With Televised Golden Globes KO'ed, Suggestions How To Handle The Oscars?

34 Comments »

1. SAG and WGA should get together and host an Oscar party during the ceremony and invite all nominees (who would be able to bring more family and friends with them). Then they should watch the broadcast. As each award is announced, the winner can make a speech as though he/she were at the Kodak (and make it more than 45 seconds). Previous winners can “lend” their Oscars for the evening so they can at least feel one.

   Then they could get E-Channel or someone else to broadcast this live (without of course any direct transmission of the actual broadcast).

   Comment by seanflynn — January 4, 2008 @ 8:19 pm

2. No great loss if we lose the Globes and The Oskars… It’s been a crappy year for cinema anyway… What’s poor Ed Limato gonna do, get depressed the pawty’s over and go hang out with Britney Spears?

   Comment by WGAGUY — January 4, 2008 @ 8:42 pm

3. You can rest assured that AMPAS will put on an Oscar show regardless of the strike. I am not positive that the taboo of crossing a picket line will outweigh the pull of the Academy Awards for SAG members, at least the nominees.

   And what happens if AMPAS decides to suspend the writing awards categories — no nominations, no Oscars — until the strike is settled or the WGA gives the Oscar telecast a waiver… whichever comes first?

   Comment by Stuart Creque — January 4, 2008 @ 8:44 pm

4. I say everyone shows up in strike-tee shirts and jeans, agree to talk to the press about the strike, and then leave for that other party.

   Comment by Anonymous — January 4, 2008 @ 8:49 pm

5. That’s an easy one.

   Settle the strike before it airs.

   Comment by Prod.Guy.LA — January 4, 2008 @ 8:52 pm

6. Top 10 Ways to make the Oscars on ABC work during the strike.

   1. Postpone the Oscars until after the strike.

   2. Turn it into wall to wall musical numbers

   3. Do the Academy Awards on the internet and charge each viewer a million dollar fee.

   4. Pig Latin – have every one speak in tongues – the WGA doesn’t have jurisdiction for speaking in tongues. Mike Huckabee does.

   5. LOTS of T&A from lookalike stars. Ron that Celebrity Lookalikes agency guy could make a fortune.

   6. Use cardboard cut out of the stars that boycott and have stage hands carry the cardboard winners up to the stage to accept their Oscar, The Orchestra must be dynamic to pull this off.

   7. Pre-empt the Oscars for Dogfights in protest of Michael Vick not getting a ten year jail sentence.

   8. Run a contest and have the fans come to the Oscars dress in the latest designer gowns and jewelry.

   9. Call it Girls Gone Wild and run clips of Joe Francis raping underage girls on drugs.

   10. Public Executions from Hollywood Texas brought to you by Dove soap – because Doves makes an Executioner’s hands so soft and supple.

   Comment by Chris Jackson — January 4, 2008 @ 9:02 pm

7. Easy, get some Barbie and Ken dolls dress them up in gowns and tuxes.Make a little tiny oscar stage with little tiny oscars and SAG and WGA can recreate the oscar show and video it and put it up on Youtube. Like Todd Haynes “Superstar:The Karen Carpenter Story”. What? I’d watch it.

   Comment by Mla28 — January 4, 2008 @ 9:06 pm

8. I hope both sides…well now three sides (including SAG) realize that this night is bigger than the strike. It’s the most important night in Hollywood and they should just call a truce and celebrate all the work they’ve done.

   Comment by Panda — January 4, 2008 @ 9:07 pm

9. Salvage them? Forget it. They have to die. For the greater good.

   I’ll bet every person who ever won an Oscar for best screenplay would agree. It may be a lot to ask, but the truth is, they would all agree.

   We have do keep up the pressure on these corporations. Apparently, the bottom line is all they understand.

   And The Academy Awards is a big part of the bottom line. Studios have made many a film with no hope of recouping, knowing what prestige a Best Picture will confer, especially when broadcast around the world.

