Members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association have slammed the two former colleagues who resigned in protest from the Golden Globes group last week, calling the duo “rats” and “cancer” who “bite the hand that feeds you.” In internal emails obtained by TheWrap, multiple members of the Golden Globes organization ripped into Diederik van Hoogstraten and Wenting ‘Ting Ting’ Xu following their resignation from the embattled organization over what they described as an ongoing culture of “insulation, silence, fear of retribution, self-dealing, corruption and verbal abuse.” The slam session began with criticism of the HFPA’s public statement about van Hoogstraten and Xu’s resignation. “Nice but not tough enough,” Austrian member Elisabeth Sereda wrote on an email thread sent to the 84 remaining members of the HFPA. “These 2 are the rats that are leaving a not so sinking ship. Paint them as such. Anything less is watered down nonsense. It...
- 6/22/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Two Golden Globe Awards voters called the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) “toxic” and resigned their position as members of the organization on Thursday in protest. “Insulation, silence, fear of retribution, self-dealing, corruption and verbal abuse are just a few ways to describe the current culture,” wrote Diederik van Hoogstraten from the Netherlands and Wenting Xu from China in […]
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The post 2 HFPA Members Resign In Protest Of Corruption & Lack Of Diversity appeared first on uInterview.
- 6/18/2021
- by Alexandra Llorca
- Uinterview
Wenting Xu and Diederik van Hoogstraten cite resistance to change, watered down diversity rules and a culture of fear
Two members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the body that organises the Golden Globes, have resigned, denouncing the organisation as “toxic” in a letter obtained by the LA Times.
In their letter, Wenting Xu and Diederik van Hoogstraten said that “staying inside the association is no longer tenable for us”. They list a number of reasons, including that “the majority of the membership resists deep change”, new rules to improved diversity have been “watered down”, and that “fear of retribution, self-dealing, corruption and verbal abuse” are still central to the HFPA’s culture.
Two members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the body that organises the Golden Globes, have resigned, denouncing the organisation as “toxic” in a letter obtained by the LA Times.
In their letter, Wenting Xu and Diederik van Hoogstraten said that “staying inside the association is no longer tenable for us”. They list a number of reasons, including that “the majority of the membership resists deep change”, new rules to improved diversity have been “watered down”, and that “fear of retribution, self-dealing, corruption and verbal abuse” are still central to the HFPA’s culture.
- 6/18/2021
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
The embattled Hollywood Foreign Press Association — the organization of SoCal-based entertainment journalists for foreign media outlets that is behind the annual Golden Globe Awards — will end this week with (at least) three fewer members than it started it with, bringing its current membership total to 83, down from 87 at the time of the 78th Golden Globes last February.
On Thursday, shortly after The Hollywood Reporter reported the death of longtime member Yoram Kahana, the Los Angeles Times broke the news that two newer members, Diederik van Hoogstraten and Wenting Xu, had resigned from the group, calling it “toxic” and vowing to form a competing ...
On Thursday, shortly after The Hollywood Reporter reported the death of longtime member Yoram Kahana, the Los Angeles Times broke the news that two newer members, Diederik van Hoogstraten and Wenting Xu, had resigned from the group, calling it “toxic” and vowing to form a competing ...
- 6/18/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The embattled Hollywood Foreign Press Association — the organization of SoCal-based entertainment journalists for foreign media outlets that is behind the annual Golden Globe Awards — will end this week with (at least) three fewer members than it started it with, bringing its current membership total to 83, down from 87 at the time of the 78th Golden Globes last February.
On Thursday, shortly after The Hollywood Reporter reported the death of longtime member Yoram Kahana, the Los Angeles Times broke the news that two newer members, Diederik van Hoogstraten and Wenting Xu, had resigned from the group, calling it “toxic” and vowing to form a competing ...
On Thursday, shortly after The Hollywood Reporter reported the death of longtime member Yoram Kahana, the Los Angeles Times broke the news that two newer members, Diederik van Hoogstraten and Wenting Xu, had resigned from the group, calling it “toxic” and vowing to form a competing ...
- 6/18/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Updated with latest: After two members of the Hollywood Foreign Press resigned their memberships on Thursday calling it “a toxic place for working journalists,” the HFPA responded Thursday evening calling it “disappointing that some members have decided to try and splinter our organization and sow division and doubt.”
