HOLLYWOOD GOES WHOLESOME!
UPCOMING CEREMONY HONORING UPLIFTING,
INSPIRATIONAL THEMES IN FILM AND TELEVISION
IS THE TOWN’S HOTTEST NEW TICKET
* * *
The Star-Studded Sixth Annual Event, Set For May 3 At The
1,900 Seat Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills, Creates A Major
Buzz In Town And Stirs An Unprecedented Demand For Seats

Can it be that Hollywood’s getting worn down by all the sex and violence and is ready to embrace wholesome and uplifting theatrical films and movies made for television? If the incredible demand for tickets to the upcoming star-studded CAMIE AWARDS (www.camie.org) ceremony from folks from every facet of the industry is any indication, the answer is a resounding “Yes”!

The 6th annual event honoring the virtues of character, integrity and inspirational themes in contemporary films is scheduled for May 3 at 8 p.m. at the beautiful, 1,900 seat Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills. Confirmed presenters (and previous CAMIE winners) include Ed Asner, Peter Jason, Olivia Hussey, Georg Stanford Brown and Jeff Hephner; the emcees are once again Leanza Cornett and Mark Steines; and musical guests Include Jim Brickman, Clint Holmes and Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.

First ever recipients include Warner Bros. and legendary film producers Jerry Weintraub and The Weinstein Brothers. Also on hand will be Lord John Taylor from Great Britain’s House of Lords, who is in charge of the film rating system for the British Isles; he will be presenting the award for Miss Potter, which starred Renee Zellweger.

Despite the stellar lineup of films being honored and participating talent, Joseph Lake, President of CAMIE AWARDS Productions, and Stefanie Cosman, Vice President of Operations, the Executive Producers of the Show originally had their doubts about filling the new venue. When they announced the 2008 show, they would have been pleased with a 700-900 requests. Lake and Cosman were happily surprised and quickly overwhelmed by the incredible response of the show’s offer of free tickets to the public.

“They’ve been calling like gangbusters,” he says. “The interest level in the Hollywood community is higher than it’s ever been. No longer the best-kept secret in Hollywood, the CAMIEs are catching on as a cool, fun and progressive night that the industry is taking very seriously. Actors, producers, directors and people from major studios are all calling, thanking us for honoring these kinds of films.”

Starfish Television Network will be filming the CAMIE Show this year for airing in the summer. Even though both Starfish and CAMIE are both based in Utah, there is no political or religious agenda. Lake and Cosman said, “Our mission is simply to recognize and celebrate high quality, family oriented entertainment.”

This concept delights Leanza Cornett, a onetime Miss America, who appears regularly on The Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. Cornett, the mother of two young boys who is in her third year as a CAMIEs co-host, says, “The TV climate especially has changed so dramatically lately, and people are really clamoring for more shows and movies that reflect a clear set of standards and morals and are suitable for children to watch. The CAMIEs are not about promoting a specific religious agenda but simply about celebrating feel good programming that families can feel comfortable sharing together.

“On a secondary note,” she adds, “every other award show, from the Oscars to the SAG Awards, honors the same movies, but many of the CAMIE Awards go to films the average viewer hasn’t heard about—and that’s exciting. Viewers will be exposed to movies they are going to love just like I was. Across the board, it’s a very original awards show.”

The CAMIE AWARD winning theatrical films of 2008 are: Amazing Grace, Bridge to Terabithia, Miss Potter, Nancy Drew and The Ultimate Gift.

The CAMIE recipients in the made-for-television category are Crossroads: A Story of Forgiveness (Hallmark Hall of Fame), Love’s Unending Legacy (Hallmark Channel), The Note (Hallmark Channel), Pictures of Hollis Woods (Hallmark Hall of Fame) and Saving Sarah Cain (Believe Pictures).

Individual solid bronze CAMIE statues will be presented to those principally responsible for creating each winning film, which may include producers, directors, writers and leading actors.

Since the inception of the CAMIE AWARDS, over forty outstanding inspirational films have been honored, including Charlotte’s Web, Pride & Prejudice, Akeelah and the Bee, March of the Penguins and Radio.

The global mission of CAMIE AWARDS, Inc. is to encourage the production and awareness of outstanding, uplifting and entertaining motion pictures with positive role models for building character, overcoming adversity, correcting unwise choices, strengthening families, living moral lives and solving life’s problems with integrity and perseverance.

To learn more about the CAMIE AWARDS, visit www.CAMIE.org or contact Stefanie Cosman at (801) 567-3187.