Meridian Magazine :: Arts : CAMIE Awards Honor Clean Entertainment

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By Nicholas Ilhi

Uplifting films without offensive content graced Hollywood Saturday night, as writers, producers, directors and actors received sixty-seven awards for six inspiring films of character and morality in the third annual CAMIE awards ceremony.

The 2005 CAMIES opened with a United States Marine Corps Color Guard presenting the colors and soloist Holly Markgraf singing “God Bless America.” During the evening, Markraf also performed “When I Fall in Love,” “God Bless the Outcasts” and “The Impossible Dream.”

After an elegant dinner and dessert, actress and emcee Donna Martell introduced the opening video that asked the question “Why the CAMIES?” In the video, teens explained how their parents do not want them seeing movies with sex, nudity, gory violence and profanity – but the teens said this is the kind of movies they see. Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Alan Osmond, Megan Baer, Dr. Freda Bush, Xue Lian Duan, Dr. Glen Griffin and Dr. Chris Barden explained that these films affect our mind more than we think. Movies become engrained in our children’s heads, so it is vitally important to see uplifting movies like the ones being honored at the CAMIES. Congressman Chris Cannon added that the CAMIES are so important he believes they will become one of the most significant awards in Hollywood

Before the CAMIES were presented for each film, a brief description of the movie was given with the reasons it was selected. Then those involved in making the picture to be honored with CAMIES came to the stage as clips from the movie played on a large projection screen.

Three of the films honored were made for TV and three were made for a theatrical release. Excel Entertainment received a CAMIE for its second movie, Saints and Soldiers, an inspirational film based on events in World War II about a member of the LDS Church who was caught behind enemy lines. Hallmark Hall of Fame received a CAMIE for Fallen Angel. The Hallmark Channel received its second for Love’s Enduring Promise, directed by Michael Landon Jr., and the sequel to last year's CAMIE winner Love Comes Softly. The Polson Company received its third award for the NBC TV movie Secret Santa. Walt Disney Pictures picked up its fourth CAMIE for Miracle, after receiving CAMIEs in previous years for Remember the Titans, The Rookie, and Toy Story 2. Revolution Studios received its first CAMIE for Radio.

The Saints and Soldiers group accept a CAMIE award.

Many of those involved in the production of these films were present to accept their awards. These included Barbara Billingsley, Jennie Garth, Charlie Robinson, Kathryn Joosten, Dale Midkiff, Joel McKinnon Miller, Steven Eckholdt, Victor Raider-Wexler, Kirby Heyborne, Peter Holden, Alex Niver, Jan Parkinson (who heads Hallmark Hall of Fame), and directors Michael Landon Jr. and Ryan Little.

Martell joked about how the CAMIES differ from the Academy Awards. “Please don’t take this opportunity to thank your third grade teacher, your first girlfriend, and your pet goldfish. We are not the Oscars – for many reasons,” she said. Instead, many of those who spoke expressed their gratitude for receiving a CAMIE, in light of what the award stands for. They also expressed their appreciation of Dr. Glen Griffin, the Chairman of CAMIE awards, Inc.

Beth Polson of The Polson Company gave the CAMIES. She also gave Dr. Griffin a special tribute for creating the CAMIES. She quipped that in the early days of the CAMIES, she got a call from Dr. Griffin. Griffin was complaining about a couple of mild profanities in one of her movies.

She thought, "Who is this whippersnapper? Scolding me about my family shows.” But Dr. Griffin observed that since this particular phone conversation, there has not been one profane word in any of The Polson Company movies. Polson said she needs to make a mantle just for her CAMIE awards.

Barbara Billingsley (right) and Beth Polson of Secret Santa.

Michael Landon, Jr. also complimented CAMIE awards, Inc. and Dr. Griffin, as did Charlie Robinson – who said he couldn’t wait to be back next year. Jennie Garth, Dale Midkiff, Ryan Little, Kathy Joosten and several others also extended their thanks and compliments.

Michael Landon, Jr., and Dr. Glen Griffin.

Jan Parkinson, President of Hallmark Hall of Fame, explained that the CAMIES enrich lives, as is the goal at Hallmark. He emphasized this link by presenting Dr. Griffin a purple tee-shirt with the words "enriching lives." “They encourage, they honor, they recognize,” Mr. Parkinson said about the CAMIES.

CAMIES are solid bronze castings from a sculpture of a young woman named CAMIE, which stands for "Character And Morality In Entertainment." To be eligible for a CAMIE, a motion picture must be "presented with sensitivity and without gratuitous violence, offensive use of the names of deity, salacious nudity, sexual intimacy, 'simulated-sex,' or implications that sex outside of marriage is acceptable," according to Dr. Glen Griffin, chairman of the CAMIE awards.

Telling stories and entertaining without vulgarity and crudeness is strongly encouraged and is a factor as awards are considered.

