Category Archives: Blog

Entourage star turns the tables

Hollywood, CA (September 2, 2010) – The paparazzi who wait outside the Hollywood Foreign Press offices in West Hollywood hoping to photograph visiting celebrities missed their chance when Entourage star Adrian Grenier slipped in unnoticed to talk about his latest project—a documentary about paparazzi.

The 35-year-old actor and documentarian, who plays Vince in the six times Golden Globe-nominated HBO TV series, turned his camera on a 14-year-old paparazzo to document the life of the paparazzi and the celebrity culture they serve.

Teenage Paparazzo, which premiered at Sundance this year and is to air on HBO, will soon be seen on television screens around the world.

“I don’t know how many paparazzi have seen the film but I’m hoping it will be a way for them to reflect on their on behavior and to use the power that they have for something more constructive and meaningful,” said Adrian.

2010 Installation Luncheon in the Media

HFPA TO ANNOUNCE GRANTS AT 2010 INSTALLATION LUNCHEON

Contact:

Keleigh Thomas/Whitney Tancred Sunshine Sachs & Associates
thomas@sunshinesachs.com
tancred@sunshinesachs.com
310.275.3222

Annette Bening, Matthew Fox, Nicole Kidman, Eva Longoria Parker, and John Slattery to Present Grants of More Than $1.5 Million to Film Schools and Non-Profit Organizations

BEVERLY HILLS, CA (JULY 26, 2010) – The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced today that their annual Installation Luncheon will take place Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. Participating with HFPA President Philip Berk in handing out the grants will be Annette Bening, Chris Colfer, Bryan Cranston, Kaley Cuoco, Matthew Fox, Nicole Kidman, Eva Longoria Parker, Ryan Phillippe, Jason Ritter, Adam Shankman, John Slattery, and Aaron Sorkin.
As film enthusiasts, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has been instrumental in donating to entertainment-related charities and scholarship programs. The grants are awarded in the following categories: Higher Education Fellowships and Institutional Support; Professional Training and Mentoring; Pre-Professional Training and Education; Preserve the Culture & History of Film; Promote Cultural Exchange Through Film; and Special Projects. Over $1.5 million will be given out at this year’s event, and the organization has granted more than $10 million to date. Among the organizations receiving grants this year are Sundance Institute, American Film Institute, New York University, Ghetto Film School, Film Aid International, and Latin America Cinemateca.

Founded in the 1940s during World War II, the HFPA was originally comprised of a handful of LA based overseas journalists who sought to bridge the international community with Hollywood, and to provide distraction from the hardships of war through film. Sixty-six years later, members of the HFPA represent 55 countries with a combined readership of 250 million in some of the world’s most respected publications. Each year, the organization holds the third most watched awards show on television, the Golden Globe Awards, which have enabled the organization to donate more than $10.5 million to entertainment related charities and scholarship programs.

HFPA RE-ELECTS PHILIP BERK AS PRESIDENT

Keleigh Thomas/Whitney Tancred
Sunshine Sachs & Associates
thomas@sunshinesachs.com
tancred@sunshinesachs.com
310.275.3222

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hollywood, CA (June 3, 2010) – Philip Berk was re-elected President of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the year 2010-2011 at the organization’s annual election meeting, which was held June 2^nd, 2010.

A member of the Association for 33 years, Berk is serving his eighth term as HFPA president. He is a correspondent for FilmInk (Australia) and Galaxie (Malaysia).

Hans Spurkel, Meher Tatna, and Jack Tewksbury were also re-elected vice president, executive secretary, and treasurer, respectively.

The new Board of Directors is comprised of Ali Sar (Chairman), Jorge Camara, Yoram Kahana, Theo Kingma, Lorenzo Soria, and Ruben Nepales (alternate).

The annual HFPA Installation Luncheon to honor the officers and directors will be held later this summer, at which time the Association makes its annual donations to non-profit organizations and film schools.

