Scott City teen's video wins state anti-littering award

Bruce Matlock caught $200 Thursday with a broken fishing pole and a video camera.

The 17-year-old from Scott City said he broke his fishing pole while making a 30-second anti-litter commercial for the statewide "No MOre Trash!" video contest, sponsored by the Department of conservation and transportation. The commercial, which is about how trash on the highways can get into lakes and streams, landed Matlock with the $200 first-place prize. He picked up his check Thursday at a ceremony at the new conservation nature center in Cape Girardeau.

Matlock said he decided to make his commercial about fishing because he thought many people would be able to relate to it. He produced the video for a broadcast production class at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technical Center, taught by Randy McWilson.

"Really a lot of Missourians fish, and Mr. Mac and I talked about going for the target audience, so I thought that would be a good audience to go for," Matlock said.

McWilson said he gave the project to his class as an optional assignment, but Matlock was the only one that decided to enter the contest. He said he helped Matlock brainstorm for ideas, but also tried not to influence him too much.

"I'm really more of a cheerleader in a lot of ways," McWilson said. "I want the creativity to come from the students, and I just kind of fan the flames and let them go where they will."

McWilson said another of his students won first place in the contest when it began in 2000, but no Career and Technology Center students had submitted entries since then.

Although his video is about fishing, Matlock said he probably will not use his prize money to buy a new pole. Instead, he's saving up for a laptop computer for when he starts school at Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Ill., in the fall. He said he wants to stay in the film business, and hopes to one day be a sports cameraman. But for now, he said, he's just happy he could use his skills for a good cause.

"I'm just glad to help get the word out about not littering," he said.

The video has been posted on the No MOre Trash! Web site, and it may be used later on public access channels or on the television show "Missouri Outdoors" next year. The video also can be viewed at www.semissourian.com.

wmcferron@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127