LONDON - Last week, on holiday in France my 10-year-old daughter discovered her disposable digital camera can take videos.  She asked to borrow my laptop.  And within a day she's produced a 22 minute film.

Rory the Time Traveler

I'd point you to it on YouTube, but it is 12 minutes too long to be posted.

She's moved on now...(!)

So, that got me thinking about just how hard these things can be to do.  There's a real gap between the people who love creating new broadcast content and those who don't.

Here are a few simple excuses I can find for not creating new content:

• I don't have the equipment
• Even if I did, I couldn't use it
• What would I say?
• Who would want to hear it?

The second two might be a longer, more philosophical discussion (or maybe not).  But let's look at the first two.

Most digital cameras can now take short digital videos.  Say one you bought in the last 18 months.  My daughter's camera was £39, I think.

All laptop computers include a built in microphone.  Most home desktops sold arrive with one.

Then there's the technology: Microsoft Movie Maker is bundled with XP.  I am sure Vista is better.  You don't even have to install it.  Just dump your video and audio into it and you can cut and paste. 

I promise.

Have you ever ordered groceries online?

Have you ever booked airline tickets?

You can do this.

Yesterday morning I set out to prove that.  I got up and recorded, edited and posted a podcast before lunch.  (Okay, my 10 year old helped a bit!)

After dinner, I shot, cut, saved and uploaded a video to YouTube.

I know.  I'm not going to be invited to Sundance, but hey, there are no more excuses.

/df

P.S. You know those last two questions about having nothing to say?  What business are you in?

Yes.  Precisely.  Get on with it.