Golden Globes Cancelled

[indy4 152]

Eh, at least there wasn't anything stupendous this year.

The Golden Globe Awards have become a victim of the writers' strike.

Organizers said Monday they’ve officially abandoned the televised formal ceremony this Sunday and will replace it with a press conference announcement of the winners.

"We are all very disappointed that our traditional awards ceremony will not take place this year and that millions of viewers worldwide will be deprived of seeing many of their favorite stars celebrating 2007's outstanding achievements in motion pictures and television," Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Jorge Camara said. "We take some comfort, however, in knowing that this year's Golden Globe Award recipients will be announced on the date originally scheduled."

The drastic move is in response to the Screen Actors Guild pledge that its members would not cross picket lines by the Writers Guild of America, effectively leaving the show without any stars.

Instead of the lavish ceremony, the HFPA, which sponsors the awards, will now announce the winners at an hour-long press conference broadcast on NBC.

"The 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards NBC telecast and champagne dinner in the Beverly Hilton's International Ballroom is officially canceled," the HFPA said in a statement.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20169794,00.html

[scissorhands 16]

One hour-long press conference, that's... so... funny...

[King Mark 2,924]

I think so called "support" for the writers is going to dwindle pretty fast,at least among the general population

[indy4 152]

Maybe by the actors, but I think the strike will prevail. Anything that can stop the Golden Globes has a major affect, and I don't know how much longer the producers can last. All I can say is I'm glad Indy 4 has already been shot.

I'm for the writers, we wouldn't have anything if it wasn't for them.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,064]

Unlikely. As long as their marketing is smart and ensures people know they are fighting CORPORATIONS...a distasteful word to Americans since 2002. Since then unions are no longer as badly looked up as they used to be.

[John Crichton 4]

Golden Globes cancelled? I'm surprised anyone noticed.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

Let's just hope the same doesn't happen for the Oscars.

[John Crichton 4]

Eh, I don't think that would bother me either.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

Golden what?

[indy4 152]

There is a certain amount of joy to watching the GG and Oscars, though, no matter what the movies were that year. All the festivities, plus there's all those clips that they put together honoring old movies, and you never know, sometimes an old score is honored. The actual awards are just half of the process, a less important half, IMO.

[Ollie 859]

Yeah I wouldn't care if they cancelled the Oscars.

I'd hate a repeat of the last time they held the Oscars during a writer's strike. It proved that some celebs shouldn't speak in public unless they have a script in front of them.

[indy4 152]

The best introduction ever (I don't remember what awards ceremony it was at) was when Ellen Degenerous said: "The following person needs no introduction," and walked off the stage.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

I'm glad the guilds are sticking together...solidarity is the only way they'll be able to finally procure a fair deal, and they've been amazingly steadfast these past couple months. Go writers!

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

What's this strike about anyway? Writers complaining that typewriters haven't been replaced by computers in some places or something?

[Trent B 317]

No I think it's because of money. They're not getting paid because of the TV episodes and such that are appearing online for download.

[King Mark 2,924]

No I think it's because of money. They're not getting paid because of the TV episodes and such that are appearing online for download.

Sounds like a similar situation that led musicians to have re-use fees resulting in us never going to get some score released on c.d .In the end the studios will give them what they want,and the public will get shafted in some way.

[GoodMusician 53]

it's a "victim" of the strike lol...

How about being a victim of the large corporations that caused the strike... but no one would want to read that.

I'm not big on guilds or such forcing the hands of others and such... but they have a point to their protest and it's a problem that needs to be adressed now as the situation begins to grow.

As far as comparing it to why we don't get complete releases and funneling that anger from that into this, I think is a bit extreme. We don't get them because they don't make money. It simple economics. We live in a Capitalistic society... although grosely deformed by government intrusion and focus group information and over-powerful guilds and unions, this is hardly a speck.

It's an award show... ooOOooo Remind me not to watch what I wasn't going to watch anyways lol

[Trent B 317]

No I think it's because of money. They're not getting paid because of the TV episodes and such that are appearing online for download.

In the end the studios will give them what they want,and the public will get shafted in some way.

That is only too true.

[GoodMusician 53]

Would you prefer that artists don't get paid their share?

Would you prefer that the companies own complete rights over other peoples artforms and give absolutely no control over it or its distribution to the artists?

Would you prefer that companies squander their money by making frivolous attempts at pleasing you and me and go bankrupt, loosing both the ability to maintain the materials in a protected environment or to produce more?

