Rogers State University Public Television’s award-winning documentary, “Will Rogers and American Politics,” has won the 2012 CINE Special Jury Award in the professional telecast non-fiction “People and Places” category.
In order to receive the 2012 Special CINE Special Jury Award, RSU Public Television’s entry was chosen over entries from ABC News 20/20, CBS Sports Network, NBC’s “The Today Show,” CNN, HBO, PBS, MSNBC, Smithsonian Networks, History Channel, Discovery Military, MTV and others.
The documentary now will move on to compete alongside entries produced for the BBC, Animal Planet, Smithsonian Networks and PBS for the organization’s top award, the CINE Masters Series Award. The winner will be announced during a ceremony held at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C next month.
CINE, a non-profit organization, has been dedicated for more than 50 years to recognizing the work of outstanding filmmakers, videographers, producers, directors and other craftspeople in the film, television and new media industry.
“Will Rogers and American Politics” is an in-depth look at how a rope-twirling, plain-talking Cherokee cowboy became one of the most powerful political voices in America. The production highlights Rogers’ influence and political power as revealed through the eyes and words of great Americans such as Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Mickey Rooney, former Cherokee Chief Chad Smith, comedian Lewis Black and many others.
Hours of rare archival film footage, 15,000 photos and 18,000 documents were carefully analyzed and screened with the most appropriate and poignant being incorporated into the production.
Tim Yoder served as producer and videographer for the documentary, Dan Schiedel, general manager of RSU Public Television, was executive producer, Geoffrey O’Gara, writer, Jessica Blythe Ammons, associate producer and Bryan Crain, music and graphics. Bill Kurtis, award-winning producer and journalist, narrated the documentary.
In addition to the CINE Special Jury Award, “Will Rogers and American Politics” has received a Heartland Emmy, a CINE Golden Eagle Award, two Silver Telly Awards, one Bronze Telly Award, a Gabriel Certificate of Merit and a New York Festivals International Television & Film Awards finalist certificate.
For more information or the full list of CINE Special Jury Award winners, please visit www.cine.org.