   No writers, no stars, no Oscars, no prestige, less money.

   THIS Big Media hears.

   Comment by anotherWGAwriter — January 4, 2008 @ 9:12 pm

10. Personally, I think that Dick Clark Productions should just cancel the Golden Globes unless the WGA and NBC come to an agreement by this coming Friday.

    Comment by Jessy S. — January 4, 2008 @ 9:25 pm

11. i say a team of improv actors re-enacts scenes from all the nominated movies to serve as the movie clips.

    Comment by joe — January 4, 2008 @ 10:14 pm

12. WGAGUY: “… crappy year for cinema anyway…”

    Are you crazy? If you’re a WGA writer then you’re getting your screeners. Did you not watch No Country For Old Men, or There Will Be Blood, or Diving Bell, or 310 to Yuma, or American Gangster, Kite Runner, or I could go on…

    This year was one of the best for movies.

    Comment by GoodYear4Movies — January 4, 2008 @ 10:15 pm

13. Take animation & reality off the table, resume talks and come to an agreement by mid-February.

    I like that strategy

    :-\

    Comment by 40yearoldstitzer — January 4, 2008 @ 10:29 pm

14. We animate the whole show.

    Comment by MD — January 4, 2008 @ 10:37 pm

15. I’m with some of the earlier respondents: Not a big loss if we just skip the Oscars this year. In fact, maybe we should do just that — it might send a message to film makers to improve their stock a wee bit!

    Comment by Vallejo Kango — January 4, 2008 @ 11:45 pm

16. This will only hurt writers when putting up scripts for projects. Now instead of Golden Globe winner or nominated writer which would garner more attention than dude who hung out in front of paramount studios for 2 months. Golden Globes are crap anyhow, the foreign press is a bullshit organization that never recognizes true talent. Its one step above the peoples choice which is even more bullshit because people are stupid sheep. Hell even the Oscars are more politically motivated than actual recognition of talent. All the award shows can go away for all I care.

    Comment by Steve — January 4, 2008 @ 11:52 pm

17. As important as the Oscar telecast is to the motion picture industry, let’s not forget that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was created as a union-busting tool by Louis B. Mayer and the other moguls. However far the Academy has come since 1927 — and their service to academia, archival preservation and diplomacy are unquestioned — it would certainly be a tasty irony for the ceremony to be boycotted by the very unions and guilds that AMPAS was formed to destroy.

    Comment by Nataloff — January 5, 2008 @ 12:47 am

18. I have stated on another site something similar to what ‘Joe’ the poster above has said… Bring in Ad-Libbers and Improve folk to run the show and have Larry David direct.

    We all enjoy the bombasticness of the Oscars. Golden Globes? Eh not so much except alot of bartenders will not be working that night.

    To the other poster who said this year was terrible… I guess he/she lives in a very dark place with no electricity.

    In a year that provided breakthroughs in storytelling, The 300, great animation from Pixar, Titans performing i.e. No Country’s cast, American Gangster’s cast, There Will Be Blood’s cast, small gems like Once and Juno that came outta nowhere heck even this summer provided a guilty pleasure with Live Free Die Hard. I could go on… what about the fun to be had with the very unique theatrical experience of Grindhouse?! And a bloody good time was had by all who saw Sweeny Todd.

    Even a cool western with great acting, 3:10 To Yuma.

    Nah this was a banner year… perhaps the all over best year in the new century.

    Comment by Atticusrex — January 5, 2008 @ 4:49 am

19. The WGA should have a big event with writers and actors, and webcast it live via WGA websites. The WGA becomes the “broadcaster”. That should put the AMPTP in their place, as well as show them how marginalized the internet can make them.

    Comment by steve — January 5, 2008 @ 8:00 am

20. Steve - great. Make it a new media extravaganza - incentive for new media to show their stuff. Have Google webcast it, also. And Apple/iTunes, for Apple computers, iPods, iPhones & Apple TV? Microsoft, et al could carry PC & PC-related media.