The end goal for the CAMIES is to make a mark in Hollywood so more wonderful films like the ones recognized at CAMIES III will be produced. In response to this, Steven Ekhold (John Martin Carter in Secret Santa) said, “I think there’s a change coming in Hollywood and I think that is a good thing.”

The evening ended with a Holly Markraf rendition of “The Impossible Dream” and a video thanking the CAMIE winners. This video featured the board members who had produced the opening video, as well as film critic Michael Medved and Dr. Rodger Dean Duncan. Alan Osmond ended the video by challenging the CAMIE winners to go make more good films – “because we are counting on you."

The night was different from other awards shows because the films were not in competition with one another. There were no winners and losers. Instead, the focus was on camaraderie and working together to create more wholesome entertainment. Talented people that have an eagerness for creating uplifting and wholesome entertainment received awards this night. The table conversations consisted of praise for each other’s films and how uplifting they are.

During her speech, Beth Polson gave a shout out to the Saints and Soldiers group for the greatness their film. From the audience Saints director Ryan Little yelled, “We love you Beth.” Afterwards, all involved in the event mingled among each other, speaking of past and future projects that are CAMIE caliber.

The screenwriter for Secret Santa gave a perfect synopsis of the night when he compared the event to rising bread. Speaking to the filmmakers, CAMIE people and guests, he said, “You are what helps Hollywood rise.”

The 67-individual winners of CAMIE awards in 2005

Miracle, (Disney), The true story of the amazing 1980 USA Olympic gold medal team.

Walt Disney Pictures
Mark Ciardi, producer
Gordon Gray, producer
Gavin O’Connor, director
Eric Guggenheim, screenplay
Kurt Russell, playing Coach Herb Brooks
Patricia Clarkson, playing Patty Brooks
Noah Emmerich, playing Craig Patrick
Eddie Cahill, playing Jim Craig
Patrick O’Brien Demsey, playing Mike Eruzione
Michael Mantenuto, playing Jack O’Callahan

Radio, (Revolution Studios) based on the true story about a retarded young man who became someone because someone cared.

Revolution Studios
Todd Garner, producer
Michael Tollin,, director
Mike Rich, screenwriter
Cuba Gooding Jr., as Radio (James Robert Kennedy)
Ed Harris, playing Coach Harold Jones
Alfre Woodard, playing Principal Daniels
Riley Smith, playing Johnny
Brent Sexton, playing Honeycutt
S. Epatha Merkerson , as Maggie
Sarah Drew, as Mary Helen

Fallen Angel (Hallmark Hall of Fame), a powerful drama about life, love, mistakes, and forgiveness.

Hallmark Hall of Fame, Jan Parkinson
Gary Sinise, playing Terry McQuinn
Joely Richardson, playing Katherine Wentworth
Jordy Benattar, playing Olivia
Michael Switzer, Director
Don J. Snyder, Screenwriter & author of novel
Anne Hopkins, Producer
Brent Shields, Co-executive producer
Richard Welsh, Executive producer

Saints and Soldiers (Excel Entertainment), a compelling and true character drama about a small group of soldiers trapped behind enemy lines after the WW II Malmedy massacre.

Excel Entertainment
Ryan Little, director and cinematographer
Adam Able, producer
Matt Whitaker, screenwriter
Geoffrey Panos, screenwriter
Corbin Allred, playing Deacon Greer
Alexander Niver, playing Steven Gould
Peter Holden, playing Gordon Gunderson
Kirby Heyborne, playing Oberon Winley
Lawrence Bagby, playing Shirl Kendrick
Ethan Vincent, playing Rudy

Love’s Enduring Promise (The Hallmark Channel), a story of young love, faith, and values on the American frontier.

The Hallmark Channel
Robert Halmi, Jr., executive producer
Larry Levinson, executive producer
Lincoln Lageson, Executive Producer
William Spencer Riley, executive producer (Faith & Values Media)
Michael Landon, Jr., director and screenwriter
Cindy Kelley, sreenwriter
Janette Oke, author of original book
January Jones, as Missie Davis
Logan Bartholomew, as Nate
MacKenzie Astin, as Grant
Dale Midkiff, as Clark Davis
Katherine Heigle, as Marty Davis

Secret Santa (The Polson Company), an entertaining romantic comedy with a powerful message about giving without wanting, or expecting, recognition or honor.

The Polson Company, Beth Polson, executive director
Robert Tate Miller, screenplay
Charlie Robinson, playing Russell
Jennie Garth, playing Rebecca
Victor Raider-Wexler, playing Bob, the editor
Kathryn Joosten, playing Winfred, the mayor
Joel McKinnon Miller, playing Harley
Steven Eckholdt, playing John Martin Carter
Barbara Billingsley, playing Miss. Ruthie
Sam Anderson, playing Mr. Gibson
Cody Fleetwood, playing Scotty
Ian Barry, director