Vote for the best Dove Family-Approved movies for 2009

You may now cast your vote online for your favorite Dove Family-Approved movie of 2009. Click on this link: http://www.dove.org/cdsballot09.asp The winners in each of 7 categories ADVENTURE, ANIMATED, COMEDY, DOCUMENTARY, DRAMA, LIMITED RELEASE and MUSICAL will receive the coveted Crystal Dove Seal trophy. Deadline for voting is February 15th.   




In preparation for this article I Googled the “ten best movies of 2009” and found a mere 2,080,000 entries.  One would think that this topic has been thoroughly covered. Upon further research, however, I found that the vast majority of the 2 million plus entries reflect the opinions of single bloggers.  Most of the rest were op-ed pieces written by film “critics.” Not much consensus there. A few websites reflect collective opinions from voters or members, such as the American Film Institute (AFI).
          Actually, voting is a very credible way of selecting the best of anything, so long as we acknowledge that the results reflect the subjective opinions of voters. There are absolutely no objective criteria where voting is concerned, even if someone can site the tangible basis for casting their particular vote. So, what separates one “best of” award from another?  The qualifications and commonalities of the voters.

          Acclaimed awards like the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes represent the collective opinion of each group’s members/voters, most of whom are critics or pundits. Others like the Academy Awards, Producers’ Guild, Writers’ Guild, and Screen Actors’ Guild Awards represent peers voting for peers; hardly an objective group.
          Voters of their favorite Dove Family Approved movie of 2009 are joined by a set of common values based on traditional Judeo-Christian ethics and standards of behavior. Dove voters are mostly enthusiastic movie-goers who look for quality motion pictures that entertain without offending.  

          Major movie studios and independent filmmakers value the Crystal Dove Seal. This award is a tribute to you and the hundreds of thousands of other Dove families who care about making wise entertainment choices and acknowledging when Hollywood produces movies that reflect their values.

          Vote now and we will send you a copy of the results and the comments of each studio exec. You will also be included in a special drawing for some pretty nice Dove family approved DVDs.

          The polls are now open - vote today! 

Disney Prexy, Mark Zoradi Steps Down

Disney Prexy Mark Zoradi Steps Down 

Mark Zoradi, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion

Pictures Group, has resigned effective immediately.

Another sad day at the Mouse Factory. I've known Mark Zoradi since his promotion to President of the Disney Motion Picture Group in 2006. He and former boss Dick Cook were, to me savvy businessmen with a special sensativity for wholesome entertainment; the kind that made Disney the most successful family-friendly brand on the planet.  Mark and Dick will both be sorly missed according to a Disney executive I spoke with.  And, I second that emotion. I hope the studio doesn't lose its way in all this restructuring. Faithful followers will notice if the direction changes as little as one degree. We at The Dove Foundation will be watching.

I wish nothing but the best for Mark and his family  as he transitions to the next new thing!

TV VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ON THE RISE

I do not usually comment on television programming, since The Dove Foundation’s focus is movies and DVDs. However, once in a while someone points out a critical issue that impacts media-watching families everywhere.

Such an issue was recently reported by our friends at the Parents Television Council. PTC’s newest report, Women in Peril: A Look at TV’s Disturbing New Storyline Trend, is a stark reminder to those of us who enjoy an occasional crime drama on television. (My favorite is NCIS.)

Until this important study came out, I was not aware of a disturbing pattern; creators of these crime drama shows are writing a disproportionate number of stories, whether intentional or not, that emphasize violence against women…usually young, attractive, vulnerable women. This mixture of violence and sexual images is referred to as “sexploitation.”

According to a PTC spokesperson, “Just last week actresses like Nicole Kidman testified before the Congress that ‘Hollywood probably has contributed to violence against women by portraying them as weak sex objects.’” The PTC rep goes on to say, “We all must pay attention to the fact that this is a problem in our society. The fact is that children are influenced by what they see on TV and that certainly includes media violence.” We only have to look around at all the copycat crimes that are committed almost daily, due in part to electronic news media.

I encourage you to read the report and download the PTC study, Women in Peril. We must always guard against becoming coarsened against violence by over exposing ourselves to those media platforms that focus on violence and sexploitation; whether television, movies, DVDs, videogames or the Internet.

The maxim, “you are what you eat” not only applies to our food selections, but our entertainment choices as well.

How to Succeed in Filmmaking, or "The Field of Dreams" is a lie

I usually reserve this column for discerning moviegoers. However, over the past several years we have been consulting with scores of filmmakers at various stages of their craft. I feel it is important to address one particular issue that comes up frequently, especially from those who are just starting out, or those who have had a hard time getting their finished film to market. The common question is, “What must I do to make a financially successful movie?”

There are plenty of experts available to answer this crucial question. I don’t consider myself among them. But after 18 years of watching thousands of projects come through our offices, my observations might be of some value.

My advice begins with the axiom; the bottom line is still the bottom line. Do your due diligence before you roll out the cameras. This is not a Field of Dreams world. You can build it and still no one will come if you haven’t done your homework. After all, it’s not called Show Art…it’s Show Business. (more)

Crystal Dove Seal trophies given Hollywood execs

Best Family Movies of 2008 Receive Crystal Dove Seal Awards
Source: http://www.dove.org/

April 1, 2009 (Grand Rapids, MI) - The Dove Foundation announced today the winners of the CRYSTAL DOVE SEAL, an award designed to highlight Hollywood’s film-making achievements for the vast and diverse family audience. The CRYSTAL DOVE SEAL pays special tribute to those companies that have demonstrated increased awareness in the value of providing the huge family audience with more appropriate choices.

Dove posted a ballot on its website at http://www.dove.org/ during the month of February inviting visitors to cast a vote for their favorite Dove Approved movies in seven categories, Comedy, Drama, Action/Adventure, Animated Feature, Documentary, Musical, and Limited Release. Thousands of online voters selected the “best of the best” Dove Family-Approved movies for 2008.

Dove Foundation co-founder and CEO, Dick Rolfe just returned from Los Angeles where he presented the solid crystal trophies for this year's winners. “These outstanding films represent the highest examples of quality storytelling combined with positive values that most Americans hold dear,” Rolfe said.

FIREPROOF and The Dove Foundation review

As you're purchasing tickets and inviting people to go with you to see FIREPROOF the movie, they may want to know more about the film. The Dove Foundation review of FIREPROOF says a lot:

"Kirk Cameron has done his best acting yet as Capt. Caleb Holt, a firefighter who believes that his stressful life allows him to ignore his wife. Erin Bethea gives a stirring performance as Catherine Holt, Caleb's wife and a career-oriented PR director at the local hospital."

"It is a wonderful movie with dashes of humor and plenty of drama including exciting rescue scenes. Due to a sophisticated theme, FIREPROOF is more for the over-age-12 set. We gladly award five Doves, our highest rating, to this picture. Every couple in America should see this film! It is a life-changing experience. Viewers will never be able to look at marriage in the same way again."

Read the entire Dove Foundation review here.