Start with the reel, not the video cassette
Movette lists scanning for 8mm, Super-8, 9.5mm, 16mm, 17.5mm, 28mm and 35mm motion picture film. Its transfer page also names services for Super-16. That breadth is useful if a family collection contains several generations of filming, or a reel whose gauge you cannot confidently identify. Describe the markings on the container and ask how to establish the format before choosing a scan.
Keep a simple inventory with one entry per reel or cassette. Record the wording on the label, any dates, and who might recognize the people pictured. Keep uncertain identifications visibly uncertain. If you also have tapes, photograph their labels and ask which cassette formats can be accepted before adding them to a film project. Do not test a damaged tape in an old player just to discover what is on it.
Arrange a visit around the published appointment slots
Movette operates by appointment only, with visits Tuesday through Saturday and closure on Sundays and Mondays. Its contact page describes half-hour appointment intervals Tuesday through Friday from 9am to 5:30pm and Saturday from 10am to 3:30pm, with a noon to 1pm break each day. Arrange your appointment before bringing a collection. These are visit arrangements, not a statement of processing time.
For the conversation, prioritize the questions that change your decision: the formats you own, their condition, the intended use of the files, the full quote and expected completion date. If relatives are contributing materials, gather their inventories first so that the person attending can explain the whole project without guessing.
Consider viewing copies alongside the ProRes files
Movette describes ProRes 422 HQ QuickTime files as its most common output. It also states that 1080p (1920x1080), 2k (2048x1556) and UHD (3840x2160) scans on its Lasergraphics Scanstation 5k can be output to ProRes 4444 at no additional cost. Those details concern film scans, not VHS conversion.
Before selecting an output, explain whether you want to edit the footage, preserve a master, or simply watch it with relatives. Ask what storage capacity the proposed files require and whether a separate viewing copy can be supplied. A file suitable for an editing project may need a different playback setup from the one your family uses. Test a sample on your intended device if one is available.
The transfer page says Movette will load up to 2 storage devices with no additional data handling charges. Confirm suitable devices and capacity before purchasing or bringing them. Having two copies is useful, but keep them in separate places so a single loss does not take both.
A small project still needs a complete estimate
The published minimum charge for any film transfer project is $44.00. This is a film-project minimum, not a VHS price or a total estimate for your reels. Ask for the full charge for the chosen scan and output, including any applicable tax or additional work, before agreeing to proceed.
For Kinetta scans, Movette says it produces estimates only after physically inspecting the films. Its explanation discusses shrunken film and the pliability needed for scanning. If a reel seems brittle or otherwise damaged, describe that condition and ask about assessment instead of assuming that every reel can be scanned. Keep fragile material together with its original container and avoid experimenting with cleaning or repairs yourself.
Let relatives help identify the finished footage
When files arrive, check that the expected reels are present and play the beginning, middle and end of each file. Note unexplained gaps or playback problems and ask about them while the project is still easy to discuss. Preserve the originals and retain an untouched digital master. Use separate copies for editing, naming and everyday viewing.
After conversion, Memrial offers a separate private family archive for photos and home videos. It does not convert physical tapes and is not part of Movette. The free allowance is 2.0 GB shared across the archive, with no card needed. Check file sizes before deciding which viewing copies to upload, and retain your masters in your own backups.
Timeline accepts exact or approximate dates, helping relatives find memories by year even when a reel is labeled only with a decade. A Live Watch Party synchronizes an uploaded home video with host play, pause and seek controls plus voice and text chat. Relatives nearby or far away can help identify a birthday guest together. The free allowance is 3 hours monthly with up to 6 participants.
For a reunion, Event Memories provides a secure occasion contribution link. Contributors sign in but do not need archive membership; their photos and videos collect in the event album. Closing the link keeps the memories already contributed. Pairing those new pictures with older footage can give the gathering a useful place in the family record.