Pubdate: Thu, 27 Apr 2006
Source: Charlotte Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2006 The Charlotte Observer
Contact:  http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/78
Author: Bernie Petit
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

STUDENTS TAKE 2ND IN FILM CONTEST

Concord Cannon Duo Tackled Drug Policies For 'StudentCam'

Concord Cannon seniors Lauren Bacchus and Mike Burke recently finished
second in C-SPAN's "StudentCam" contest.

The national competition invited middle and high school students to
produce documentaries exploring current political topics using C-SPAN
programming.

Bacchus is a 17-year-old Davidson resident; Burke is an 18-year-old
from Mooresville. Their video, titled "Something Has to Change,"
focused on the country's drug policies. They received $750 for their
efforts.

The video aired last Friday morning on C-SPAN and Burke participated
in a phone interview with network president Brian Lamb during the show
"Washington Journal" afterward.

Bacchus said they started the project by recording network footage
because "we really don't watch C-SPAN." While watching, they saw a
segment on the war on drugs and became interested in the topic.

The students, who have known each other for seven years, had made a
few "silly" movies before. The documentary, though, was the first
serious film they attempted.

They interviewed students and teachers at their school and at Davidson
College to get a cross-section of society for their film and
interviewed U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth R-Ariz.

Bacchus said she and Burke didn't know much about their topic before
starting the documentary, and they then discovered they weren't alone.

"It seemed as though people could say they were for the war on drugs
or against the war on drugs," Bacchus said, "but when you asked them
why, they became a little less sure of themselves."

And while the students enjoy making movies together, neither is sure
they'll pursue that interest as a career.

Bacchus, the daughter of Adrienne and Jim Bacchus, said she will
probably study communications or political science at UNC Asheville
and that she's interested in working in the communications industry or
journalism.

Burke, son of Madeleine and Patrick Burke, said he wants to take some
film courses at the College of Charleston, but that he'd like to do
something science-related as a career.
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MAP posted-by: Derek