NATCHEZ &8212; Children got the chance to produce their own movies in Movie Making 101 Wednesday at Kids College at the Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Natchez.

Teacher Cindy Thornton taught the children proper filming techniques with a video camera and editing techniques using Windows Movie Maker.

&8220;I left the creative part up to them and I am teaching them how to edit their product on the computer,&8221; Thornton said. &8220;I&8217;m amazed at how quick they&8217;re picking it up.&8221;

Children learned to manipulate their films using special effects, animation and scene sequencing.

To 11-year-old Anthony Morris, Movie Making 101 has opened up possible new career opportunities.

&8220;I never thought about it as a job but now I&8217;ll make it one of my options of what I want to be when I grow up,&8221; Morris said.

Sidney Eidt, 11, has also considered movie making as a career for the future.

&8220;My cousin and I want to create a business of movie making someday,&8221; Eidt said. &8220;I hope to both act and edit, but if that doesn&8217;t work I guess I&8217;ll study to be an oncologist like I planned.&8221;

Danielle Trottier, 12, likes working with the computer program but enjoys working behind the camera much more.

&8220;I&8217;ve had the most fun filming my friends and watching them act goofy and mess up on camera,&8221; Trottier said.

Helping Thornton teach the children is Kirby Richard.

Richard said she originally agreed to help out Thornton for a little extra spending money but now she&8217;s getting into the computer program.

&8220;These kids are teaching me things I never knew I could do on a computer,&8221; Richard said. &8220;After observing what they can do with this movie making program, I, too, have become more of a computer person.&8221;

Thornton said children will divide into groups today and do film newscasts and TV shows.

The children will then edit their programs on Friday and download them on a CD ROM to give to their parents and friends.