Today, with the right tools, almost anyone can create videos that once cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce. Films like "The Blair Witch Project" helped to excite filmmakers about the possibilities of digital production, but it was George Lucas who put the process onto the map by filming and editing the new "Stars Wars" entirely in the digital format.

It's unlikely that you will want to purchase the $100,000-plus digital cameras that George Lucas used, but there's a lot you can buy for much less at the local computer store to produce video the quality of broadcast television.

So how do you get started turning those home videos into epics rivaling "The Godfather"? First, before shelling out thousands of dollars, know what you want as an end product. If all you want to do is edit old VHS tapes, your entry fee to the digital format will be a lot lower than if you want to produce digital movies.

In both cases, Apple Computer Corporation (http://www.apple.com) has made it affordable to play in the big leagues. For roughly $15,000, you can build a digital system that will fool friends and family into believing Hollywood professionals were behind your production.

To build a digital system you will need a computer, digital camera, video-editing software, and some talent.

There are many digital cameras on the market. One of the best is Canon's GL1 (http://www.canon.com), available on the street for less than $2,500. It's lightweight and easy to use. With a zoom feature of 100x, you can get close-ups of your kid's baseball game while sitting in the nosebleed section. 

There are less expensive digital cameras, but make sure that whatever model you buy has a Firewire connection. Firewire is a feature that connects your camera to your computer. All Apple computers have a built-in Firewire. That is not the case with most PCs. Once connected, your computer actually takes over the camera, and you are able to operate everything from your keyboard.

Next, you will need to select a computer. Apple Computer offers the best line of systems for this, ranging from the low-end iMac, for about $800, to the supercomputers G-4 and Cube, for close to $1,800. Your computer will need to have at least 256 megabytes of RAM, 500 megahertz processing speed, and a 40-gigabyte hard drive, which is critical. These upgrades will add $1,200 to most systems.

Finally, you will need a good editing software package. Adobe Premiere (http://www.adobe.com) or Apple Final Cut can be had for less than $1,000. Both packages allow you to add multiple video and sound tracks. But, frankly, they are more than most people will ever need. The packages are so powerful and the required learning curve is so high, that they may scare you away, turning your system into a very expensive bookend. A software package called iMovie is much more easy-to-use, and it comes free with new Apple Computers.

So, even if you don't want to be another Spike Lee, digital production will allow you to add a touch of professionalism to your home videos. And your friends and family actually might look forward to watching your creations.