Documenting Legacy: The Filmmaker Helping Families Tell Their Story

NEWSLETTER

Family office insights this week:

• Preserving family legacy on film

• The latest UBS millionaire index

• 12 predictions from a techno-optimist

• Jobs: CFO opportunity at Soros family office

• Books: the destructive power of family wealth

• Podcasts: how to set up after a $200M liquidity event

Documenting Legacy: The Filmmaker Helping Families Tell Their Story

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.

𝕏 highlights

The UBS millionaire index.

Family office concerns around tech.

I mean.. it’s obvious isn’t it? Open a family office.

 💼 where to work

Three notable family office job opportunities currently open…

Family Office CFO - Soros Fund Management (New York / MFO)

Director Advisory Services - Private Family Office (Detroit / SFO)

Family Office Attorney - Private Family Office (Fort Lauderdale / SFO)

The second edition of the Solstice Report, Clockwork’s semi-annual lens on private markets and alternative investments, is now available. Download the full report here.

📚 what to read

Full disclosure, I haven’t read this one yet, but it comes very highly recommended and it’s on my summer reading list. The Destructive Power of Family Wealth is a wake-up call for ultra-wealthy families and their advisors. Marcovici looks at how big money can quietly tear families apart if you don’t pair good tax and asset protection strategies with a lot of emotional intelligence.

📻 what to listen to

If we had to curate a selection of family office podcasts, Shaun Parkin would be top of the list. In this fun episode, he ponders how to set up an investment office after a $200M exit.  

📺 what to watch

For those of us who like to spend time thinking about the future, this is a fascinating glimpse into what is coming up from techno-optimist Vinod Khosla, including the world-changing power of “foolish ideas”.

And finally

That’s all for this week.

Monday’s Family Office Buzz included the questions family office CIO candidates should ask, a warning that family offices could be the next liquidity crisis. and the funniest business tweet of the week.

Until next week, see you on 𝕏 or LinkedIn.

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