Montrose Video
Video Production Services for Businesses
in the Greater Cleveland and Akron areas of Ohio
Fairlawn, OH 44334
ph: 330-867-7009
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PD Article
The following article was published in the Sunday Magazine of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 25,
2002. Please note a couple changes: Montrose Video was formerly known as Generation Video and
Mark & Deborah were married in 2004.
The Way We Were
Written by John H. Tidyman
Deborah Streichert does what the person holding a video camera at a baseball game or
a birthday party does. She records precious family memories. However, she and Generation Video business partner Mark Shapiro go a step further.
The producers - she's videotaped for Eaton Corporation, MTV and ESPN; he's worked for the Indians, Cavaliers and at the World Series - use interviews, photographs and home movies to create a professional video that becomes a cherished keepsake. It starts with interviews in the family home. "We want to know how far back the family can go," says Streichert. "Maybe a grandparent who immigrated here will be one of the important interviews. And that grandparent can reach further back, both in photos and
personal reminiscing."
Events such as the Depression or World War II can play important roles in the video...
as in life. "It's wonderful for us to see the big picture, the huge backdrop of international
affairs, and the ways men and women navigated," she says.
After all the footage is catalogued and a logical order for the family's story is
determined, Streichert starts to edit. "I line up the[family's] photos or home movies with
what's being talked about on the video," she says. "It makes a big difference because
we all get tired of looking at a talking head."
Finally, she lays down a soundtrack based on the family's favorite music and
superimposes names beneath the interview subjects. Why names? "We do that
because what we're creating will be watched by kids not even born yet," Streichert
explains.
Occasionally, the team produces a special video, such as the recent one for "The Mad
Marauders" of Firestone High School. The dozen members of the Class of 1979 wanted
to turn back the clock of time for their 40th birthdays. "Marauder" Rick Ferensic,
general manager of the Wooster Country Club, watched the video on its premiere night,
and then the following day viewed it another 10 times. "It's hilarious," he says. "You
didn't know what anyone else said [at the interview] until the first showing."
"Usually we don't interview a dozen people for a video because it gets too confusing for
the viewer," Streichert says. "But for the Marauders, it was vital that each one talked
about the good old days' and the way they were."
© 2002 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.
Copyright 2002 cleveland.com. All Rights Reserved.
Fairlawn, OH 44334
ph: 330-867-7009
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