Petumentaries

River Fire Films founder – Jeff Theman, is a competent indie filmmaker and proven story-teller with a passion for being able to showcase the human-animal bond.

Having worked on multiple full feature documentary film projects, as well as producing other video content in both short-form and long-form, he brings that same documentary-style of filmmaking to this Petumentaries service. 

The first step is choosing between one of two packages:

Petumentary Lite | $349.00 (regular price)

Total runtime of completed video is between 2-3 minutes. Allows for one (1) pet’s story to be told. For more information, go to Petumentary Lite

Petumentary Plus | $599.00 (regular price)

Total runtime of completed video is between 6-8 minutes. Allows for up to three (3) pets story to be told. For more information, go to Petumentary Plus

For those on the fence or hesitant to make a commitment, you can schedule an appointment to discuss further in-depth by filling out the contact form that follows this section. 

Once a package is purchased, a follow-up email will be sent with further instruction, which includes: 

1. Scheduling the interview – via ZOOM video call.
2. How to send your pictures, videos, documents, and other visual material about your pet(s).
3. Other elements of the video: Title, fonts, and mood of the video, to name a few.
4. Turnaround time for the completed video.
5. And more…

Each Petumentary – regardless of which package you choose, includes the following:

1. Professional quality, created by a competent and proven indie filmmaker.
2. At minimum – one (1) thirty minute recorded ZOOM video call, where you and/or family and friends get to talk about your pet(s), and the importance of them in your lives. You have control of and dictate the direction of the story you want to tell!
3. You choose the final title of your short film, as well as fonts and any other stylistic elements. 
4. You choose the mood of the music from a catalog of hundreds (if not thousands) of royalty-free audio tracks. 
   Side Note: While we would love to include your favorite song, music that is not royalty-free must be licensed, which can be thousands and thousands of dollars, therefore only royalty-free music can be used.
5. Progress reports along the way so you are always in-the-know of when your video will be completed. This includes a rough cut of the video once the narrative of it is in place, to ensure the accuracy of the story you want to tell about your beloved pet(s). 

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Can you make a Petumentary even if the pet has already passed? 
   The short answer is – Yes. While you are limited to the photographs, videos and other visual items you have to display in the short film if they passed on, one of the special and unique things about this service is it allows you to honor their life and have something to remember them by that will last for the rest of your life.
2. Those prices are costly…why so expensive? 
   The art of video production is an extremely long process. Once the 30 minute Zoom video call is complete – where you tell your story about your pet(s), then and only then does the real work begin. Aside from the several hours spent making content cuts to the interview footage, which are then thoughtfully placed into a timeline of assembeled soundbytes that are the backbone of your story; hours are also spent on organizing the photographs, videos and other assets you submit for visuals (b-roll); along with locating other elements (the right music track to satisfy the requested mood, special effects, etc); and then turning all these raw files into a compelling and beautiful motion picture. 
3. I may have a hard time paying the entire cost in one lump sum. Are there payment options available?
   Yes, inquire within by completing the contact form in the following section. 
4. Can you purchase one as a gift?
   Yes, we have electronic gift cards available in our store. 
5. What is the typical turnaround time?
   Once the payment is processed and the recorded video call (the interview) is complete, it then takes (typically) 3-5 complete eight hour days of work before a final Petumentary is delivered. Obviously, this also depends on other factors, such as getting the photo, video and other files over as quickly as possible, as well as getting approvals on rough cuts so any revisions can be made.