Exclusive: ‘Hugo’ hound headed to Golden Collar Awards

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In a move sure to send shockwaves through Hollywood and cause many to reevaluate their awards-season predictions, Alan Siskind, head of the Golden Collar Awards, told The Times today that Blackie, the canine star of Martin Scorsese’s ‘Hugo,’ will be granted a late-breaking nomination for best dog in a theatrical film after a massive write-in campaign.

The groundswell of support was sparked by Scorsese’s recent op-ed in The Times, in which the director of such iconic films as ‘Raging Bull’ and ‘Goodfellas’ admitted to feeling ‘severely slighted’ when Blackie was not initially nominated. Calling the sleek, imposing Doberman an antihero, Scorsese wrote, ‘I’m proud of Blackie, who laid it on the line and dared to risk the sympathy of her audience. Let’s just say that on the set, she had a fitting nickname: Citizen Canine.’

Scorsese’s call to action prompted Dog News Daily, the organizer of the awards, to promise Blackie a spot as a sixth nominee if the pooch garnered 500 write-ins on Facebook, a milestone achieved Monday morning.

‘Due to the outpouring of love and support from around the world from fans of Mr. Scorsese, his film ‘Hugo,’ and its canine star Blackie, the write-in campaign … for Blackie has been successful,’ Siskind said in a prepared statement.

Blackie’s nomination pits her squarely against Uggie, the winsome Jack Russell terrier nominated for roles both in ‘The Artist’ and ‘Water for Elephants’ and widely considered the frontrunner. The other nominees are Cosmo from ‘Beginners,’ Denver from ‘50/50’ and Hummer from ‘Young Adult.’ The winners will be announced Feb. 13.

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— Oliver Gettell