The hottest Awards Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Oscar the Grouch

Gideon's Substack • 7 implied HN points • 02 Mar 25
🎭️ Culture Film Criticism Entertainment Events Awards
  1. Oscar movies often don't match personal taste, despite their prestige. It's interesting how we expect serious films to be good but sometimes they aren't.
  2. Some films gain Oscar nominations for political reasons rather than quality, and this can lead to unexpected viewer reactions.
  3. The film industry is changing, with fewer mid-budget, serious films being made, which affects what audiences are excited to see. Maybe it's time to wish for better films that speak to a wider audience.

‘Emilia Pérez’ and the Curse of Oscar Bait

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1358 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Film Awards Media Entertainment Arts
  1. The film 'Emilia Pérez' is a strong Oscar contender, despite losing money at the box office. Many viewers may feel left out because it wasn't made with them in mind.
  2. Oscar bait films are designed to catch the attention of Academy voters, who often favor serious dramas and social commentary. This leads to films that resonate more with industry insiders than with general audiences.
  3. Past Oscar winners like 'Moonlight' and 'Nomadland' show a pattern of how the awards often favor poignant stories, even if they don't perform well commercially.

Book Review Contest 2024 Winners

Astral Codex Ten • 8947 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
📚 Literature Book Reviews Writing Awards Creative Writing
  1. The winners of the 2024 Book Review Contest have been announced, with AmandaFromBethlehem taking first place. She received $2,500 for her review of 'Two Arms And A Head'.
  2. A variety of interesting books were reviewed by participants, showcasing unique perspectives and diverse interests. Some other notable reviews included titles like 'Nine Lives' by David Matolcsi and 'How The War Was Won' by Jack Thorlin.
  3. All winners and finalists earn a free subscription and the chance to pitch essay ideas for potential publication. There are suggestions for future contests to change the format or even skip a year to allow participants more reading time.

Agents, Awards, Taylor Swift, The Day Job, and This Very Thing You Are Reading

Notes from a Small Press • 26 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
📚 Literature Publishing Writing Awards Cultural Commentary
  1. It’s important for writers to understand the role of agents in the publishing industry. Agents can help negotiate deals and represent a writer's best interests.
  2. Awards can play a big role in a writer's visibility and career. Winning an award can open doors and attract new readers.
  3. It's okay to have other jobs while pursuing writing. Many successful authors started out with a day job before making it big.

The CASEY Award!

JoeBlogs • 2712 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Baseball Books Awards History Biographies
  1. The CASEY Award is a prestigious honor for baseball books, with a history dating back to 1983.
  2. MLB sponsorship for the CASEY Award could be beneficial in promoting baseball literature.
  3. The list of past CASEY Award winners showcases a diverse range of baseball books over the years.
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barbie didn't direct itself

Airplane Mode with Liz Plank • 2535 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Film Gender Awards Diversity Entertainment
  1. The lack of Oscars nominations for the Barbie movie highlights gender bias in the film industry
  2. Only eight female directors have ever been nominated in the 95-year history of the Academy Awards, showing a significant gender disparity
  3. The success of the Barbie movie, despite lack of recognition, shows the industry's need for change and the importance of celebrating female creators

A Master Animator's Masterwork

Animation Obsessive • 4126 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Film Awards Artists Technique
  1. Art Babbitt, a renowned animator, considered his best work to be an animation sequence in a lesser-known UPA cartoon called 'Grizzly Golfer'.
  2. Babbitt's animation style for the bear chase scene was a blend of Disney's fluidity and UPA's limited animation approach, showcasing his technical skill and creativity.
  3. The UPA animation style, including 'limited animation,' was a deliberate artistic choice that differed from Disney's constant motion approach, providing a unique aesthetic to animated scenes.

Fullbore Friday

CDR Salamander • 1238 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
💾 History Military World War II Awards
  1. The article discusses a submarine mission during World War II targeting a Japanese cruiser.
  2. The crew faced challenges like cramped conditions, faulty equipment, and the risk of being detected by the enemy.
  3. Despite these difficulties, the crew successfully completed the mission, showcasing bravery and teamwork.

