Ghost-writer/Journalist for Life Story Book and Film Project

Job Opportunity: Ghost-writer/Journalist for Life Story Book and Film Project
Remote - Philippines-based (Fixed-term project)
We are seeking a compassionate and skilled storyteller to capture the extraordinary life of an 86-year-old woman in the UK through a beautifully written biography and a "This Is Your Life"-style film. This project involves conducting remote interviews, weaving her memories into a compelling book, and crafting a professionally edited film enriched with family photos and videos.
Project Details
• Remote Interviews: Conduct Zoom (or similar platform) interviews to capture her life story, including personal ---------- and cherished family memories.
• Flexible Scheduling: Interviews will be arranged at mutually convenient times. The subject is an early riser, allowing for good time overlap with your local hours. Interviews will be paced sympathetically, not exceeding one hour per day.
• Family & Relationships:
o Her family includes two sons—one a bachelor with two dogs who are frequent visitors and especially important to her, and another who is married.
o She has a daughter-in-law, a granddaughter, a grandson, and a family dog who visits occasionally.
o These relationships, and her love for her family, are key to her story and must be woven thoughtfully into both the book and film.
• Sensitive Topics: Be prepared to navigate emotional ---------- nts with care, especially when discussing her late husband.
• Ghost-writing: Write a captivating, well-structured book chronicling her life journey, incorporating select family photographs.
• Film Creation:
o Record and edit Zoom interviews for the film.
o Review digitised family photo albums and videos (arranged locally) with the subject.
o Integrate key photos into the book and both photos and videos into the film.
o Create a polished "This Is Your Life" film.
• Weekly Progress Reports: Submit weekly updates, including samples of writing, film edits, and other work-in-progress deliverables, to ensure alignment with project goals.
• Start Date: 6 January 2025.
We will provide all necessary equipment in the UK (laptop, camera, and lighting) for high-quality interviews, and a local tea ---------- mber will manage photo and video digitisation.
Key Responsibilities
1. Conduct and record at least 30 hours of short remote interviews, maximum one hour a session, showing empathy and attention to personal details, including her relationships with her sons, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and their beloved dogs.
2. Ghost-write a compelling biography, minimum 60,000 words, that authentically captures her life story and incorporates at least 70 selected photographs.
3. Edit a heartfelt and visually engaging film using interview footage, family photos, and videos.
4. Collaborate with the subject to ensure the book and film authentically reflect her voice and legacy.
5. Provide weekly progress reports, including written samples and video drafts, to track progress and share work-in-progress deliverables.
Requirements
• Proven experience in biography writing, journalism, or personal storytelling.
• Video editing proficiency, with experience in multimedia storytelling.
• Strong people skills to navigate emotional discussions with sensitivity and empathy.
• Mindfulness to highlight family relationships and treasured ---------- nts.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills for regular progress updates.
• Sympathetic and kind demeanour to create a comfortable and engaging interview environment.
• British English spelling and grammar.
• Respect privacy and confidentiality.
Application Questions
1. Have you worked on similar projects combining books and films, particularly those focusing on family and personal relationships?
2. How would you approach creating cohesive narratives while incorporating relationships, pets, and sensitive topics?
3. Can you provide examples of similar work?
4. How many hours of work do you estimate this project will require?
5. What is your proposed fee for the project and payment terms?
To Apply
Submit your CV, a brief cover letter, and relevant portfolio samples highlighting your writing, video editing, or storytelling skills. Include your fee structure, estimated timeline, and approach to handling sensitive topics and weekly progress reporting.
Application Deadline: 20 December 2024
Project Start Date: 6 January 2025
This is a unique opportunity to celebrate a life story rich with family, cherished memories, and beloved pets. We look forward to hearing how you would bring this heart-warming story to life!