CPB’s big America at a Crossroads initiative funded 20 independently produced documentaries on aspects of the post-9/11 world, at a cost not wildly above the predicted $20 million. [This list tracks the 21 grants to producers and the resulting 20 broadcasts. See also Current‘s related 2009 article and timeline.]
The funding
Costs of the project’s major phases:
$2,520,724 — for R&D on proposals from 36 producing teams, the first cut in the grantmaking process,
+ 12, 629,507 — for production of the final 20 selected projects, and
+ 5,644,158 — for WETA’s work as “Crossroads entry station” including packaging and promotion of the series and outreach efforts.
= $20,794,389 — total cost
Here’s a boxscore counting the productions.
|
Number of documentaries for which CPB announced funding in 2006 for its America at a Crossroads project
|
20
|
|
Additional commissioned in 2006
(The Muslim Americans) |
+1
|
|
Total productions announced for funding
|
21
|
|
MINUS Not completed (Invasion)
|
-1
|
|
Total completed and broadcast
|
20
|
|
Total distributed to public TV by PBS
|
19
|
|
Distributed by Oregon Public Broadcasting/NETA, Fox News Channel and other outlets
|
1
|
|
Total distributed
|
20
|
The films
The first 11 Crossroads films premiered on PBS in April 2007 as a packaged series:
April 15, 2007
Jihad: The Men and Ideas Behind Al Qaeda, originally Holy War
April 16
Warriors and Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience
April 17
Gangs of Iraq and The Case for War: In Defense of Freedom
April 18
Europe’s 9/11, originally Spain’s 9/11, and The Muslim Americans
April 19
Faith Without Fear, originally The Trouble with Islam, and
Struggle for the Soul of Islam: Inside Indonesia
April 20
Security versus Liberty: The Other War and The Brotherhood, originally The Terror Dilemma
Nine more docs aired later on PBS, listed by broadcast date:
June 11, 2007
Kansas to Kandahar: Citizen Soldiers at War, originally Citizen Soldiers
Aug. 27, 2007
The Anti-Americans (a hate/love relationship), originally The Transatlantic Paradox
Sept. 3, 2007
Inside America’s Empire, originally Inside the American Empire with Robert Kaplan
Nov. 26, 2007
Campus Battleground and Homegrown: Islam in Prison, subtitle added to title
May 11, 2008
Stand Up: Muslim American Comics Come of Age
Oct. 12, 2008
The Trial of Saddam Hussein
Nov. 2, 2008
Dissonance and Harmony: Arabic Music Goes West, originally Arab Music: Dissonance and Harmony
June 15, 2009
The Mosque in Morgantown
Aired without PBS distribution:
Spring and fall 2007
Islam vs. Islamists: Voices from the Muslim Center
Distributed to public TV stations by Oregon Public Broadcasting, through National Educational Telecommunications Association, and cablecast Oct. 20 by Fox News Channel. See story.
Not completed or broadcast:
Invasion!
Brian Berger of Docere Palace Studios told Current the company was unable to raise matching funds needed to make the film, so the grant was not used.
RELATED LINK
CPB documents about Crossroads project.