    And then WGA advertises the hell out of the webcast, giving the writers their proper percentage. Afterwards, send a memo to AMPTP on profits made, in order to clarify matters for this “new” technology that ostensibly has them so befuddled.

    Comment by wtf — January 5, 2008 @ 9:12 am

21. Laugh in glee as the Best Screenplay winner sprints from the picket line, accepts his award, and goes fi-core, selling his next script right there at the podium.

    Comment by tenpercenter — January 5, 2008 @ 9:18 am

22. There has to be an Oscar’s! It’s hollywood’s most biggest night! How else will “Juno” win best original screenplay? It’s so irrevant and original! I wanted to see Diablo Cody make a really unfunny and ironic speech!

    Seriously, there should be no oscars but you know Verrone Baloney will broker one of his “patended” side deals that allows ABC to air their ratings bonanza.

    Comment by Paul Mall — January 5, 2008 @ 9:20 am

23. Hey Steve at 11:52 PM:

    People are stupid huh? Like the people who have been in the WGA corner since Nov 5? Nice words.

    I’ll agree that the People’s Choice Awards are stupid but please don’t lump all of us “people” in that category. After all, we don’t lump all you entertainment “people” in the same corner as the AMPTP.

    I say get rid of the People’s Choice Awards, ban the GG to the net and hold the Academy Awards after the strike. We “people” have been told for a long time that the Oscars are awarded for excellence. I agree with that. Wait till the strike is over so every one can go. You all deserve to be nominated and for this great award and you all deserve to go. Even you Steve.

    Comment by Anonymous — January 5, 2008 @ 9:52 am

24. No big loss concering “The Globes”. I haven’t been excited by it since the one/two punch of “Schindler’s” and “Pulp” in 93′ and 94′. After that it started becoming too safe and predictable for me. Even the lifetime achievement presentations are lame. I was looking forward to this year’s presentation with Spielberg.

    As for The Oscars(TM) well from what I understand clips of movies and past Oscar shows cannot be shown without WGA approval. The best thing I love about the Oscars are those moments when a nominated performer’s clip is playing and the place is dead quiet. I also love that little split second right before a winner is announced. We are going to see more absentees this year than any other broadcast. With no montages, no clips, no Bruce Vilanch banter the whole ceremony could be overwith in just over an hour. For everyone who complains about how long each year is this could be just what they’re hoping for.

    Should it go ahead? Maybe in a form much like the other award ceremonies, like the critic’s choice awards.

    I do know last year’s Independent Spirit Awards was a lot more fun than the Oscar telecast.

    Comment by Anonymous — January 5, 2008 @ 9:55 am

25. I think WGA should give SAG members permission to go. I know they don’t need it to attend, but people like Javier Bardem should not feel like scabs for enjoying attaining a life long dream. I think the writers would be selfish to expect everyone to give up enjoying that night. Having the oscars is not going to hurt anyone’s cause.

    Comment by Jordan — January 5, 2008 @ 10:04 am

26. I’ll bet that the WGA will make a deal with the AMPTP before the telecast. The Golden Globes will be enough of a strike against the producers - boycotting the Oscars may be overkill. In turn, attendees could make the WGA strike the talk of the red carpet as well as recipient speeches.

    Comment by David Markland — January 5, 2008 @ 11:12 am

27. The WGA and SAG are both open for legal prosecution with regards to discrimination. WGA won’t grant a waiver for the Globes but it will allow guild members Leno, and O’Brian to continue to appear on their respective shows? SAG says it’s members will boycott the Globes. However, SAG members are free to appear on the above mentioned WGA member shows. In addition SAG members will cheerfully attend the SAG awards. These guilds like to pick and choose which productions, and what members will be allowed to participate in, that is to discriminate between one or the other.

    Comment by AnonFrab — January 5, 2008 @ 11:51 am

28. Here’s one:

    Make a fair deal with the writers and the Oscars will go on as planned.