I think you're all taking this one event a BIT too far... It's one award show and something tells me the companies will be more willing to negotiate after it... And if not, it's not like anyone life is on the line.

It's not like it'll revolutionize the world, save millions, feed thousands, or do anything really except ensure that artists have some creative control and profit from their art forms. You're all over-reacting just a bit.

[King Mark 2,924]

As far as comparing it to why we don't get complete releases and funneling that anger from that into this, I think is a bit extreme. We don't get them because they don't make money. It simple economics. We live in a Capitalistic society... although grosely deformed by government intrusion and focus group information and over-powerful guilds and unions, this is hardly a speck.

They do make money ,since Intrada ,FSM and Varese keep releasing them when it's possible.Because the musicians got that re-use fee thing in one of their contracts,then the studios responded by not releasing music ,so in the end it cancels out,musicians get no money because the music isn't re-released and we get shafted.

so expect some "niche market" videos ot TV shows not get released because the new writers fees will make not worth it for studios

[GoodMusician 53]

It's like any art form. You get your picture taken as a model, whenever its used, you get paid. This is no different and perhaps it does make releasing things that more difficult, but maybe the companies will find a way to compromise with the digital realm.

Maybe if people started to mobilize and inform the companies that they can now start releasing COMPLETE scores all at once online for download. Granted, quality will be less but it's just another fight like anything you want in life or that's worth getting.

But no... all that communities like this one do are sit around, complain, and underutilize the talents and power they have.

I for one an ALL for using the powers we have to make companies see things they don't. If you let people download complete scores online, people who don't want the complete one can download the "Album Version" or the "Complete" one at their choice.

They have already started it with some composers... it's just older ones that will have trouble getting but maybe they'll be more willing as they see more people are willing to pay for what is available.

[King Mark 2,924]

Now it's just the writers....

Why not everyone in the End Credits of a film get money every time a film is downloaded while were at it,like the sound effect guys,the special effect creators...

[Unlucky Bastard 7,765]

The caterers.

[Hitch 55]

The caterers.

Don't forget my blonde latte carriers.

[GoodMusician 53]

So where should the line be drawn. Where do you think it should stop?

I'm not trying to say its 100% right or wrong... just... think that you guys take it a bit to the extreme...

[publicist 4,484]

One has to say that the benefit of the creators of a work of popular art (and i say that in the broadest sense possible, as we talking Hollywood films) is certainly more important in the grand scheme than soundtrack collectors not getting COMPLETE! releases or similar things.

I mean, if the general consensus were that they're withholding those releases because of the too-big artists' share, people would sending letter bombs to John Williams himself instead.

I just don't see why some Eisner or Katzenberg or whatever weasely manager earns big-time for negotiating deals or mediocre actors with marketing value are so much more important than creative people like the writers.

[tpigeon 3]

This is quickly becoming a major problem. It's not about the Awards shows, but about something much larger. The entire economy of entertainment is taking a huge hit, and producers seem too willing to let that happen because they have enough backended material to last longer than writers, who they expect will break first. The problem is that the writers are not giving in, and the rift is just getting bigger. If this runs into the end of the directors' contracts, we may be in for some real problems. It will no doubt be worked out, when things reach a breaking point, but right now things are in bad shape, and I admire than spirit of the writers who refuse to back down. I'm in complete support of them.

Ted

[gkgyver 1,638]

That's a shame.

[Romão 1,931]

I'm not really very informed about this whole issue, but isn't this strike extremely damaging to all those other employees in the film industry who may lose their jobs because so many projects are not going ahead.

[Mr. Breathmask 480]

Yes. Yes it is.

[Ollie 859]

The only positive out of this is that crappy movies are not being made, unfortunately crappy TV shows are being thrown into production.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

You know you can't resist American Gladiators

[Kendal_Ozzel 32]

I'm hoping they'll just delay the Oscars and hold them whenever the strike's over.

[Red 73]

I'm disappointed I guess, but it's not that big of a loss. Maybe it can serve as an initiative to end the strike.

[Richard Penna 2,082]

Meh.

....

I'm afraid that all I see in awards shows now is a bunch of catastrophically overpaid actors reading a shopping list off a teleprompter for the sort of money that would feed a family for a week. Capitalism sickens me sometimes.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Bunch of Communist scum!

[nightscape94 965]

I don't even watch the GGs. I watched them a couple years ago when Johnny won, but other than that, I generally check out the winners list the next day or later on that night.

