The Truth Behind The Golden Globes
Critics See January Awards Show As A Sham
The Golden Globe awards have been around since 1944, but it wasn’t until past 5 or 6 years that they become popular with the public.
The reason? Critics say it’s not because the Globes are a predictor of the Oscars, but rather because because NBC started broadcasting the show in 1996. This year, the Globes got caught in crossfire of the writers strike. WGA members had threatened to picket and members of the Screen Actors Guild promised not to cross the line. So, the awards dinner is off. The Globe winners will be announced at a press conference on Sunday night, Jan. 13.
Hollywood Foreign Press Association
The Golden Globes are given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The awards ceremony is its number one fund-raiser.
The association is made up of about 90 journalists from other countries who cover the Hollywood entertainment industry. According to the HFPA’s web site, the group accepts membership applications every February and March. An applicant must live in Southern California, be registered with the Motion Picture Association of America and report on entertainment for a publication outside the United States. The cost to apply is a non-refundable $500.
Different From Oscar
The Golden Globes differ from the Oscars in several ways. First, they include television categories, so they are a bit of a combination of the Academy Awards and the Emmys. They also divide the best picture, best actor and best actress awards into drama and musical/comedy.
Critics say the Golden Globes are a marketing tool for the studios and production companies and HFPA members are easily lobbied. James Rocchi, a film critic for KPIX-TV in San Francisco, says many of the association members don’t regularly review movies. He says most of them attend the same screenings together and a lot of those gatherings are attended by actors, actresses and studio executives.
Chummier Than Oscar
“The Golden Globes are a lot chummier than the Oscars,” Rocchi says.
He says studios don’t blow the whistle on the Golden Globes because they like any awards their movies can garner. As long as the public recognizes the award, a studio can put it on their theater poster or newspaper advertisement. Since the HFPA is such a small group, they are easy to influence. He points to this year’s seven nominees in the best drama picture category.
Rocchi says the Golden Globes aren’t necessarily an accurate precursor to the Academy Awards. Remember Jim Carrey as best actor? He says the Broadcast Film Critics of America’s Critics Choice Awards (Jan. 7) and the Screen Actors Guild Awards (Jan. 27) are much better indicators. If all else fails, you can watch the Oscars on Feb. 24. Their nominations are announced on Jan. 22.
