Is it the Hollywood Foreign Press or Cuba? The organization that administers the Golden Globes has re-elected Philip Berk for the 8th time. And they’re proud of it.
Berk says he’s a correspondent for Australia’s FilmInk and Malaysia’s Galaxie magazine. The former carries just one of his stories, an interview with Johnny Depp, on its website, from 2008. The publisher, Dov Kornits, tells me via email this is because FilmInk’s website is really just news and reviews, and that Berk writes features for them.
FiilmInk has two other correspondents in Los Angeles and two more in New York. None of them belong to the Hollywood Foreign Press, only Berk.
Over at Galaxie, the only reference to Berk on their website is his role as Golden Globes president. Their correspondent posted a story about meeting Berk and his family in Berk’s Beverly Hilton Hotel suite on the day of the Globes. There’s also a long description of the backstage green room, to which no other press person is allowed.
According to Galaxie: “Furnishings in the Presenters Lounge include vintage Lalique pieces shipped from France valued at US$800,000 including an antique dining table from 1920 with the signature of Renea Lalique, exquisite furniture from Moura Starr including a leather sofa and black crystal coffee table valued at US$400,000, and hand-embroidered black and white silk drapes valued at US$25,000. There are also art masterpieces on loan from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation and the Yehoshua Kovarsky Family Trust estimated to be worth more than US$1,000,000. There are also bronze sculptures by famed sculptor Gilad Ben-Atzi in addition to a crystal chandelier.
“It’s only fitting that they be pampered with luxurious and glamorous accommodations before they venture on stage to present a Golden Globe before multimillions of viewers in 160 countries worldwide,” said Mr. Berk.”
He’s right; it’s only fitting.
Anywho, here’s a picture of a very happy President Berk backstage with Alfre Woodard and her daughter, Mavis, last season’s Miss Golden Globes. The HFPA pays its president approximately $72,000 a year.
The Berk election, by the way, was not without controversy. Berk lackey Jenny Cooney was not elected with him. Neither were a couple of other candidates whom the President endorsed. According to sources, Berk himself was unopposed as he is really serving the second year of a two year term. No word on the whereabouts of Berk waterboy Munawar Hosain, party animal extraordinaire.
