Bettendorf native wins film award from MTV

By David Burke / QUAD-CITY TIMES / December 7, 2005

Scott Beck thought he was in on the surprise.

The Bettendorf natives had entered the mtvU “Best Film on Campus” contest and each was in the top five.

“It was an incredible setup,” said Beck, a junior majoring in communication studies. “Here I was going along with the surprise, thinking I was in on it. Then the tables completely turned.”

An mtvU video jockey and a party were on the other side of the door, informing Beck he was the winner of the contest instead.

“It took me like 10 seconds” to realize he was indeed the winner, Beck said. He watched himself on a local newscast Monday night and “the look on my face was ridiculous,” he added.

In the second annual contest, college student filmmakers from around the country were to enter “trailers” worthy of “coming attractions” showings at a theater. Beck entered the Bluebox film “University Heights” and Woods entered “Her Summer.” Although Beck stressed that the two work as partners, each took the lead in developing the trailer for their respective movie.

In “University Heights,” which was released in 2004, four characters’ lives intertwine on a college campus.

Voting for the movies took place online, with judging also by Hollywood directors John Singleton (“Boyz N the Hood”), Catherine Hardwicke (“Thirteen”) and Nicole Kassell (“The Woodsman”).

“The judges felt that Scott Beck’s trailer for ‘University Heights’ did a great job of drawing the viewer in and capturing his or her interest,” mtvU spokesman Jason Rzepka said. “The characters were intriguing and the trailer really made you wonder how the different strands of the story would develop. Of the trailers in the finalist round, ‘University Heights’ was the movie they most wanted to watch themselves.”

Beck receives a home entertainment system and a development deal with MTV Films. Beck said he was unsure whether “University Heights,” “Her Summer” or “Coast,” the script the two are finishing, will be the film he and Woods advance.

“We definitely have a bunch of ideas we want to bring them if they want to consider those also,” he said.

The award is the latest for the duo of Bettendorf natives, who were in the top five for the same contest last year. They also were considered for “Project Greenlight,” a Matt Damon-Ben Affleck reality series for fledgling filmmakers.

But this is the biggest honor for Beck, Woods and Bluebox so far.

“It really hasn’t sunken in yet, but we’re going to take this opportunity and run with it as best we can,” Beck said. “A lot of people are trying to get their foot in the door in Hollywood, and Bryan and I are almost blown away because we were almost handed this opportunity — almost too easily.”