The statement went on to say that the organization is “forever grateful to the members that have decided to stay the course” and that the HFPA is “ready to collaborate with our members and outside groups to make this change a reality.”
Here is the HFPA statement in full:
At a time when the overwhelming majority of our members have chosen to be a part of change, it is disappointing that some members have decided to try and splinter our organization and sow division and doubt. While some may have their own agendas, the Board and membership of the HFPA share one,...
The statement went on to say that the organization is “forever grateful to the members that have decided to stay the course” and that the HFPA is “ready to collaborate with our members and outside groups to make this change a reality.”
Here is the HFPA statement in full:
At a time when the overwhelming majority of our members have chosen to be a part of change, it is disappointing that some members have decided to try and splinter our organization and sow division and doubt. While some may have their own agendas, the Board and membership of the HFPA share one,...
- 6/18/2021
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Two members have resigned from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association as the organization is in the midst of a thorough overhaul.
Diederik van Hoogstraten of the Netherlands and Wenting Xu of China sent a letter of resignation to the HFPA leadership, the L.A. Times reported Thursday.
The two overseas journalists said in their letter that the HFPA is a place where “bullying of members by members is left unquestioned and unpunished. The badgering of talent and publicists: ditto.”
Van Hoogstraten and Xu also called out the practice of doling out large fees to members for serving on committees, writing, “Payments for internal jobs have skyrocketed lately. Morally and fiscally this self-dealing and sense of entitlement is a scandal in and of itself. But the lack of transparency goes beyond just the financials: since February most decision-making has happened behind closed doors.”
“The majority of the membership resists transformative change,...
Diederik van Hoogstraten of the Netherlands and Wenting Xu of China sent a letter of resignation to the HFPA leadership, the L.A. Times reported Thursday.
The two overseas journalists said in their letter that the HFPA is a place where “bullying of members by members is left unquestioned and unpunished. The badgering of talent and publicists: ditto.”
Van Hoogstraten and Xu also called out the practice of doling out large fees to members for serving on committees, writing, “Payments for internal jobs have skyrocketed lately. Morally and fiscally this self-dealing and sense of entitlement is a scandal in and of itself. But the lack of transparency goes beyond just the financials: since February most decision-making has happened behind closed doors.”
“The majority of the membership resists transformative change,...
- 6/18/2021
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
(This article has been updated since publication with an additional statement from the HFPA board members.) In the latest sign of the crisis engulfing the Hollywood Foreign Press Association over diversity issues and NBC’s cancellation of the 2022 Golden Globes ceremony, some members are now pushing to sue the organization’s lawyers for providing “improper and legally damaging advice.” Many are also renewing calls for the current board to resign over its handling of the firestorm surrounding the HFPA. Several longtime members have sent emails this month to other members or directly to President Ali Sar, expressing disappointment with the state of the organization, leveling specific charges against HFPA attorney Gregory Goeckner and an outside media lawyer for the group, Joe Calabrese of Latham & Watkins. “In the spirit of ‘never let a crisis go to waste,’ isn’t it appropriate for us to sue our lawyer, and his buddy,...
- 5/20/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) announced its Board of Directors for the 2020-2021 term on Wednesday, adding members Helen Hoehne and Kirpi Uimonen Ballesteros to the board.
Meher Tatna (Chair), Luca Celada, Yoram Kahana and Tina Johnk Christensen were re-elected after serving last term. Anke Hoffmann and Diederik van Hoogstraten were replaced.
Barbara de Oliveira Pinto and Kristien Gijbels were announced as the credentials committee. Lorenzo Soria will continue his stint as president of the organization, while Ali Sar, Janet R. Nepales and Ruben V. Nepales will remain in their posts as vice president, treasurer and executive secretary, respectively. Each term is two years.
Also Read: Lorenzo Soria Named President of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association
Soria was announced as president last year. For the two years prior, he served as chairman of the board.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association was founded in 1943 by a group of entertainment journalists representing world media.
Meher Tatna (Chair), Luca Celada, Yoram Kahana and Tina Johnk Christensen were re-elected after serving last term. Anke Hoffmann and Diederik van Hoogstraten were replaced.
