Scott Menzel

Last updated

Scott Menzel
Born
Scott Dennis Menzel [1]

1982
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s) Film critic, writer, blogger
SpouseAshley Menzel

Scott Dennis Menzel born November 9, 1982, is an American film critic. Menzel currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the entertainment website We Live Entertainment which he founded in 2011. [2] Prior to We Live Entertainment, Menzel reviewed films under the pseudonym MovieManMenzel for outlets such as Joblo.com and IMDb while also managing his own website MovieManMenzel.com which is now defunct. [3]

In 2017, Menzel co-founded the Hollywood Critics Association alongside Scott Mantz and Ashley Menzel where he currently serves as the chairman. [4] [5] The association's stated purpose is to be a critics' group that is diverse and supports underrepresented voices. They are the first critics' group to separate directing honors by gender. [6]

Menzel graduated with a B.A. degree in Mass Media Communications from Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, and has a Masters in Electronic Media from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. [7] Menzel was the host of Popcorn Talk's Film Critics Weekly on the defunct Popcorn Talk Network. [8]

In August 2022, Menzel and the HCA were the subjects of an article in The Hollywood Reporter after numerous members resigned, including the group's President, amid a social conflict that occurred with a member. In the THR article, Menzel also volunteered that he earned $60K “doing Whole Foods deliveries on the side.” [9]

Several other controversies have dogged Menzel and the HCA since. In January 2023, the Los Angeles Times ranked the film awards 15th out of 15 events, highlighting its "improbable continued existence" and Menzel, being “obsessed” with Kristen Stewart, to whom he presented an award. [10]

On June 2, 2023, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that HCA President Nikki Fowler had resigned from the organization citing a "hostile, biased" work environment. [11] On June 14, 2023, The Wrap announced that the Hollywood Critics Association was going to "restructure" amid accusations of racial bias. [12] The announcement came after Fowler went public with accusations against the executive team and board, headed by co-founder, Scott Menzel, who remains at the head of the organization. On August 28, 2023, the organization changed its name to Hollywood Creative Alliance with the guidance of corporate operation strategist Leslie Short of the Cavu Group. Under Short's instruction, the HCA was reformed as a 501 c6 membership-based non-profit organization. [13] [14] [15]

However, following the 29th Critics' Choice Awards in January 2024, the HCA once again found itself at the center of a fresh controversy and allegations regarding ethics and voting. As a result, board members of the Critics Choice Association (CCA) enacted a new policy that prohibits members of the HCA from maintaining their membership in the CCA; if members wish to remain apart of the former organization, they most inform them that they have "successfully resigned" from the latter. The CCA explained in a message to its members that they have received evidence that a representative of the HCA "improperly" suggested to at least one film studio that their organization could influence Critics Choice Awards voting, causing the studio to reach out to the CCA and "request that action be taken to protect the integrity of our awards. Of course, that HCA threat was empty, but CCA cannot ignore this." [16] Menzel was readmitted to the CCA in the summer of 2023 after previously being removed from the group in early 2020.

A few days later, via an article in The Hollywood Reporter , it transpired that it was Menzel himself who sent the email declaring: "It's important to note to ALL TALENT that the Critics Choice voting opens this weekend, and there are about 50 members who are part of both groups ... I really would hammer that point home... because it could be a make or break for a lot of people." He also highlighted other organizations saying "there are several other members who are in BAFTA, SAG and the Academy…" [17]

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References

  1. ↑ Gardner, Chris (February 13, 2020). "Hollywood Critics' Groups Squabble Over Who Is a Hollywood Critic". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Scott Menzel". Muck Rack.
  3. ↑ "We Live Entertainment' About Section". We Live Entertainment. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  4. ↑ "How Coronavirus is Impacting Hollywood's Freelance Film Critics and Writers". Variety . April 29, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Hollywood Critics' Groups Squabble Over Who Is a Hollywood Critic". The Hollywood Reporter . February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  6. ↑ "There is room for everyone': 14 film critics on making media more inclusive". Los Angeles Times . July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Alumni US | Rowan University, Greater Philadelphia Area". alumnius.net.
  8. ↑ "Film Critics Weekly". Popcorn Talk Network. August 3, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Hollywood Critics Association in Turmoil as Numerous Members Resign, Including President, Amid Questions About Finances and Voting". The Hollywood Reporter . August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Awards show power rankings, from worst to first". Los Angeles Times . January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Hollywood Critics Association President Resigns, Citing "Hostile, Biased" Work Environment (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Hollywood Critics Association to Restructure Amid Accusations of Racial Bias". June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  13. ↑ "HCA Unveils Initial Plans to Expand the Organization". Hollywood Creative Alliance . August 28, 2023. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  14. ↑ Schneider, Michael (August 27, 2023). "Hollywood Critics Association Reveals New Name, Restructuring Following Controversies (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  15. ↑ The Hindu Bureau (August 28, 2023). "Hollywood Critics Association renamed Hollywood Creative Alliance amid controversy". The Hindu . Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  16. ↑ Zee, Michaela (January 17, 2024). "HCA Members Will No Longer Maintain Membership in Critics Choice Association, New Policy States". Variety. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  17. ↑ Feinberg, Scott (January 9, 2024). "HCA Disputes Allegations of Influence Peddling As Questionable Communication Comes to Light (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
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