Notes not from Cannes

Thoughts on Writing • 179 implied HN points • 24 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Creativity Purpose Advertising Awards Diversity
  1. Purpose in marketing needs to be rigorously examined to ensure it genuinely makes a positive impact on society, beyond just emotional storytelling.
  2. Judges should be empowered to focus on creativity in awards, ensuring entries are judged based on creativity rather than personal criteria or biases.
  3. There is a concern that the focus on purpose and diversity in awards may be devaluing creativity and leading to work that is detached from what the public actually likes.

Welcome to new subscribers

Not On Your Team, But Always Fair • 1022 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
📚 Literature Authors Novels Awards Publication Genres
  1. The Substack newsletter welcomes 500 new subscribers with free access and showcases the work of writer Lorenzo Warby.
  2. The author, Helen Dale, uses her platform to promote and support Lorenzo's essays and work.
  3. The newsletter covers a wide range of topics including politics and culture, with a focus on unique perspectives and interpretations.

Nobel Prize for Gilligan and Simon?

Bastiat's Window • 373 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Literature TV shows Cinematography Characters Awards
  1. The Swedish Academy could award the Nobel Prize in Literature to TV writers/producers Vince Gilligan and David Simon for their exceptional storytelling.
  2. Television has evolved from a 'vast wasteland' to a medium producing significant literary works, raising questions about the enduring legacy of modern TV series.
  3. Gilligan and Simon's works like 'Breaking Bad' and 'The Wire' have profound impact, deep ethical questions, and memorable characters that rival classic literature.

The Fever Dream of Barbenheimer

The Ankler • 294 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Movies Entertainment Celebrities Awards
  1. Barbie and Oppenheimer faced off at the Oscars, but only one emerged as a clear favorite.
  2. Having two popular films as major players is good for attracting viewers, but sets up disappointment for fans of the losing film.
  3. Barbie faced snubs in key categories like best director and best actress nominations, causing disappointment among fans.

✍️ Journalism Awards, Events, Fellowships and Trainings ✍️ — January 12

Inside The Newsroom • 216 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🚌 Education Awards Fellowships Events Training Webinar
  1. The post highlights various journalism awards, events, fellowships, and trainings available, including details on the programs, deadlines, and organizations offering them.
  2. There is a focus on opportunities for journalists to improve their skills, such as through leadership training, investigative reporting fellowships, and workshops on topics like newsroom safety and campaign finance reporting.
  3. Employers and recruiters can access promotion opportunities for job openings, while journalists can earn free paid subscriptions through a referral program.

Genre Grapevine on the Hugo Awards’ “not eligible” problem

Genre Grapevine • 176 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Awards Science fiction Genre Publication
  1. The 2023 Hugo Awards had issues with works being deemed 'not eligible' for the final ballot despite earning nominations.
  2. There were concerns of censorship or outside influence affecting the selection process.
  3. Calls for changes to the World Science Fiction Society constitution and Hugo Award rules to prevent future controversies.

‘Young New Zealander of the Year’ award has gone to the man who helped stoke up violence against women.

A B’Old Woman • 539 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gender Issues Violence Activism Awards Media
  1. A man who encouraged violence against women received a major award in New Zealand. This has raised concerns about the values being celebrated in society.
  2. Media and activists seemed to spread negativity towards a women's rally, which led to violent confrontations. Many believe this hostility shut down healthy discussions.
  3. The award recipient's identity is also controversial, as he identifies as a trans person but did not always present that way. This situation has sparked debate about gender identity and recognition.

Making Them Laugh, Making Them Think

Everything Is Amazing • 882 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🔬 Science Research Publication Awards Accessibility Communication
  1. Substack has launched a new feature called Notes, resembling Twitter but with a more positive tone.
  2. Legal language is often unnecessarily complex and difficult to read due to factors like jargon and convoluted sentence structures.
  3. The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate quirky and humorous scientific research, shedding light on interesting discoveries with a touch of lightheartedness.

Award Shows and Other Human Things

The Bottom Feeder • 242 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Awards Entertainment Art Pop culture Movies
  1. Awards shows are fun, even if they're silly and trivial. It's enjoyable to argue about them and engage in the social experience of celebrating achievements.
  2. Awards fulfill various human needs like celebrating excellence, reflecting on the past year, and providing recommendations for the future.
  3. Creating a successful award show requires scale, respectability, and seriousness in a lighthearted way. Video game awards may struggle to find this balance.

