In an effort to stay connected with work, school and family during the pandemic, tens of thousands of people throughout the UK were forced to utilise video streaming as their primary communication tool.
This breakthrough technology was also adapted for personal family occasions, and saw unprecedented usage in specific areas, such as the funeral sector.
But, with the inevitable relaxation of restrictions, what does the future have in store for video streaming? Will it be seen as another passing fad?
Or will the technology become as common place at future funerals as flowers, headstones and black limousines?
To gain a more personal opinion of the service, the team at AVFL took a day out to discuss the video streaming experience with one of their clients.
CLIENT INTERVIEW
Tom and Michelle Collins: Manchester
Blanche and Tom Collins had been married for over 50 years. Their daughter Michelle was determined to ensure that her mother’s wide circle of friends was all able to take part in the funeral service.
Why did you initially consider streaming the funeral?
Michelle: Having the funeral streamed for me was a must, my mother came from a family of 10, who are now spread out all over the world. With issues related to public gatherings, I did not feel that being allowed only 30 people in a church would justify who she was.
Tom: Blanche always said that there’d be lots of people at her funeral. She had too many people that loved her. We have lots of friends from all over the world that we have lost touch with, and it was important that they could all link to the funeral.
Why did you decide to work with AVFL?
Michelle: I spoke to a few companies, and I didn’t feel that they offered what I wanted. I had just lost my mum remember and I wanted someone who was really going to listen to me. On the initial call with AudioVisual Funerals, I spoke to them for about an hour, they listened to my needs and quickly came up with solutions.
Because we had restrictions, I also wanted to have friends and family watch the stream from my mother’s home, the company sent an engineer round to the house the following day for a site visit and installed the TVs, they couldn’t do enough.
How prepared did you feel prior to the funeral?
Michelle: The cameraman called me to introduce himself. We had a really, lovely conversation. He just knew how things were going to look, he listened to me and then offered suggestions. After our conversation, I just knew it would be right.
How did things go on the day of the funeral?
Michelle: On the day of the funeral, I felt so comfortable that I didn’t even think about it. I was able to just get myself ready, as I knew I had a big day. Before the event he called me to say he had arrived.
When we got to the church, I was relieved to see the camera wasn’t too obvious and he was very smartly dressed. He just blended in as one of the guests.
How did you feel having a camera operator at the funeral?
Michelle: We didn’t notice the cameraman and neither did the guests.
Tom: I was a bit afraid that he was going to be walking around with a huge camera, but it really wasn’t like that. It was very discreet.
What feedback did you get back from people that watched the stream?
Michelle: The feedback was amazing. When we got back home after being at the funeral, everybody in the house was so pleased with it.
One of the main highlights of the day was 99 red balloons at the funeral and a further 99 red balloons for the people watching the stream in the garden. As we let go of our balloons, the family in the garden released theirs at the same time.
You opted for a video recording of the funeral how did that work out?
Michelle: At first, I was apprehensive and didn’t really want a video. I found the whole thing a bit taboo.
But after watching the video we were able to see things that you usually wouldn’t see as a guest.
The cameraman walked in front of the coffin as my mum was carried into the church and that was a beautiful shot.
Tom: After the funeral we had a family night with a takeaway and watched the video, it was a bit of a healing, it allowed us all to process our grief.
Michelle: You can sit back and watch your speech 10 times if you want to, you can hear your own words, and really hear what you wrote about that person.
I can also understand people having hesitations about video streaming and recording the funeral. It’s not just about COVID, we all have friends and family all over the world, so it’s about making sure that everyone can be connected. Now, I would highly recommend it.
AudioVisual Funerals Limited are the UK’s leading specialist funeral audio visual company. AVFL are best known for their state of the art outdoor streaming platform and have provided funeral broadcasts for a host of celebrities, musicians, sports personalities and politicians.
The company runs a strategic partner program which is utilised by over 250 funeral directors throughout the UK.
For more information about the AudioVisual Funerals Partner Program for funeral directors or to discuss stream broadcasting or filming an upcoming funeral, contact Tim Williams.
Direct: 07496 977 898.
Email: tim@audiovisualfunerals.co.uk
Online: www.audiovisualfunerals.co.uk