Barbara de Oliveira Pinto and Kristien Gijbels were announced as the credentials committee. Lorenzo Soria will continue his stint as president of the organization, while Ali Sar, Janet R. Nepales and Ruben V. Nepales will remain in their posts as vice president, treasurer and executive secretary, respectively. Each term is two years.
Also Read: Lorenzo Soria Named President of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association
Soria was announced as president last year. For the two years prior, he served as chairman of the board.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association was founded in 1943 by a group of entertainment journalists representing world media.
- 6/3/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Lorenzo Soria has been elected president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, replacing outgoing president Meher Tatna. It will be the third go-around as president for Soria, who served in the role from 2003-2005 and 2015-2017. He had been chairman of the board the past two years at the HFPA, the group that organizes the Golden Globes.
With the results of the election, the Argentina-born, Italy-raised Soria will be joined in the leadership by new VP Ali Sar; treasurer Janet R. Nepales; executive secretary Ruben V. Nepales; and Tatna, who was elected chairman of the board of directors.
The board now includes Luca Celada, Anke Hofmann, Yoram Kahana, Diederik van Hoogstraten and Tina Jøhnk Christensen (alternate).
Soria, who joined the HFPA in 1989, started his career at the Italian news weekly L’Espresso and has been working for the national daily La Stampa since 1988.
“It’s a privilege to once again...
With the results of the election, the Argentina-born, Italy-raised Soria will be joined in the leadership by new VP Ali Sar; treasurer Janet R. Nepales; executive secretary Ruben V. Nepales; and Tatna, who was elected chairman of the board of directors.
The board now includes Luca Celada, Anke Hofmann, Yoram Kahana, Diederik van Hoogstraten and Tina Jøhnk Christensen (alternate).
Soria, who joined the HFPA in 1989, started his career at the Italian news weekly L’Espresso and has been working for the national daily La Stampa since 1988.
“It’s a privilege to once again...
- 6/4/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Lorenzo Soria was named the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for the 2019-2020 term, it was announced today at the organization’s annual election meeting led by outgoing president Meher Tatna.
The term will commence on July 1. Soria will be joined by Ali Sar, Janet R. Nepales, Ruben V. Nepales, and Tatna who were elected as vice president, treasurer, executive secretary, and chairman of the board of directors, respectively.
“It’s a privilege to once again be elected to serve as president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association,” Soria said. “Together with my peers at the HFPA, I look forward to continuing our organization’s mission of recognizing the best in film and television, ushering in the next generation of storytellers, and staying true to our roots of giving back through our vast philanthropic efforts. I’ve never been prouder of our organization’s future and ready to get to work.
The term will commence on July 1. Soria will be joined by Ali Sar, Janet R. Nepales, Ruben V. Nepales, and Tatna who were elected as vice president, treasurer, executive secretary, and chairman of the board of directors, respectively.
“It’s a privilege to once again be elected to serve as president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association,” Soria said. “Together with my peers at the HFPA, I look forward to continuing our organization’s mission of recognizing the best in film and television, ushering in the next generation of storytellers, and staying true to our roots of giving back through our vast philanthropic efforts. I’ve never been prouder of our organization’s future and ready to get to work.
- 6/4/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Lauded actress Glenn Close received the most recent of her six Oscar nominations in 2011, for portraying a woman who presents herself as a man in order to advance through 19th century Irish society. While she and her “Albert Nobbs” colleagues maintain that character was not transgender, during an appearance on the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s podcast to promote “The Wife,” Close said she “understood the frustration” surrounding Scarlett Johansson’s short-lived recent casting as a transgender man.
“My thinking right now is that people who are producing and directing properties like that need to go out of their way to get trans actors jobs… but they also should have the opportunity to cast the best person,” Close told reporter Diederik van Hoogstraten on “The HFPA in Conversation.” “Acting is a craft… I think personally that anyone should be able to play anyone.”
On July 2, Deadline reported that Johansson would...
“My thinking right now is that people who are producing and directing properties like that need to go out of their way to get trans actors jobs… but they also should have the opportunity to cast the best person,” Close told reporter Diederik van Hoogstraten on “The HFPA in Conversation.” “Acting is a craft… I think personally that anyone should be able to play anyone.”
On July 2, Deadline reported that Johansson would...
- 8/15/2018
- by Jenna Marotta
- Indiewire
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