McCain

by BRITTANY PENLAND
News Reporter

Goldfish.

The snack that smiles back allowed Allie E. McCain, senior communication/electronic media broadcasting major at Appalachian State University, to win first place at the 2009 Broadcast Education Association’s National Festival of Media Arts (BEA).

McCain’s 60-second commercial entry titled “Gold Fish,” was awarded first in the audio PSA/Promo/Commercial category.

The commercial McCain entered focused on the aspect of two little girls eating Goldfish crackers and the youngest saying her first word, “fish.”

Inspiration behind the commercial came from her two nieces, who were 4 years old and 11/2 years old at the time.

“I was at home and they pulled out the Goldfish crackers and my youngest niece was just learning how to talk,” McCain said.

The youngest was so excited about the crackers that she just said the word “fish.”

In the commercial, both of the girls are heard, as well as McCain, who plays the role of the mom and her friend as the dad.

“I thought it was really an awesome piece, but I was also partial because my nieces were in it and I love them very much,” McCain said.

McCain said it was a great feeling knowing other people enjoyed her work as well.

Her entry originally began as a project for communication lecturer Steve Smith’s Audio Production II course.

For the project, students pick a product and then must receive permission from the chosen company before they begin producing, Smith said.

Typically, Smith chooses four projects each semester and then out of those, he narrows it down to two projects to enter into the BEA competition.

For Smith to choose an entry, he said they need an extra edge.

“They have to make you smile,” Smith said. “I felt that [McCain’s] did that with the little girl’s first word.”

Often, Smith tells his students if he chooses to enter their work into the competition he believes they will either place or win.

Over the last four years, Appalachian has had over 10 finalists win or place in national competitions.

Currently, there are 250 colleges and universities across the nation who are members of BEA and enter into the competition, Smith said.

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