Documenting Legacy: The Filmmaker Helping Families Tell Their Story

NEWSLETTER

How Heritage Films’ path to documenting family stories started by accident.

When Chance McClain was asked by a friend to interview his 75-year old father, he had no idea it would redefine his entire film production business.

But his film struck a chord with the family and quickly brought new inquiries.

A single project quickly turned into dozens, then hundreds - today Heritage Films is solely dedicated to documenting family histories.

Heritage produces custom, interview-based documentaries, created for families and founders who want to preserve their legacy with intention and quality.

When we spoke, Chance is in the midst of a year-long production that’s seen him filming in multiple countries, but this is an exception to more regular projects. 

“We usually spend one to several days filming interviews, collecting visuals, and gathering family materials,” he says. “Then we craft a high-end, story-driven documentary like you would see on Netflix, that feels personal and timeless.”

Heritage brings industry-leading equipment and production standards, but still operates with a lean crew.

And McClain does all the interviews himself to keep it personal and build trust - essential with clientele that can be wary at first.

“Time and trust - our clients value privacy and have full calendars, so we make the process seamless and respectful. Once they see we understand the responsibility, they relax and let us do what we do best.”

Their typical client?

“Most of our clients are parents or grandparents that have built something meaningful - whether a family, a business, or a legacy. They want to preserve more than facts or timelines. They want their voice, values, and personality to live on in a way that future generations can experience firsthand.”

Projects are never rushed and always unique, though each one begins with a conversation and some prepared questions. 

This helps to get to know the family, understand what matters to them, and how the narrative should unfold. 

It’s important the films accurately reflect the personalities of those in it, which can sometimes unravel colorful stories the next generation aren’t yet aware of.

“One gentleman revealed during filming that he more or less was a major drug runner in the 1960s,” recalls McClain. “His children had no idea, but when I talked to his son afterwards he expressed how that element of his dad’s life made so many things make sense now!”

At the heart of each film though is the simple objective that future great-great-grandchildren don’t just know about their ancestors, but truly know them.

This approach to help people preserve what matters most has driven Heritage’s success, and they’ve recently launched a farm and ranch films division to document multigenerational rural families. 

It’s also emotionally rewarding for McClain, who reflects that clients often note it’s the most meaningful thing they’ve given to children and grandchildren.  

“When a film is shown to younger generations for the first time, there are usually tears, laughter, and a deep sense of connection - clients tell me it was the best decision they ever made for their family.”

Amidst the noise and complexity of managing family wealth, making an effort to capture history and stories for future generations seems quite refreshing.

Find out more about Heritage Films at yourheritagefilm.com.

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Until next week, see you on 𝕏 or LinkedIn.

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