8,900
- Interview sessions with the principal
- Up to 3 family or colleague interviews
- Archival photo & document digitization
- 3 photoreal AI re-created scenes
- 4K master file + private streaming
- One round of revision notes
Signature
From $19,500
- Multiple principal interview sessions
- Up to 6 supporting interviews
- Archival photo & document digitization
- On-location filming
- 6 photoreal AI re-created scenes
- Custom-composed AI music score
- 4K master + family streaming
- Two rounds of revision notes
Cinematic
From $125,000
- Multiple principal sessions
- Up to 10 supporting interviews
- Archival photo & document digitization
- On-location filming, multiple settings
- 10 photoreal AI re-created scenes
- Custom-composed AI music score
- Theatrical-grade color & sound
- Premiere coordination, dedicated director and crew
- 4K master + family streaming
- Four rounds of revision notes
Heirloom takes a 30% deposit with the balance on delivery. Signature and Cinematic are 25% upfront plus 2–3 milestone payments. Wire transfer or major credit cards.
How we build it
The tools of the cut.
Every film is mixed differently — the proportions depend on the subject, the archive, and what the story asks for. These are the materials we work with.
Interviews
Conversations with the subject and the people who know them best.
Archival B-roll
Old photos, home video, news clips, audio recordings — anything that anchors the film in real material.
AI re-creations
Photoreal scenes for moments that were never filmed. Always reviewed by you, used with restraint.
Music & titles
Custom score, transitions, and the title cards that hold it all together.
How it works
From discovery to premiere.
Discovery call
A private, no-obligation conversation to understand who the film is about and what story you want it to tell. We share a tier recommendation by email afterward.
Production
Principal interviews, supporting interviews with family and colleagues, on-location filming where appropriate. We collect every photo and home video you can hand us.
Post & review
Edit, AI scene generation, score, color, and sound. You get one to four rounds of revision notes depending on tier — most clients only need one.
Delivery
A 4K master file and a private streaming page on Past Forward Pictures so family and friends worldwide can watch. Theatrical premiere coordination available on Cinematic.
Inquiry
Tell us about them.
Don’t worry about getting everything right — this just starts the conversation. We’ll follow up within 48 hours.