When was the last time that cinephiles would pull all the stops to have an Oscar or Golden Globes viewing party evocative of Hollywood grandiose productions and celebrating their favorite movies or shows being nominated?
Quite frankly, an entire decade has passed. There are many reasons for the dying down tradition of adoring movie lovers gathering for one or two glamorous nights of celebrating others’ accomplishments.
Recognizing the cultural impact that a a film or show held used to be a prestigious occasion worthy of fanfare and build-up from when the nominations were announced to the award event itself. Presenters, comedians, and others felt honored to be shortlisted to host the event. It was one, two, or three exciting, dazzling occasions per award season to walk the red carpets leading to the Dolby Theatre or the Beverly Hilton, having the eyes of the world watching the victorious artist emerge from the festive night.
The world was watching the Academy of Motion Pictures of Arts and Sciences bestow the recipients of the Oscars with a golden key to an exclusive club of winners among the very best in each category according to the judging criteria.
For ninety-six years, The Oscars ceremony has been broadcast globally and translated into hundreds of languages; for eighty years, The Golden Globes (a gala ceremony where the Hollywood Foreign Correspondent Association gathers to endow the very best, this time in motion pictures and television) have been foreshadowing what was yet to come weeks after at The Oscars ceremony.
Who in Tinseltown was disputing the right to welcome the award winners at their after-parties?
Enter the marketing-public relations machine. In times of streaming and mass production, lower standards of the industry, adding a never-ending list of prizes and accolades for the movie and shows which water down audiences’ excitement and expectation and downgrade the implicit merit of receiving one of a kind award versus one of two many awards.
The list continues, like the never-ending credits of a long-action franchise film. Some examples are the Gotham Awards (which should be reserved only for the cast and crew of Batman films), American Cinema Editors, Saturn Awards (which should be saved for intergalactic performers only), Emmy Awards, Annie Awards, Art Directors Guild Awards, Spirit Awards, Dorian Awards, BAFTA’s, and more.
Wondering about quality versus quantity and the apathetic response from the general public, we are raising whether the award season is overstaying its welcome.
It has been the case for a while now, and to spark the flames of eagerness and anticipation, we need to go back to basics and keep only the keystone awards that are synonymous with excellence in film and TV.