    File under DUH.

    Comment by Klaatu — January 5, 2008 @ 11:58 am

29. Scrap the actual televised show (it’s a bore anyway) and just announce the award winners on a special digitally animated Academy Awards Night website.

    Every 5 minutes or so, give the result of another award, building up to the big awards at the end of the evening.

    The hosts should be virtual versions of Douglas Fairbanks and Willam C. DeMille, and with any luck the suits can put this all together at 1929 rates!

    Comment by Vinnie Vegas — January 5, 2008 @ 12:29 pm

30. “The WGA and SAG are both open for legal prosecution with regards to discrimination.”

    Um…yeah. In the sense that if you marry one person, someone else can sue you for discrimination because you didn’t marry him or her.

    “These guilds like to pick and choose which productions”

    Yep, the WGA has no legal mandate to make any deal with any independent production company. They can choose who they want to deal with and who they don’t, according to which deal is beneficial and which isn’t. They can choose not to make any separate deals at all. They don’t have to agree to allow everyone who asks whatever they want.

    If there is one benefit to the WGA in granting a waiver for a one night promotional event for struck comanies, what would that be?

    Comment by Seriously — January 5, 2008 @ 1:55 pm

31. I don’t understand why the Academy doesn’t do what it did in 1928 and throughout the 1930s - hold a banquet and simply give out the awards. No musical numbers, no funny patter. The show will be 90 minutes and the ratings would be huge.

    Comment by Jerry Beck — January 5, 2008 @ 2:53 pm

32. The WGA and the AMPTP should put aside their differences and broker a peace for Oscar eve - kind of like those American and German soldiers did for Christmas in WW2.

    Many people have used the bully pulpit of the Oscars to advocate for personal and political reasons, how great would it be to have winners advocating for the Strike to end?

    Added Bonus: This being the Oscars (and not the Emmys) it would flush out the big stars who have been laying low during the strike - standing at the podium, having thanked God and their agents, they would look like turds if they did not side with the writers.

    Bring it on.

    Comment by seoulbrother — January 5, 2008 @ 4:10 pm

33. Ummm… it’s not like writers are all a bunch of mouthbreathing hermunculi. Why not use the publicity and the audience for the Golden Globes and the Oscars to our advantage?

    Let BOTH shows go on, with one minor change:

    Instead of two tv and movie stars on the podium as presenters, make it ONE STAR and ONE WRITER each. Send Greg Daniels onstage with Steve Carell to present for best actress in a comedy series. Send Paul Haggis up with Clint Eastwood to present for best foreign film.

    This is the WGA’s strike — we have an opportunity to negotiate and compromise, to show the public we can meet in the middle in a way the producers have not. They can have their awards ceremonies, and we can use the shows to drive home the point that behind every actor is a writer who creates entire movies by starting with a blank computer screen and an idea.

    Why not use the Golden Globes and the Oscars to put a face to the writers on strike, to the largest audience possible? (And in a tux or ball gown, no less, instead of red strike T-shirt.)

    Just thoughts.

    Comment by Scott Lobdell — January 5, 2008 @ 8:03 pm

34. No one has mentioned the conflict of interest that SAG represents when Alan Rosenberg makes a statement that he does not want members of SAG attending the Globes.

    The conflict of interest is that if Rosenberg knocks-out the Globes, then the SAG Awards which take place the following week will have a bigger viewership, will take the place of the Globes, and will grow in stature as all of the SAG Members will be turning out for that show as Rosenberg has obtained a waiver with the WGA. And The SAG Awards will be broadcast live on Cable TV- so the better the SAG Awards do, the more money SAG will receive for commercials, for future licensing fees, etc. BIG CONFLICT OF INTEREST ROSENBERG- He’ll do anything to K.O. the Globes due to the fact that his own show follows just one week later.

    Comment by Don't wish to say my name — January 5, 2008 @ 11:17 pm

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