How much of your family videos are "fast forward" portions? You know — the part where the kids or the spouse grumbles, "Can't we fast forward through this part?"
Too many of our videotapes are centered on events — sporting events, birthdays, opening Christmas presents. We try to capture memories instead of personalities. Here are some ideas that may change the way you think about doing family videos, and eliminate those fast-forward moments.
A Day in the Life
Pop in a new video tape, and follow one of your children around throughout their day. Video tape him waking up (or not waking up). Video him brushing teeth, eating breakfast, tying shoes and so on. Make the moments short, but try to capture what life is like from his perspective.
When you are taking short clips like this, it is important to remember that it takes a few seconds for a camera to start recording. So give yourself a few seconds at the beginning and a few seconds at the end for safety.
Alternatives on this a-day-in-the-life video could be following around the family pet. Dogs and cats could be fun. Goldfish not so much.
Children say the Funniest Things
Interview your children like a documentary. Set them in a chair and ask them questions. To make this work, however, you need to show great restraint and NOT correct them — the goal is to get their reactions and thoughts, not yours. It is also important to not have siblings around who may laugh at and intimidate them. Get the camera in close for good sound, put it on a tripod and talk to them. Begin with simple questions and make it fun. Here are some sample questions to get you started:
1. What is your name? How old are you?
2. Where do you live?
3. Who is in your family? Tell me about them.
4. Do you have any pets?
5. Do you go to school?
6. What church do you belong to?
7. Who is Jesus? Heavenly Father?
8. Do you read the scriptures?
9. What do you remember about being a baby?
10. What do you want to be when you grow up?
11. What do your parents do?
12. Who is the president? (A trick question for Mormon kids.)
13. What is your favorite holiday?
14. What is the nicest thing anybody ever did for you?
15. What is your favorite breakfast? Lunch? Dinner? Dessert?
16. What is your favorite book? TV show?
Write out a list of other questions or just wing it. Shorter is better, but you may be surprised at how much your child likes being listened to. You may even learn something. It will capture your child's personality better than any missed soccer goal — and nobody will say, "Fast forward."
e-mail: mdegroote@desnews.com