It’s one thing to video a friend or relative goofing off, but quite another to make a real video. Right?

Wrong! But here are a couple of suggestions that may help you or a friend take even-better videos. Aw, c'mon, you know you can do it.

Here's what you’ll need to get started:

• Equipment: Unless you come from a long line of Hollywood producers, it’s quite all right to use a simple digital video camera or even the video setting on a digital camera or cell phone. If you don’t know how to use them yet, ask your parents or another adult for help. Better yet, get them or a friend to do the videoing while you do the experiment. It makes it more fun when you work together.
• Brains: You probably don’t need a lot of them just to get started (!), but you do need to plan ahead. Here are a few suggestions.

Have a script. Write down what you are going to say and what you are going to do as you are saying it. Practice before you actually start to video and remember to speak up.

When you feel confident, record 30-60 seconds and check out how it looks and sounds. Can you see everything clearly? Can you hear everything? And here’s where brains can be helpful – does it make sense? Tip: Sometimes reviewing a video the day after you make it helps you see things you missed when you reviewed it immediately after the shoot was over.

Other tips for success:

• Space enough to video? You don’t need a Hollywood back lot, but you do need enough room for you and any others who will be doing the experiment; a work surface for any materials you’ll use, and enough space for whoever is shooting your video (remember elbows knock things over if you don’t plan ahead.
• Lighting: The experiment space needs lighting – lots of it – with no backlighting. It also needs to be shot in a space without a lot – make that without any – background noise or echoes.
• Frame your shots: Make sure the video shows everything your audience needs to see in order to understand the experiment. If you’re doing it on your own, you’ll need a place to set the camera or a tripod to keep the camera pointed at you at the right angle to see everything.