Impossible to Please Everyone

Soaring Twenties • 170 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Film Art Media Awards Entertainment
  1. The Oscars cannot please everyone due to the changing nature of audiences, the difficulty in selecting winners, and the evolution of cinema distribution.
  2. The concept of 'Best Picture' actually refers to 'Best Producing,' recognizing the producers' influence and power in delivering a high-quality commercial film.
  3. Despite criticisms, Oscar-nominated films are generally well-made and deserving of attention, showcasing a variety of stories and talent in the film industry.

Genre Grapevine for September 2023

Genre Grapevine • 137 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
📚 Literature Magazines Authors Awards Book Bans
  1. Good news in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres, such as a well-received live action adaptation and the Writers Guild of America strike victory.
  2. Concerns surrounding X-Twitter and the shift towards the Bluesky platform due to recent changes implemented by Elon Musk.
  3. Debates on artificial intelligence and the legal implications of using copyrighted works to train AI systems, as well as the impact on genre magazines and book ban controversies.

Genre Grapevine for October 2023

Genre Grapevine • 78 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Literature Fiction Art & Illustration News Awards
  1. Small acts of goodness matter the most in our world, especially for children enjoying special moments like Halloween.
  2. Genre magazines are struggling due to changes like Amazon ending digital subscriptions, impacting revenue and leading to shifts like electronic editions replacing print.
  3. X-Twitter changes by Elon Musk affect how authors share linked articles, making it harder for them to reach readers on the platform.

✍️ Journalism Awards, Events, Fellowships and Training ✍️ — October 20

Inside The Newsroom • 78 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🚌 Education Awards Events Mentoring Scholarships
  1. The post provides updates on various journalism awards, events, fellowships, and trainings
  2. The calendar includes opportunities like fellowships, scholarships, mentorship programs, and skill-building webinars
  3. Journalists can benefit from diverse resources, support, and financial assistance through these opportunities

Star athletes celebrated at 2023 Murray Bridge Sports Awards

Murray Bridge News • 78 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🎾 Sports Athletes Awards Events Community Achievements
  1. Seven local stars were celebrated at the Murray Bridge Sports Awards, showcasing talent from various sports.
  2. Nicky Smith was honored as sports volunteer of the year for her dedication off the court in netball.
  3. Andrew Heard, Janet Smith, and Megan Knight were recognized for their achievements in shooting, weightlifting, and bodybuilding respectively.

✍️✍️ Awards, Conferences, Events and Fellowship Deadlines ✍️✍️ — February 17

Inside The Newsroom • 78 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Events Journalism Training Awards Conferences
  1. The post shares information about upcoming journalism awards, conferences, events, and fellowship deadlines for February 17.
  2. A highlight is the Freelancer Support Scheme providing grants and assistance to journalists working independently.
  3. The post also mentions events like investigating the war in Ukraine, the art of the newsletter, and opportunities like fellowships and training programs in journalism.

Hard Rock & Metal At THE GRAMMYs

Stream N' Destroy • 58 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🎶 Music Rock Metal Awards History
  1. The Best Metal Performance category remained while Best Hard Rock Performance went away after being combined briefly in 2012 and 2013.
  2. There is a mix of genre acts in various rock-related categories at the GRAMMYs, including Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Album.
  3. The Academy sometimes misses the mark by nominating legacy acts for cover songs or older work, which can overshadow newer achievements and younger acts in the music industry.

✍️✍️ Awards, Conferences, Events and Fellowship Deadlines ✍️✍️ — February 24

Inside The Newsroom • 58 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23
🚌 Education Awards Conferences Events Fellowships
  1. The post highlights upcoming journalism awards, conferences, events, and fellowship deadlines for February 24.
  2. It features opportunities like scholarships, awards, workshops, and training programs for journalists and media professionals.
  3. There are diverse offerings, such as Global Shining Light Award, NABJ Scholarships, and Investigative Journalist Equity Initiative.