By Melanie Linn Gutowski

Using the video feature on your digital camera, or an inexpensive digital video recorder such as the Flip, experiment with storytelling. Try making a short film with no words, no actors or maybe no sound at all, then have a screening of each film.

Make a documentary film about their life--where they go every day, what they do, who they interact with. Use the results as part of a time capsule that you'll revisit again in a year or other set period of time, after which you can make another film demonstrating the changes between then and now.

Screen films for your nieces and nephews that use unusual techniques, such as the stop-motion "Wallace & Gromit", the 3-D "Coraline", or other special effects.  See if they can try some of these techniques in their own filmmaking.

Write a short screenplay for friends and family members to act out, then film and screen it for the group.

Make a list of all-time favorite movies for both of you, then have a film festival and show as many of them as you can.

Use Netflix's account profiles feature to share a Netflix queue with your niece or nephew.  They can have their own password, queue and ratings, and you can even have the movies shipped directly to their home - a great option for out-of-town aunties.

Offer to pay for your niece or nephew to take a course or attend a summer camp at a local arts organization that offers instruction in film, animation or other related topics.

Talk about your favorite movies and why you love them. Discuss elements such as plot, characters and setting and why they're important to a good film.  Of course, a film could be a favorite because of whom you're watching it with, too!

Watch a movie that was filmed locally and do a little tour of some of the locations.

During awards season, take your niece or nephew to see any age-appropriate Oscar-nominated films, then do some predicting of your own.  Watch the Oscar telecast with your niece or nephew and see whose predictions came true!

Melanie Linn Gutowski is a freelance writer and a proud Godmother.