Six films were honored at the 2005 CAMIE® AWARDS held at the Hollywood Renaissance on January 29, 2005. Sixty-seven solid bronze CAMIES® were presented to the studios, directors, writers, producers, and actors of uplifting films at the ceremony, which marked the CAMIES® third presentation since the awards were first given in 2001.
Three of the CAMIE® winning films were made for the cinema and three for television. Revolution Studios received its first CAMIE® for Radio. Walt Disney Pictures picked up its fourth CAMIE® for Miracle. Hallmark Hall of Fame received its fourth CAMIE® for Fallen Angel. The Polson Company received its third CAMIE® AWARD for the NBC television movie Secret Santa. The Hallmark Channel was given its second for Love's Enduring Promise, directed by Michael Landon Jr. Excel Entertainment received its second CAMIE® for Saints and Soldiers.
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 were among the many celebrities present to receive their CAMIES®.
Donna Martell, a popular actress for nearly sixty years, was the evening’s host. The event opened with a United States Marine Corps Color Guard presenting the colors, followed by soloist Holly Markgraf performing a stirring rendition of “God Bless America”.
Following Holly Markgraf’s performance, a brief video was presented which answered the question, “Why the CAMIES®?” The film featured quick clips of teenagers admitting that they watch films with sex, nudity, and gross violence even though their parents don’t want them to. Following these clips, members of the CAMIE® advisory board (including radio personality Dr. Laura Schlessinger, psychologist and attorney Dr. Chris Barden, Dr. Freda Bush, students Megan Baer and Xue Lian Duan, and Congressman Chris Cannon) talked about why what we watch is so important.
Congressman Cannon voiced his belief that the CAMIES® will become one of the most significant awards in the motion picture industry. Dr. Laura and Alan Osmond encouraged families to make use of the free website run by the CAMIE® AWARDS, moviepicks.org, to find wholesome movies. moviepicks.org has one of the highest standards of any reference sites for movies. If the movie doesn't fit the criteria, it is not posted.
Over and over again throughout the evening’s presentation of the CAMIES®, the stars, producers, directors, and others who were involved in the production of the CAMIE® winning films expressed appreciation for being recognized for making the kind of wholesome movies the CAMIES® are all about. Beth Polson (The Polson Company) gave the CAMIES® and Dr. Griffin a special tribute for creating the CAMIES®. She quipped that in the early days of the CAMIES®, she received a phone call from Dr. Griffin complaining about a couple of mild profanities in one of her movies. She thought, "Who is this whippersnapper scolding me about my family shows?” She then went on to tell about a special friendship that has developed. Dr. Griffin stepped to the mike slipping in a thanks to Beth with the observation that since that phone conversation several years ago, there has not been one profane word in any of the Polson Company movies.
Jan Parkinson, from the Hallmark Hall of Fame, explained that the CAMIES® enrich lives, as is their goal at Hallmark. He emphasized this link by presenting Dr. Griffin with a purple t-shirt proclaiming the words, "Enriching Lives."
Jan Parkinson presented Dr. Glen Griffin a Hallmark t-shirt with the Hallmark slogan "Enriching Lives" saying that Hallmark and the CAMIE® AWARDS share many of the same goals.
Charlie Robinson, happily accepts his second CAMIE® AWARD for his starring role in Secret Santa, saying he loves the CAMIES®, adding "I’ll see you next year...and the year after that!"
The evening closed with a thank-you film from the CAMIE® board members to the CAMIE® winners. Alan Osmond challenged filmmakers to make more uplifting films, emphasizing his statement by adding, "…because we are counting on you." With a most unusual camaraderie, the filmmakers, CAMIE® people, and guests, lingered after the close of the ceremony to reflect on what had just happened…a definite increase in enthusiasm regarding the creation of uplifting movies that provide wholesome role models.
The 2005 CAMIE® Winning Films
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 expecting anything in return.
- 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
