The embattled HFPA must convince Hollywood to resume working with it. But it’s a start that their new bylaws imposing reforms & financial restrictions on 84 current Golden Globes voters drew measured approval from NBC.
The network called it “a positive step forward (that) signals the HFPA’s willingness to do the work necessary for meaningful change.” But those words would carry much more weight coming from some of the studios or 100+ publicity firms that previously said they won’t work with HFPA until it expands its membership — especially by adding some Black members.
Given the group’s current vilified status, it’s hard to see why the journalists they need would want to join. The publicists are the key to reviving HFPA because they control access to potential GG nominees (pictured – 2016 winners for THE REVENANT Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (L) & Leonardo Di Caprio). Without their support, there’s no incentive for qualified journalists to join HFPA.
In fact, if HFPA and the publicists don’t come to terms, journalists with years of experience and prime global credentials would really have nothing to gain from becoming HFPA members.