By Lori Ehde
A classroom assignment has become a poignant illustration of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.
Luverne High School senior Bob Ehrreich created an I-movie out of images of the events he downloaded off the Internet.
The movie, entitled "9.11.01," is a collage of Ehrreich's favorite photographs of the East Coast attacks and subsequent military scenes in Afghanistan.
The still scenes, set to music, fade in and out and include special digital effects.
Ehrreich received an A from graphic arts teacher Bill Thompson on the project he completed as a graphic communications assignment.
Thompson said grades are determined based on a number of factors, including transitions between photos, how the music affects the images and on special effects.
He assigned each of his students to come up with a two-minute I-movie on a topic of their choice. Some chose personal interests or hobbies, but Ehrreich chose the Sept. 11 national tragedy.
"I thought of it right away," he said. "I just thought it would be something that would mean something."
In addition to technical quality, Thompson said Ehrreich's movie has an emotional appeal. "Every time I watch it I get a tear in my eye," Thompson said. "It's really good."
Ehrreich's project was featured on the 10 p.m. KELO-TV newscast Monday, and he said the station has invited him to their graphic design department, possibly for the purpose of summer employment.
There's a link to his movie from the KELO Web site, www.keloland.com. Click on "student makes I-movie."