How to Review the Golden Globes

Reviewing an important event like the Golden Globes for any publication--local, state, or national--can be challenging. It will require a great deal of upfront research before the event as well as careful scrutiny of the event itself. Those who are unable to attend the Golden Globes will find their reviews even more difficult because they won't have access to the pre-event media kits. Nor will they have the opportunity to interview nominees, presenters, and others in attendance. However, by following these carefully planned out steps, it is still possible to do a credible review job.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• A list of the Golden Globe nominees
• Resource materials on each nomination
• Resource materials concerning previous Golden Globe winners
• As many lists and articles on projected winners as can be found
• A copy of the Golden Globe nomination and voting procedures
• Pencils or pens and paper
• A VCR and/or DVR for recording the event
• A computer with an appropriate word processing or desktop publishing program

How to Review the Golden Globes

1. Familiarize yourself thoroughly with every category of the Golden Globes as well as each nomination made within that category. Make careful note of nominees who are listed in multiple categories as well as those who have previously won Golden Globe awards. Also make note of any peculiarities found, such as an actor who has been nominated multiple times but has never won the award. These unusual circumstances may help give you insight into the thinking of those individuals who determine the award winners.
2. Study any and all resource material that you can find on each Golden Globe nomination. Make note of any gossip or speculation that you may have heard with regard to each category.
3. Review as much resource material as you can find about past Golden Globe nominees and winners. Compare current nominations against the nominees and winners of previous years. Look for any patterns that might stand out amongst either the winners or losers--for example, if a particular actress seems to win each and every time she is nominated. Again, such peculiarities will help give you insight into the thinking of those deciding upon the winners of the awards.
4. Gather and review as many articles, clips, and lists on the projected winners that you can find. Compare them against one another to see how they are similar as well as how they differ. Also compare them against past nominations with an eye toward determining if certain publications tend to have a better record in selecting Globe winners.
5. Review each and every Golden Globe nominated piece or performance. Pay close attention to the specific categories for which the piece or performance is nominated. Make detailed notes in each of those categories. If the piece or performance is nominated in several categories, it may be necessary to view it multiple times, paying particular attention to only one specific category with each viewing.
6. Compare the pieces and performances nominated in each category against one another. Keep a list of the strengths and weaknesses of each piece or performance nominated within the category.
7. Taking each category one at a time, review your notes to determine which nominees appear to have more strengths than weaknesses. Then compare those selected nominations against past winners in the same category to see how they stack up.
8. Review and revise your projected Golden Globes' winners list based on your additional research. Finalize your list of potential Globe winners prior to the event.
9. The night of the Golden Globes, make certain you are available to view the show in its entirety. Find a location that will allow you to view and hear the show without distraction of any kind.
10. Set up a VCR or DVR (or both) to record the Golden Globes so that you can go back and review sections of the program for your review if necessary.
11. Make notes during the pre-award show of any additional predictions made by the stars or other members of the film industry.
12. During the awards, make separate pages of notes for each Golden Globe category. Take note of who announced and presented each award; which nominees were or were not present for the event; and who ultimately won the award. Be certain to take meticulous notes with regard to any quotes from the winner's acceptance speech that you intend to include within your review. Also take note of the winner's demeanor, stage presence, speaking skills, and overall "look" as you may wish to make reference to some of that during your review.
13. Pay close attention to behind the scenes interviews, which are generally handled off stage, as well as any post show interviews conducted among award winners if they fall within the time frame allowed by your review deadline. These could provide valuable information that can be included within your review.
14. If necessary, go back and review recorded sections of the awards program to fill out or complete your notes prior to writing your review.
15. Once the awards are complete, compare the actual winner list against your projected list. While this information may not be used within your actual review, it will help you understand where holes might still exist in your pre-event research. If you were lucky enough to project multiple winners, don't be afraid to mention that within your review. This can help to establish you as someone "in the know" for future reviews.
16. Decide what "hook" you are going to use to write your Golden Globes review. It could be the overwhelming dominance of a particular film, the unlikely winning of a certain category, or some other clever device that will encourage potential readers to read your review.
17. Draft your review in the format and style established by the publication for which it was written. Pay close attention to language, etiquette, grammar, and style as well as spelling and word length.
18. Review and revise your finalized piece before submitting it for publication.

Tips & Warnings

• Research the Golden Globe awards program thoroughly with regard to its nomination and voting procedures, trends in previous years, and obvious types of likes and dislikes.
• Gather as much research material as you can find on each nominee within each Globe category.
• Gather information on previous Globe winners for comparison purposes against current nominations.
• It is essential to view each Golden Globe nominated piece and performance.
• Review each category with an objective eye.
• Establish a specific "hook" that will set your review apart from every other review and write your piece accordingly.
• Don't be afraid to check into where other reviewers stand with regard to nomination predictions.
• Don't be afraid to use wit, humor, and charm in writing a "clever" review that might be remembered among a sea of average reviews.
• Don't discard any research materials; instead retaining them in the event that you will be asked to write a similar piece again in the future.