help with video project

Hello. I am 15 years old and in the 10th grade. For
our semester project in my spanish class, my friend
and I have decided to make a "cooking show" video.
We're going to make tortilla soup; the recipe is
located at the url below: http://www.thefunplace.com/recipes/00436.html
We could possibly make other dishes, for on the
cooking shows I've seen, they make several dishes that
usually all pertain to one dinner. Our video has to
be 20-30 minutes long. I would like some advice from
you, perhaps, some help with the dialogue, just
anything that you can contribute to our project.
Please reply soon!
-loli

[Nicko]

Loli,

Several years back I did a cooking demonstration for my high school. My high school has a cable tv channel and it was a 30 minute spot and I could cook whatever I wanted to.

For the most part my demo went well but I learned quite a bit about doing a live demonstration.

First, practice, practice, and practice so more. No exactly what you are going to say and time your self to see how long it will take you.

Second, be sure to have your dish made ahead of time. This will be the one you plate and serve. This way you don't have to worry if anything goes wrong with your dish while you are preparing it, you will have a backup.

Third, be explicit, don't assume that the people watching the video know how to cook as well as you. Explain everything that you are doing and be sure that you get it on camera.

Finally just be yourself, try not to be nervous, and have fun!

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Best Regards,

Nicko
nicko@cheftalk.com

watch the food network and check out a couple of cooking shows. Two hot tamales is a good one, or emeril.... they really explain the method and the culture behind the dish and have respect for food. I've done a few spots on video and TV.... and think that you really need to remember that your audience knows NOTHING>

bon apetit.

[Pete]

As a chef who used to to be a radio/TV major and used to work for a TV station, here are a couple bits of advice. First of all, script the whole thing out and practice it a few times. Editting is a great thing, so if you have editting equipment do each segment a couple of times. If you dont have editting facilites then it is very important to have different stages of your dish prepared. No one wants to watch as you whip cream for 5 minutes, dice 4 onions,etc. And always have one already baked off and one already plated. Keep this stuff out of camera range until you need it then pull it out to show your audience.