How'd they make the hobbits and the dwarf shorter?

[HCIsland]

This section on the extended DVD is great. I too marvelled at how simple some of the techniques were.<P>For example, the shot where Frodo jumps into Gandalf's arms at the beginning of the film was extremely important because it was the first time they showed the size difference between the characters. I remember thinking, "how did they do that?" It's painfully simple.<P>First shot: Elijah Wood jumping into a seven foot plus man dressed like Gandalf. You only see Gandalf from the side and back.<BR>Next shot: Close up of Ian McKellen hugging a four foot man dressed as Frodo.<BR>Next shot: Close up of Elijah hugging seven foot man.<P>Because the shots fly by so fast, you would never notice the tricks and somehow it is the simple tricks like that, that are the most convincing.<P>H.C.