Barbara Nicolosi teaches screenwriting to aspiring Catholic writers at the acclaimed Act One: Writing for Hollywood. You may email her at [email protected].
(Originally published in LIGUORIAN Magazine, One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO, 63057.)
A “Wholistic” Excellence
The answer is, there is much good entertainment out there on television and in the movie theaters, but it has to be sought out.
Unfortunately, the awards that the industry is most famous for are not much help for those of us trying to ferret out wholesome entertainment from that which violates. The Oscars, Emmys and Golden Globes have lost their moral compass, and routinely give their highest kudos to projects that divorce technical proficiency and artistry from the humanity and truthfulness of content. Examples abound of critically acclaimed, well-crafted lies: American Beauty, Boys Don’t Cry, The Cider House Rules, The Contender, The Fight Club. It’s sad, but despite having impressive performances, stirring cinematography and clever characterizations, many of the films nominated for the Academy Award in the last few decades are just plain depraved and hence, unhealthy entertainment.
Fortunately, there are several organizations committed to honoring productions that represent a wholistic excellence of artistry and content. These awards do a valuable service by picking through the popular culture minefield and holding up the worthiest entertainment alternatives so the rest of us don’t have to sully ourselves.
Honoring The Human Experience
Founded by Paulist Father Ellwood Kieser in 1974, the Humanitas Prize is arguably the most prestigious writing award in Hollywood. The Prize honors motion picture writers whose work honestly explores the complexities of the human experience and the positive values of life.
2001 Humanitas Prizes were awarded to the following: (partial listing)
Feature Film: You Can Count on Me(Paramount Classic) (Mature theme not suitable for children.)
Cable Movie: Wit (HBO)
Television: Everybody Loves Raymond, “Ray’s Journal” (CBS)
Children’s Television: The Miracle in Lane Two (Disney Channel)
Established in 1949, Christopher Awards are presented to books, motion pictures and television programs that affirm the highest values of the human spirit. “Our latest Christopher Award winners honor tales about men and women faced with a bewildering variety of obstacles: illness, loneliness, rejection, and battlefield aggressors” said Msgr. James P. Lisante, former director of The Christophers and host of this year’s Awards ceremony. “But in dealing with them as they do — with courage, determination, and an indomitable faith — they follow The Christopher credo ‘It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.’”
2002 Christopher Awards were presented to the following (partial listing):
Feature Films: A Beautiful Mind, Iris, Shrek and The Widow of Sainte Pierre
Television and Cable Programs: The Lost Battalion (A&E), Band of Brothers (HBO), AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — Abraham and Mary Lincoln – A House Divided (PBS), Uprising (NBC), Wit (HBO), Jazz (PBS)
Heartland Film Festival – Crystal Heart Awards
Established in 1991, the Heartland Film Festival takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana during the autumn of each year. The festival seeks to identify and reward motion pictures that leave audiences feeling entertained, satisfied, and inspired. Along with supporting up and coming filmmakers, the festival recognizes and honors entertainment that “explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life.”
2001 Crystal Heart Awards were presented to:
Feature Film: Delivering Milo (IMMI Pictures) and Ring of Fire(Destination Films)
Television program: Diary of a City Priest (PBS)
Uniquely Catholic
For more than 35 years, Unda-USA has sponsored the Gabriel Awards, designed to honor works of excellence in broadcasting which offer a positive, creative treatment of human life. UNDA is a professional association of Catholic communicators and filmmakers. The single most important criterion of a Gabriel-winning program is its ability to uplift and nourish the human spirit, although other criteria include the honesty, depth and clarity of material presented, overall technical and artistic quality.
2001 Gabriel Awards were given to the following entertainment productions:
Television: Nuremberg (TNT), The Color Of Friendship (Disney Channel)
Film: Erin Brockovich (Parents should be cautioned that this film is not suitable for children.)
Catholic In Media Award
Catholics in Media Associates is a network organization to provide spiritual formation and professional encouragement for Catholics who work in the entertainment industry. Every year, CIMA presents awards for television and feature productions that effectively reflect a Catholic worldview.
2001 CIMA Awards were presented to:
Feature Film: Hearts in Atlantis (CastleRock/Warner Bros.)
Television: That’s Life (CBS)
