Way before RU-vid my father with a super 8 camera captured the essence of our family as we grew up in colonial Williamsburg Virginia. It was a magical time filled with joy and happiness. Once a year or so we would all gather in the living room where my father would remove the picture from the wall and set up the movie projector. There were many film canisters and we all never knew what moment was to come next when the lights went out. I can remember the smell of the projector and the sound of the fan to keep it cool. The dust floated through the single beam of light cast on the wall. Some of us would try and make hand silhouettes on the wall between movies. These were the movies of us growing up. My father recognized the preciousness of each moment and through his eyes we still get a chance to revisit these moments. Many moments were captured around the dinner table, the place each night where we all were together summoned by the ringing of bell. Gone are the days of families sitting together each night. We were like a pride of lions moving together led by our wonderful parents. Time moves fast and we all grew up setting out into the world to begin our lives and families. My brother Keith took these films and edited and archived them and later sister Debby and husband Jim digitalized them so that we still can share them today. It was a storybook childhood filled with adventure, joy and love. Surrounded by great friends and wonderful family.
Years later I began to make these videos of life not really being conscious of the connection between my fathers home movies and what it was that I was hoping to capture and preserve. Now some 400 videos later my little films have been seen one million times. All of these videos are just a continuation of the spirt set forth by my fathers home movies and the love that I have for them. To get to go back and revisit and to share with all of those who could not be there at the time. The reason that I chose to upload this video at this time is that I wished for my fathers film to be the one that is watched on when that number reaches one million. In my mind I have watched these moments in time over and over. I wanted all of the future generations to see what family is all about. For my nieces and nephews to see their parents and great grandparents live life. We all knew in our hearts that we were surrounded by love and this film captures that love. I am certain that for my parents this was their greatest PRIDE.
27 окт 2024
