Award Season is Approaching

illustration by Emma Baynes

Film award season has begun; it is time to see which films and TV shows are nominated for this year’s awards. But have you ever wondered how these media actually get nominated? Who is the Academy, and why is everyone always thanking them? In this article, we’ll be discussing what it takes to become a member of these organizations which nominate the films and tv shows that we all know and love. Additionally, we’ll explore the criteria behind which films and TV shows are even qualified to be considered for nominations. 

Golden Globes

The first award show presentation was brought by the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association, (which is now known as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association), in 1944. In the following year, the members of the association decided on coming up with a design for a statuette that would best represent the organization. Thus the birth of the shiny globe that would represent not only that one organization, but the entire world.

In 1951, the association decided to divide the awards for best film, actor, and actress nominees into two categories, in order to make sure that each nominee had a chance in their group - whether they were from a drama, musical or comedy. In the next year, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association created the Cecil B. DeMille award. Cecil B. DeMille was an American film director who made 70 feature films, and was referred to as the ‘founding father of American cinema’. This award is given to anyone who demonstrates a large contribution to the entertainment industry. To become a member, an application must be submitted during the months of February and March, which is when the application opens during the year. The members must reside in Southern California, be registered in the Motion Picture Association of America, must be sponsored by two active members in the association already, and qualify under the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Active Member, (which is separate to the application). 

Applicants are journalists who are covering the entertainment industry in foreign publications.  When submitting their application, they must provide 24 published pieces of their work from the last three years. The nomination process, taken by members of the association, is very simple. Each member is sent a ballot containing the eligible films which were submitted by studios. These films must have debuted during that year in order to be considered. Members must then rank the choices in each category from 1 to 5. Throughout the year, members are invited to screenings. These screenings are attended strictly by members of the association, along with other journalists. After these screenings, members vote in private, and these votes are tallied for the final ballots. 

The Oscars

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was incorporated in 1927, and a meeting was held in discussion of the goals for this new organization. One of the primary goals was to create something that honored achievements in all forms of motion picture production. The Academy Award was born and later to be known as the Oscar. 

Only members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences are allowed to nominate and vote for the Oscars. These members are individuals who work in the production of theatrically-released motion pictures. The Academy is a global organization and has members in many countries throughout the world, with 17 branches into which these members fit, (as well as a few others that accommodate for members that don’t fit into the other categories).  

Unlike the Golden Globes, the Academy’s membership is based on sponsorship, and not applications. Potential candidates must be sponsored by two Academy members from the branch in which they would like to be admitted to. Although, if you were a nominee for the Academy Award you may be considered for admission to the Academy without the need of a sponsor. Nominees and sponsors are then reviewed by the branch they seek to be part of, and recommendations are reviewed by the Academy’s Board of Governors. Invitations are then sent to either nominee or sponsor, if they pass the screening.

After all the rigorous steps it takes to be invited to the Academy, members can now vote for nominees in their respective categories. For example, actors may nominate actors, directors nominate directors, and so on. However when it comes to nominations for best picture, all members can vote. 

Final voting for the nominees in each category take place online. During this time, all categories are opened for members to vote. 

The Emmy Awards

The founder of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences was Syd Cassyd, who was based in Los Angeles, California. Cassyd envisioned a setting where serious discussion could take place about the various mediums involved. Soon, the Television Academy became a place just for that, as well as a platform to celebrate the industry’s finest achievements: the Emmy Awards Ceremony. 

Once the Emmys developed into a serious and significant cultural event, its popularity grew. At first, Cassyd was against the idea of television awards, since his main objective was, “to promote the cultural, educational and research aim of television”. The first Emmys Awards was hosted exclusively to local Los Angeles programming channels on January 25th, 1949. In New York City, there emerged a rival television organization, hosted by Ed Sullivan, which created competition for the Los Angeles location.  In 1955, when the Emmys became even more successful, Ed Sullivan created an East Coast group and established a New York-based Television Academy.  The two organisations decided to unite two years later, forming the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 

In 1977 the organization was dissolved, due to a lawsuit filed by the Los Angeles chapter, rendering them two separate entities once again. Since then, each location has developed new roles in the industry. The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences conducts regional awards for regional television markets. This office handles membership and awards for the Los Angeles location only. On the other hand, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is a nonprofit organization that represents 30 professional peer groups, including performers, directors, producers, art directors, and various other artisans, technicians and executives. 

There are three different types of membership roles within the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, most of these involving an active or associate membership. Firstly, there is a National Active or Associate Membership, which is for television professionals who are actively engaged in the production or distribution of audio-visual works for national exhibition. Next, The Los Angeles Area Active or Associate Membership is for local television professionals who are actively engaged in local news and programming for the Los Angeles Area market. Finally, there is an Academic Membership for students and faculty members, at a discount for individuals 18 years old, (or over), enrolled as full-time or part-time students or faculty. 

When it comes to voting, qualified entries are mailed to Academy members. Similarly to the Oscars, when members vote, they vote for those in their respective categories - directors for directors, actors for actors, and so on. From these votes, the nominees are selected. Then, the Academy has volunteers among the members, whose job is to judge the selection of nominees and choose the best candidate for that category. The winners’ names are kept secret until the night the awards are broadcasted.