About the Hollywood Foreign Press Association:

Founded in the 1940s during World War II, the HFPA was originally comprised of a handful of LA based overseas journalists who sought to bridge the international community with Hollywood, and to provide distraction from the hardships of war through film. Sixty-six years later, members of the HFPA represent 55 countries with a combined readership of 250 million in some of the world’s most respected publications. Each year, the organization holds the third most watched awards show on television, the Golden Globe Awards, which have enabled the organization to donate more than $10.5 million to entertainment related charities and scholarship programs.

HFPA ANNOUNCES ELECTION OF TWO NEW MEMBERS: HUSAM ASI AND KATHERINE TULICH

Contact:
Keleigh Thomas/Ken Sunshine
Sunshine Sachs & Associates
thomas@sunshinesachs.com
310.275.3222

BEVERLY HILLS, CA (May 7, 2010) – The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) President, Philip Berk, announced today that two journalists have been elected as new members of the organization: Husam Asi and Katherine Tulich.

Asi, who writes for the UK Screen and Al Quds Al Arabi (UK), and Tulich, who writes for Russian publications St. Petersburg Times and Drugoe Kino, were voted in at the membership meeting May 6, 2010.

The two new members join the association’s current roster of 83 active members.

About the Hollywood Foreign Press Association:

Founded in the 1940’s during World War II, the HFPA was originally comprised of a handful of LA based overseas journalists who sought to bridge the international community with Hollywood, and to provide distraction from the hardships of war through film. Sixty-six years later, members of the HFPA represent 55 countries with a combined readership of 250 million in some of the world’s most respected publications. Each year, the organization holds the third most watched awards show on television, the Golden Globe Awards, which have enabled the organization to donate more than $10.5 million to entertainment related charities and scholarship programs.

GOLDEN GLOBE AND EMMY AWARD WINNER RICKY GERVAIS SET FOR ENCORE PERFORMANCE AS HOST OF NBC’S LIVE BROADCAST OF ‘THE 68TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS’ ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – April 28, 2010 — Multi-talented Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Ricky Gervais (“The Invention of Lying,” “The Office”) has signed for an encore performance when he returns to host “The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards” on Sunday, January 16, 2011 on NBC. This year’s show will again be broadcast live coast-to-coast from 5-8 p.m. (PT) and 8-11 p.m. (ET) from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Phil Berk, dick clark productions and NBC made the announcement today.

“I can’t believe they invited me back after awful things I said,” said Gervais. “Let’s see how far I can go this time.”

“As viewers discovered with our last awards telecast, Ricky’s surprising and unpredictable humor is a great fit for the Globes which will continue as a live event across the nation,” said Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios. “He’s a true force of nature with a wicked sense of humor who always keeps everyone on their toes waiting for the unexpected.”

“We are thrilled to have Ricky back as the host of the Golden Globe Awards,” said HFPA President, Philip Berk. “His combination of wit, irreverence, and spontaneity makes him the ideal host. He was fantastic last year, and he’ll be even better the second time around.”

The Sunday, January 17 telecast of “The Golden Globes” delivered NBC’s highest adult 18-49 rating in the time period, excluding sports, in five years (since the 2005 Golden Globe Awards telecast, which averaged a 5.7 rating in 18-49 on January 16, 2005) and attracted NBC’s largest non-sports viewership in the time period in six years (since the 2004 Golden Globe Awards telecast, which averaged 26.8 million viewers on January 25, 2004). “The 67^th Annual Golden Globe Awards” (5.5/14 in 18-49, 17.0 million viewers overall) scored gains versus the prior year’s telecast of 12 percent in adults 18-49 (5.4 vs. 4.9) and 14 percent or 2.1 million persons in total viewers (17.0 million vs. 14.9 million).

Gervais is probably best known for his role as David Brent on the BBC version of “The Office.” Gervais also produced, wrote (with Stephen Merchant) and directed on the mock documentary series from 2001-03. Twelve episodes and a two-part Christmas special later, “The Office” is consigned to broadcasting history as one of the most perfectly crafted comedy series in British TV history. The show was showered with awards and critical acclaim and Gervais became a household name. Gervais and Merchant teamed up again in 2005 to create the award-winning series “Extras” in which he played an aspiring actor.

