Firstly, thanks to all proposers for the range and diversity of proposals. 

We, the judges, easily arrived at consensus about the top proposal, but felt that we were judging apples and oranges to arrive at second and third place awards. We decided to look at big budget and small budget as separate categories. That decided, and bloodshed averted, we narrowed the proposals down to four that we felt we wanted to support with awards, and of course, the Members Choice Award. Thus here are the awards for the first Citizens Alternative Media Proposal Contest:

Best Proposal:

 SALTWATER BLOOD, proposer Moira Griffin.

This proposal has the unanimous support  of the judges for Best Proposal.

We felt it was  concisely written and interwove several important issues. The story is of families of working Louisiana Oystermen, the descendants of freed slaves, whose strength of community has been forged by the adversities they have endured, but who now face the ultimate challenge of the ongoing gulf oil-spill horror. The judges are further motivated by the fact that these filmmakers are out there working now.

We at CAM are pleased to award this proposal $500.

Big Budget Proposal Award Recipients: 

 ABUNDANCE FROM THE DESERT,  proposers Lawrence Gingold and Tchavdar Georgiev

  Most of us in the US  know nothing of the history and culture of Islam.  The authors of this proposal intend to expand our appreciation of  "some of the most exquisite and sensitive poetry from the early Islamic period ". The writing in their proposal is, in itself, nearly poetic.

MR SOUL!  ELLIS HAIZLIP AND THE BIRTH OF BLACK POWER TV, proposer Melissa Haizlip.

This is perhaps the best written proposal of the 12 offered. The fine writing and the trailer conveyed Melissa's passion and professionalism. To quote Russ:  " This woman is gonna get it done! "

Both proposals receive $100

Small Budget Proposal Award Recipients:

THE SEAHORSE,  proposer Katie Madonna Lee.

We were most interested in this aspect of Ms Lee's proposal:  "This film examines the link between homophobia and misogyny through the backdrop of one of the few thriving gay bars in Indiana."

THE RESETTLING OF AMERICA, proposers Tamer Hassan and Armand Tufenkian.

We want to support student filmmakers whose projects are focused and not overly ambitious or egotistical. Also, we really like their concept of "movements of unmanaged dissent" and hope to support such movements with CAM.

Both proposals receive $100

The Members have spoken.  The recipient of the CAM Members Choice Award is:

  THE SIMONTON DOCUMENTARY, proposer Elizabeth Simonton.

We have had a lot of attention paid to the issue of health care in recent months but almost none to the tendency of western medicine to ignore the mixture of physical, emotional, mental and even spiritual factors involved in illness. This proposal wants to explore what one enlightened physician experienced and placed in practice for the benefit of all those who are suffering from an illness.

This proposal receives $100.

In conclusion we at CAM will be wanting to keep tabs on the progress of all our award winners, so keep us updated proposers! 

Members don't forget that you can continue to show support for these and other proposers by buying a few dollar-votes and contributing to CAM's Development Grants for the doc  idea of your choice. 

Media for the people, by the people.

The Judges:

 Coburn Scheldt

Heather Addison

Russ Levine