The greenlighted filmmaker started his project knowing viewers weren't going to sit at a small screen for long, so he edited with powerful cuts. He looked for accents while shooting - the waving green moss on the river rocks, the black channels of water through the golden sand. He observed that video transitions digitize poorly and subtitles are lost. He relied entirely on complementary compositions between direct cuts, and his incoming and outgoing images enticed the viewer's eye to make the jump.

When cutting for mobile video, always go for bright-colored, moving, varied shots. Put your mic close to sound sources, and get clear, well-modulated audio. Direct characters to move, and, if possible, put them against active backgrounds. Use their best thoughts as voiceover, and avoid boring talking heads. Record sound effects that will give your video a three-dimensional reality. For screenings, use high-quality headphones that block outside room noise and let the audience sink into the show.

For the first time in history, movies that are made by anyone are available to just about everyone. What stands between a seed idea and a great video? You must know your primary motive. Why are you making the movie in the first place?

Historically, the critical component of a successful movie, no matter how small or how short, is that it entertains. What you love is contagious. The commercial, practical, sentimental or social purposes behind your idea are secondary to discovering a topic that excites you. If it's good, there are countless ways that your mobile video will be sought out by entrepreneurs, advocacy groups, educational organizations, friends and families.

The Monterey Peninsula video producer documented a topic he cared about, knowing his insights would infect others. For you, that may be a favorite restaurant, a local park or a wild river. Research who might benefit from the video, and show it to business owners and enthusiast clubs. Plan ahead, to be in the right place to share your video with the right people, like the fiddler crab guy did. He's now working with local environmental groups to link his video to their websites, with a small title that advertises his own website. It can happen to you, especially if your first motive is a passion for the topic.

Start with small ideas. For civic groups, document the tricks of a successful fundraiser; for friends, how to open the cabin for the season; for family, unmask a secret recipe. Through familiarizing yourself with small-screen shooting and editing skills, they'll become second nature.

Now save your project to your PDA virtual notebook or upload it to gallery websites. Consider whether your story needs more than three minutes, and break it into segments. If you create a promo, it can point the way to a galaxy of outlets.

The technology is available, from worldwide access to sites like metacafe.com to selling your DVD through online distributors like createspace.com. All you initially need is desire. And maybe the perspectives of a fiddler crab to help you get the footage you need.

Jeanne Rawlings is an Emmy Award-winning sound recordist and documentary producer. Her clients have included the National Geographic Society, ABC and Discovery Channel.