"The Hobbit" (WMV, 8MB)

Megan P., Megan N., Collette P.-J.
Editors Extraordinaire

Kyle G. “The Masta”

Gord Hamby and Erica Rae Classroom Teachers

Fifth-Grade Class Uses MediaStudio Pro 7 to Give Oscar-Worthy Performance in The Hobbit

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy has stirred the imagination of many and introduced a fantasy world of wizards, warriors and hobbits. In the spring of 2002, a class of spirited ten year olds immersed themselves in this world, and, with the help of Ulead’s MediaStudio Pro, they brought it to life.

Under the guidance of their teachers, Gord Hamby and Erica Rae, the fifth grade students of Glendale Elementary School in Calgary spent the year studying J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the prequel to the Lord of the Rings. To culminate their exploration of the novel, the students attended a theatrical interpretation of The Hobbit. Unhappy with certain aspects of the play, the students sought to create a movie that was detailed and loyal to Tolkien’s writing.

When seeking professional help, they were told that their vision was nearly impossible considering the limited time and budget. However, the class was able to bring their ideas to life using MediaStudio Pro. “We had no film training,” Gord and Erica explain, “but the program’s flexibility and accessibility made this project possible. It gives us professional feel, yet is also manageable.” It did not take long for the students to learn the program and become comfortable editing their footage. “Now that I have worked with the software for awhile, piecing together the clips is a lot easier,” proclaims fifth-grader, Kyle.

The use of MediaStudio Pro in the classroom proved to be a valuable tool to facilitate learning. As the film making progressed, the class became more knowledgeable of the process and developed more skills. Gord and Erica describe the student’s learning experience, "using this program enabled them to understand what they see and hear on TV and in the movies. They began to understand the terminology and developed an eye for how media is put together.” In fact, the experience may have paved the way for a career in production. "I would like to do this when I get older, because I have learned so much in a little time," says Collette, one of the student editors. "I like video editing because you get to make something and it is a good mix of challenging and fun"

After three box office blockbusters and eleven Academy Awards, it is safe to say that The Lord of the Rings films have met a great amount of success, and Glendale Elementary’s production of The Hobbit proved to be a grand accomplishment as well. The movie was shown at the local IMAX theatre, and all involved were welcomed with a red carpet premiere. Fittingly, each student was awarded an Oscar for his or her work. Gord Hamby and Erica Rae were also awarded for their work. The two were presented the Special Interest Group for Telelearning first place award, SIGTEL, by the International Society for Technology in Education.

Thanks to the proper guidance, a lot of determination, and the right tools, the fifth grade class at Glendale Elementary shared a creative experience that won’t soon be forgotten by all who participated. "Ulead MediaStudio Pro provides our students another tool of expression," state Gord and Erica. "MediaStudio Pro has allowed us to open our students’ eyes to the world of media literacy. Not only have they become capable and creative producers, but also more discerning and educated consumers."

To learn more about this class’s experience, visit http://partner.galileo.org/hobbit