I would be upset if they cancelled the Oscars, but they gotta do what they gotta do. It's grand excessiveness at its finest, but I love me some Academy Awards.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

I'm afraid that all I see in awards shows now is a bunch of catastrophically overpaid actors reading a shopping list off a teleprompter for the sort of money that would feed a family for a week.

Isn't that always the case?

[BLUMENKOHL 1,064]

catastrophically overpaid actors reading a shopping list off a teleprompter for the sort of money that would feed a family for a week.

Sorry but this ignorant nonsense sickens me. I don't normally jump at the chance to defend actors...but

There is this horribly mistaken impression that someone wakes up and goes "well I want to be a high-paid actor today..." and poof it's done. Yes there are those who really are just handed money, but they are the exceptions, not the rule. 90% of those high paid actors and actresses sacrificed many years of their lives to get where they are.

IMHO Athletes and actors are some of the biggest victims of the arrogance and ignorance of the lay-man. Chewing on his overpriced pop-corn, watching his overpriced movie, in his comfortable stadium seated theater, feeding the machine he critcizes.

You want to save a starving child? Stop blaming stars, and take that $12.50 ticket fee you would put in the actors pocket into the International Red Cross. It'd feed someone out there for a week.

That's the BEAUTY of capitalism, richuk, YOU can make a difference, if you take responsiblity and stop playing the blame game.

[gkgyver 1,638]

I'm afraid you're forgetting politics.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,064]

Board rules forbid me to remember them.

[King Mark 2,924]

why are the people's choice awards still on?

oh wait,it's just queen latifa standing there doing the show by herself and taped acceptance speeches...doesn't seem to even be an audience.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Weren't these writers paid when their scripts were bought?

Why do they want to get payed a second time, and a third?

[tpigeon 3]

Greedy bastards!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

No really, when i go to the dentist to get a filling, i pay the dentist for putting it in, but i am not paying him everytime i have a meal and use the filling!

[tpigeon 3]

If that is a serious concern, all I can say is that your analogy is completely irrelevant because the two scenarios are completely different. It's like trying to explain global warming by making the analogy that if you put more people in a room, it's going to get hotter. It's a cute analogy, but it undermines the amazing amount of factors involved.

Ted

[Richard Penna 2,082]

Fair enough Blumenkohl - I'm just in the period of my life when I think everything's unfair. I appreciate that just a bit of fame and money does things to people, and maybe it's just those 'I'm Johnny Depp, aren't I great' attitudes that I'm sick of.

But (and maybe this is a glass-half-empty attitude) I don't honestly believe that one person can make a difference - we're in a money oriented, 'serve self before others' society and that's something difficult to change.

I am hoping that this prolonged strike will show the studios 2 things: someone is willing to stand up for themselves, and that they do actually need writers in order to make stuff.

I read that the WGA wants 8c instead of 4c per DVD sold. What's the studios' argument against that?

Edit - just read the argument above. I don't know how royalties work with other departments, but it seems that writing is a pretty major activity,. up there with directing and scoring, and both of them get royalties.

[King Mark 2,924]

Yeah but the next thing you know the sound guys and makeup artists will go on strike demanding royalties.Maybe that's what the studios are fearing

[gkgyver 1,638]

Why do they want to get payed a second time, and a third?

Why do orchestra players?

I think everyone involved should just get a percentage of the box office numbers and call it done.

But (and maybe this is a glass-half-empty attitude) I don't honestly believe that one person can make a difference - we're in a money oriented, 'serve self before others' society and that's something difficult to change.

The latter part at least is true, but living in a selfish world doesn't mean one can't make a difference. You can make a difference concerning your own person, and through that, you can make a difference for others.

[tpigeon 3]

But (and maybe this is a glass-half-empty attitude) I don't honestly believe that one person can make a difference - we're in a money oriented, 'serve self before others' society and that's something difficult to change.

The latter part at least is true, but living in a selfish world doesn't mean one can't make a difference. You can make a difference concerning your own person, and through that, you can make a difference for others.

Well-said. Individuals do make a difference. We are the ones who enact these larger cultural and social institutions and practices. I'm not saying there's blood on our hands, or anything like that, but that we have the ability to stand up and work for change. We can't just throw our hands up in their air. It's a grueling battle, one that manifests in everything from the food we eat to the clothes we buy, but we all contribute to the greater society, and we can influence it.

Ted