| Golden Raspberry Award | |
|---|---|
John Wilson at 29th Golden Raspberry Awards |
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| Awarded for | Worst in film |
| Presented by | Golden Raspberry Award Foundation |
| Country | United States |
| First awarded | March 31, 1981 |
| Official website | www.Razzies.com |
A Golden Raspberry Award, or Razzie for short, is an award presented in recognition of the worst in movies. Founded by American copywriter and publicist John J.B. Wilson in 1981, the annual Razzie Awards ceremony in Los Angeles precedes the corresponding Academy Awards ceremony by one day. The term raspberry in the name is used in its irreverent sense, as in "blowing a raspberry". The awards themselves typically cost $4.97 each, in the form of a "golfball-sized raspberry" which sits atop a Super 8 mm film reel, the whole of which is spray-painted gold.
The first Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony was held on March 31, 1981, at John Wilson's living room alcove in Los Angeles to honor the worst in film of the 1980 film season. The 32nd ceremony, dishonoring film in 2011 will be held at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre in Hollywood on February 25, 2012.
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American copywriter and publicist John J.B. Wilson traditionally held potluck dinner parties at his house in Los Angeles on the night of the Academy Awards.[1] In 1981, after the 53rd Academy Awards had completed for the evening, Wilson invited friends to give random award presentations in his living room.[1][2] Wilson decided to formalize the event, after watching a double feature of Can't Stop the Music and Xanadu.[3] He gave them ballots to vote on worst in film.[3] Wilson stood at a podium made of cardboard in a tacky tuxedo, with a foam ball attached to a broomstick as a fake microphone, and announced Can't Stop the Music as the first Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture.[3][4] The impromptu ceremony was a success, and the following week a press release about his event released by Wilson was picked up by a few local newspapers, including a mention in the Los Angeles Daily News with the headline: "Take These Envelopes, Please".[1][2][4]
Approximately three dozen people came to the 1st Golden Raspberry Awards.[4] The 2nd Golden Raspberry Awards had double the attendance as the first, and the 3rd awards ceremony had double this number.[4] By the 4th Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony, CNN and two major wire services covered the event.[1] Wilson realized that by scheduling the Golden Raspberry Awards prior to the Academy Awards, the ceremony would get more press coverage: "We finally figured out you couldn't compete with the Oscars on Oscar night, but if you went the night before, when the press from all over the world are here and they are looking for something to do, it could well catch on," he said to BBC News.[1]
The term raspberry is used in its irreverent sense, as in "blowing a raspberry".[5] Wilson commented to the author of Blame It on the Dog: "When I registered the term with the Library of Congress in 1980, they asked me, 'Why raspberry? What's the significance of that?' But since then, razz has pretty much permeated the culture. We couldn't have done it without Hollywood's help."[5] Wilson is referred to as "Ye Olde Head Razzberry".[6]
Paid members of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation vote to determine the winners;[7] individuals may become members of the foundation by visiting the organization's website at www.razzies.com.[8] For the 29th Golden Raspberry Awards in 2009, award results were based on votes from approximately 650 journalists, cinema fans, and professionals from the film industry.[7][9] Voters hailed from 45 states in the United States and 19 other countries.[10]
The ceremony, typically held one day before the Academy Awards, is modelled after the latter but "deliberately low-end and tacky".[1]
Current Awards
Retired
Special categories have also been introduced for specific years. Such special awards include Worst Screenplay Grossing Over $100 Million (1996),[11] Worst Reckless Disregard for Human Life and Public Property (1997),[12] Worst Movie Trends of the Year (1998),[13] Most Flatulent Teen-Targeted Movie (2002),[14] Worst Excuse for an Actual Movie (All Concept/No Content!) (2003),[15] Most Tiresome Tabloid Targets (2005),[16] Worst Excuse For Family Entertainment (2006),[17] Worst Excuse for a Horror Movie (2007),[18] and Worst Eye-Gouging Misuse of 3D (2010).[19][20]
Over the years, the Golden Raspberry Awards have awarded special awards next to the actual Razzie Awards as well.
This award has been given only five times, in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, and 2009 to Ronald Reagan, Linda Blair, Irwin Allen, "Bruce the Rubber Shark" from Jaws[21] and director Uwe Boll[22] who received his for his achievement as "Germany's answer to Ed Wood".
This is a special award given by Razzie Award Governor John Wilson to an individual whose achievements are not covered by the Razzie's other categories. It was awarded in 2003 to Travis Payne for "Distinguished Under-Achievement in Choreography" in the film From Justin to Kelly.[23]
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