Video Mother's Day Gift
Make a Mother's Day video or put on a play for mom.
Submitted by
Kayla Chong
Kayla Chong
Invite your little drama kings and queens to create a special Mother's Day video or play for mom or grandma. Have them write the script, rehearse, perform and even edit their own dramatic creation in honor of their loved one. She'll love it!
- Writers/actors:Your kids. But what they really want to do is direct.
- Director/cinematographer/craft services:You.
- Pens and paper
- Video camera:If you're creating a video.
- Editing software:If you're ultra-ambitious you may want to edit the kids' video. iMovie is a really simple editing program that comes free on most Macs. For PCs try Adobe Premiere Elements. To comparison shop, check out these software reviews.
Send mom out of the house to get a mani-pedi or do some shopping. She'll hardly protest!
Put on your craft services hat and hand out some snacks. Everyone thinks better with a handful of Chocolate Chex in their belly.
Call a writer's meeting. Sit down for a brainstorming session with the kids to think up a plot for their production. They can create a play about how cool mom is or write a vignette about "A Day in the Life of the Smith Family." Keep it short and sweet!
Have older kids write the script. Young kids can just memorize a line or two.
Photocopy the script so everyone has a copy or write individual parts on little strips of paper, so everyone knows what to say.
Rehearsal! Gather everyone for a walk-through before you go live.
Lights, camera, action! Bust out the video camera and shoot the scene; or, if you're producing a play, invite mom to come in for the theatrical premiere. (You'll probably want to videotape the play even if mom is watching. You'll want to watch this one in 10 years. Trust us!)
If you made a video that requires editing, hunker down at your computer and get to work. Just make sure Junior's favorite part doesn't end up on the cutting room floor!
- When they've finished their masterpiece for mom, have the kids make a video for grandma too!
- Need something to nosh on while you watch the show? How about a batch of blueberry muffins and fruit smoothies all around?
Submit!