Gervais also executive-produces the Emmy Award-winning American version of “The Office” with Greg Daniels, Ben Silverman, Stephen Merchant, Howard Klein and Paul Lieberstein. The NBC version of “The Office” is the most successful US remake of a show and recently went into syndication.

Over a 10-year period Gervais has become one of the most influential British comedians of all time. He is an award winning standup and his tour “FAME” became the fastest selling UK standup show in history. “FAME” also received three Emmy nominations.

In 2009 Gervais wrote, directed and starred in the feature film “The Invention of Lying” alongside Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Rob Lowe and Tina Fey (NBC’s “30 Rock”). This year “Cemetery Junction” – Gervais’ second film as writer and director and his first film co-written and directed with Stephen Merchant, was released in the UK on April 14. An animated feature film of his award winning children’s book “Flanimals” is currently in development.

Gevais currently holds the title of the most downloaded internet show of all time with “The Ricky Gervais show. Last year, HBO made the podcast into a 13 part animated series and has been commissioned for a second season.
“The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards” will be seen in more than 160 countries worldwide and is one of the few awards ceremonies that span both television and motion picture achievements. The special will be produced by dick clark productions in association with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Philip Berk is President of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Orly Adelson, president of dick clark productions and Barry Adelman will executive-produce the special. Bob Bardo is the executive in charge of production.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Joanne Park, Director, NBC Entertainment Publicity
818/777-2943
joanne.park@nbcuni.com

HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS CONTACT:

Keleigh Thomas, Director, Sunshine Sachs and Associates

HFPA ANNOUNCES TIMETABLE FOR THE 68th ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES “THE 68TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS” TO TAKE PLACE SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2011 Telecast to be Aired Live on NBC Nationwide

Contact:
Keleigh Thomas/Ken Sunshine
Sunshine Sachs & Associates
thomas@sunshinesachs.com
310.275.3222

BEVERLY HILLS, CA (March 22, 2010) – Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) President, Philip Berk, today announced “The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards” will air on NBC on Sunday, January 16, 2011 from 5-8 (PST) and 8-11 (EST) live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel. 

Produced by Dick Clark Productions in association with the HFPA, The Golden Globes are viewed in more than 160 countries worldwide and is one of the few awards ceremonies to include both motion picture and television achievements. The 2010 show garnered a 14% audience increase from the previous year’s broadcast and delivered NBC’s biggest non-sports audience in the time period in six years.

About the Hollywood Foreign Press Association:

Founded in the 1940’s during World War II, the HFPA was originally comprised of a handful of LA based overseas journalists who sought to bridge the international community with Hollywood, and to provide distraction from the hardships of war through film. Sixty-six years later, members of the HFPA represent 55 countries with a combined readership of 250 million in some of the world’s most respected publications. Each year, the organization holds the Golden Globe Awards, which have enabled the organization to donate more than $10.5 million to entertainment related charities and scholarship programs.

For more information about the HFPA, please go to www.goldenglobes.org

HFPA MEMBER ANITA WEBER PASSES AWAY AT AGE 92

Long time HFPA member Anita Weber passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on Monday 8 March. She was 92 years old.

Born in Portland, Oregon Anita was a model, stand-in, actress, and overseas U.S. Army Service Club Director before she started writing a Hollywood gossip column for The Mercury, a daily newspaper from South Africa in 1955. Subsequently she provided pictures and material for the UK and Japan. She was a staff journalist for Capital Pictures in England, Elite Photo Agency in South Africa and Uniphoto Press Agency in Japan.

Over the years she served many times as a member of the HFPA Board of Directors. She received two singular honors –the International Media Award from the International Cinematographers Guild and also a lifetime achievement Gold Card from the HFPA.

“For over 35 years I cannot remember a press conference where she was not in attendance” said Philip Berk, current HFPA President. “Right up until the last weeks, Anita prided herself on the fact that in her 90s she was seated in the front row taking pictures and asking pointed and intelligent questions. She will be sorely missed.”

Anita is survived by 8 nieces and nephews. No funeral arrangements, but in lieu of flowers she has requested donations to the Red Cross.

HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION RETAINS SUNSHINE SACHS & ASSOCIATES AS AGENCY OF RECORD