I personally know a McArthur ‘genius’ grant recipient - got the big check which purportedly was to to be used in the furtherance of his scientific research - he decide his ‘scientific research’ would be best advanced by buying himself an estate in the Bahamas....
The foundation turned hard left a long time ago. Go back ten years and you find:
MacArthur Awards Documentary Film Grants
September 28, 2011
MacArthur has supported independently produced film and video for 30 years, today announced eight grants — totaling $1.23 million — for documentary film projects.
“Documentaries supported by MacArthur use compelling stories and characters to illuminate serious issues in approachable, creative, and engaging ways.”
• The Arizona Project, a documentary film exploring the immigration debate sparked in 2010 by Arizona’s controversial immigration law, by Carlos Sandoval and Catherine Tambini. Camino Bluff Productions ($200,000).
• Easy Like Water, a documentary film about an innovative approach to education and climate change in Bangladesh, by Glenn Baker. Potomac Media Works ($160,000).
• Electoral Dysfunction, a documentary film examining the system of voting and voting rights in the U.S., by Bennett Singer, Leslie D. Farrell, and David Deschamps. Center for Independent Documentary, Inc. ($175,000).
• I Learn America, a documentary film about immigrant integration from the perspective and experience of five immigrant high school students and their teachers, by Jean-Michel Dissard and Gitte Peng. I Learn America LLC ($125,000).
• Oil & Water, a documentary film exploring the contamination of Ecuador’s Amazon region and efforts to protect the area and its people, by Francine Strickwerda and Laurel Spellman Smith. Stir It Up Productions LLC ($80,000).
• Seeking Refuge, a documentary film about torture survivors and the professionals who help them heal and start new lives, by Tina DiFeliciantonio and Jane Wagner. Naked Eye Productions ($140,000).
• The Supreme Price, a documentary film about the pro-democracy movement in Nigeria and efforts to increase the participation of women in leadership roles, by Joanna Lipper. Vertumnus Productions, Inc. ($200,000).
• Untitled Egyptian Project, a documentary film about a young Egyptian journalist and her experiences as change takes place in Egypt in early 2011, by Mai Iskander. Iskander Films, Inc. ($150,000).
The Foundation funded five film and radio documentary projects earlier in the year, bringing MacArthur’s total commitment to independently-produced film and radio projects for 2011 to more than $2 million.