LOS ANGELES — The 2005 CAMIE awards, representing "Character and Morality in Entertainment," were presented in Hollywood, Calif., for the first time on Saturday, Jan. 29. In its first two years, the presentation ceremonies were staged in Utah and Arizona.
The CAMIE awards were established by retired pediatrician Glen Griffin of the Mapleton 6th Ward, Mapleton Utah North Stake, with the help of an interfaith advisory board. The advisory board includes members of the Church as well as various other Christian denominations, three well-known Orthodox Jews and a leading Muslim cleric.
The awards night was held at the Renaissance Hotel next door to the Kodak Theater where the Academy Awards will be handed out later this month. Six films were honored. A total of 67 CAMIE statuettes were presented to 67 individuals, going to studios, directors, writers, producers and actors who were involved in the creation of the six films. To be eligible for a CAMIE, a film 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. Griffin. Telling stories and entertaining without vulgarity and crudeness is strongly encouraged and is a factor as awards are considered.
For motion pictures, Walt Disney Pictures picked up its fourth CAMIE for "Miracle," Revolution Studios received its first CAMIE for "Radio," and Excel Entertainment won its second CAMIE for "Saints and Soldiers." In the television category, Hallmark Hall of Fame received a fourth CAMIE for "Fallen Angel," the Polson Company received its third CAMIE for "Secret Santa," and the Hallmark Channel was given its second award for "Love's Enduring Promise."
The Polson Company's producer, Beth Polson, quipped that in the early days of the CAMIEs, Dr. Griffin complained to her about a couple of mild profanities in one of her movies. She said, "I thought, 'Who is this whippersnapper scolding me about my family shows?' " She then told of the special friendship that has developed in the ensuing years. Dr. Griffin stepped to the microphone and said, "Since that phone conversation, there has not been one profane word in any of the Polson Company movies."
At the end of the event, Dr. Griffin said, "Now, we want all this year's CAMIE winners to go out and create more uplifting, inspiring films."