Mompreneur: Caroline Kandell and Real Life Films

I don't know about you, but I have hours of video footage of my children from birth to the present day. The problem is, it's all lying in various places around the house on tapes, discs, and computers. Marin mompreneur Caroline Kandell created Real Life movies to solve just this problem and make something moving and beautful in the process. Caroline used her extensive experience in television production to put amazing films from your families video footage and still photos. We caught up with her to ask a few questions about herself and Real Life Films.

Please tell us a little about yourself. What’s your background?

I am married to my best friend, Andrew, who constantly keeps me laughing. I am blessed to be a mom of two sweet and crazy girls! My career began in New York City, producing TV commercials. About ten years ago, I began directing longer format programming for TV. I mostly filmed high-profile celebrities, finding unique ways to tell their stories through narrative, beauty imagery, and capturing their real-life moments.

How did you start making “ultimate home movies”?

Real Life Films literally happened on a fluke. I was on a hiatus from directing, and during a massive "spring cleaning", I discovered drawers filled with old mini DV tapes which my husband and I began shooting in 2003, the year my first daughter was born. I was intending to just import it all into my computer to store, but once I began editing the footage, I was completely entranced! I used anything I could get my hands on—even footage that I shot with my iPhone—to make each story perfect. And when it was all said and done, I made about six movies with that drawer full of stuff, and never looked back.

What’s the most fulfilling thing about your work?

I made a Real Life movie for each of my daughters, so they could see themselves as they grew from babies to present day. I chose music with lyrics that resonated with me and which spoke to their own unique personalities. I guess you could say my daughters were my first clients! The girls were absolutely mesmerized by their movies and watched them over and over again. I think it gave them a real context for their childhood to date, and something truly significant they can share with their children.

Honestly, seeing people—both men and women—overcome with emotion after viewing a Real Life Film gives me incredible satisfaction. It affirms that I've captured a family's true essence. I can't think of anything else I would rather do than to be able to give someone their memories in this type of form. It's really magical.

What kinds of footage can you work with?

I ask my clients to give me anything they have, be it on camcorder, flip or even an iPhone. You never know where those precious moments may be hiding—and that's what I'm looking for. Sometimes I will want to shoot additional footage or incorporate pictures if there is not enough moving footage to work with. The intent is always to make a movie as rich as I can.

What are your family’s favorite things to do in the Bay Area?

We love to take bike rides as a family, with the ultimate destination of an ice cream parlor! We recently re-discovered the Tourist Club in Mill Valley. It is an amazing experience to have a picnic while being in the middle of the wilderness.

What do you love most about Marin?

Being from the East Coast, I thought I would miss the crisp fall days, but I am blown away by being able to watch football in the warm weather! I am feel blessed to have Mount Tam as a majestic backdrop mostly everywhere I go.