The Golden Globes Make Some Rule Changes for Next Years Show
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) has set a date for next years 74th annual Golden Globe Awards and also announced some key rule changes regarding movie eligibility.
SO WHAT'S A COMEDY AND WHAT'S NOT?
The biggest rule change came in the form of clearing up the guidelines for distinguishing between comedy and drama after the embarrassment of The Martian being considered a comedy during last years race. Regarding this new rule change he HFPA said: "Motion pictures shall be entered in the category that best matches the overall tone and content of the motion Thus, for example, dramas with comedic overtones should be entered as dramas." As for musicals, they are defined as "a comedy or a drama in which songs are used in addition to spoken dialogue to further the plot."
The Martian was voted into the Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy category by a single vote, leading to the controversial decision being the butt of many jokes over award season, even more so, when Matt Damon won Best Actor, Comedy or Musical. This rule change is merely an attempt by the HFPA to dampen the possibly of game-playing when films attempt to get nominated or even win awards. A lot of gamesmanship took place in the case of The Martian prior to the Oscars. Having said that, The Martian isn't the only guilty party. In previous years, Birdman and The Artist played the awards game very well and were both nominated in the musical/comedy category at the Globes before going onto perform well at the Oscars two months later.
Also new for 2017 is during the period from the announcement of the nominations until the final Golden Globe ballots are submitted, HFPA members "should not be invited to and must not attend events (including parties, receptions, lunches and dinners and similar events) at which Golden Globe award nominees are present. HFPA members may continue to attend screenings and press conferences available to comparable members of the media at which nominees are present, but may not solicit individual press opportunities with nominees during this period."
Another rule change happened in the Animation category: If fewer than 12 animated films qualify in a year, the category will be limited to three nominations that year.
Other rule changes which affected both TV and film included: defining Original Score and specifying who should receive that award; Specifying who should receive the Screenplay award; Providing procedures for determining whether motion pictures meet Foreign Language requirements, and changing the Foreign Language motion picture eligibility period to a 15-month period to coincide with the Academy's eligibility period.
Next year’s ceremony will be held Sunday, January 8. NBC will air it live nationwide starting at 5 PM PT from the Beverly Hilton.
