FILM

Golden Globes: Hollywood’s most generous award

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In 1968, Federal Communications Commission of the United States accused Hollywood Foreign Press Association of choosing winners of the Golden Globes awards based on attendance. If the chosen star didn't show, they would pick someone who did. FCC said HFPA "misled the public as to how the winners were determined." After the controversy the NBC TV network stopped airing the awards nite. NBC resumed broadcasting the show in 1975

after HFPA revised its voting procedures. But the film critics still consider the Golden Globes event as a joke. But the winners never forget to thank the HFPA for the awards.

The awards were instituted during World War II. Hollywood supported the United States during this global conflict and the actors toured the country and acted in advertisements to support the country in the war. In the process, the actors became celebrities. While the local journalists covered the news of celebrities, the foreign journalists in southern California were not getting as much access to film stars and directors. In 1943, for formalising their relationship with studios and film stars, foreign journalists formed Hollywood Foreign Press Association. HFPA created the Golden Globes in 1943, and the first award was given in 1944.

Around 90 HFPA members decide on which movie wins, unlike the Academy awards, where more than 6,000 members vote. HFPA has often been accused of letting fame and favours determine its award winners. The allegations surfaced again in 2011, when The Tourist was nominated for the best picture in comedy or musical along with nominations for best actor and actress even though the movie had received mostly negative reviews. It was said that the film got nominations thanks to Columbia Studio's junkets for HFPA members.

This year, unlike the last, HFPA could easily hand-pick the films suited to the award categories. Moonlight won the best picture in the drama category. La La Land took seven awards, including the best picture in musical or comedy. Both movies will be major contenders in the upcoming Academy Awards.

Last year, in the 73rd Golden Globe awards, the drama category award was won by The Revenant and the musical or comedy award was won by The Martian, which was actually a science fiction. At that time The Revenant and The Martian were considered to be frontrunners for the Oscar. HFPA distributed its awards evenly between The Revenant and The Martian. But in the Oscar, the less known Spotlight won the award for the best picture and the best original screenplay. Apparently, Spotlight was not a good pick for the Golden Globes voters, and failed to win a single award. 

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