The reign of John Bailey has mercifully come to an end and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences now has a new president, David Rubin. The first Casting Director to be AMPAS President, Rubin also is the second white male to hold the position after Cheryl Boone Isaacs impressive run from 2013-2017.  Is that a mistake? Should it even matter when the Academy is trying to diversify it’s ranks and the industry itself?

Continue reading David Rubin Elected New President of The Academy: Can He Lead The Academy Into The New Decade? at The Playlist.

After a dramatic backlash from the membership, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences agreed to reverse it’s initial decision to tape-delay four categories on the upcoming Oscars telecast. Now, all of the awards will be handed out live including Cinematography, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling and Live Action short. This comes after a very public back and forth between some of the biggest names in the industry and AMPAS president John Bailey and the organization’s Board of Governors.

Continue reading Academy Buckles: All Oscars Will Be Awarded On Live Telecast at The Playlist.

The drama between the Academy and a growing number of industry icons over plans to tape-delaying four categories has not died down. On Monday, AMPAS notified members four categories, Cinematography, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling and Live Action Short, would be handed out during commercial breaks and then edited into the program later on. Nominees, previous winners and members were not happy over what they see as unfair treatment of key members of a filmmaking team (not to mention industry).

Continue reading Oscars Telecast Drama Continues As ASC Responds To Academy at The Playlist.

John Bailey, the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, sent a letter to AMPAS members today detailing the changes to the 91st Academy Awards telecast. In the E-mail, he revealed the four categories that would not be revealed live on this year’s program, a change that was first hinted at in August. One of the categories was expected, the other three were not.

Bailey noted that Cinematography, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling and Live Action Short will be tape delayed this year.

Continue reading Oscars Officially Going Tape Delayed With Four Unexpected Categories at The Playlist.

In what has turned into a never-ending drama that might shed more light at the internal issues at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts more than anything else, Kevin Hart has now clarified he will not return to host the 91st Academy Awards.  According to Deadline, Hart has let AMPAS know he feels his return would be a distraction to the telecast and the show will now move on using multiple presenters instead.  

Continue reading Kevin Hart Will Not Return To Officially Host-less Oscars Telecast at The Playlist.

Recently, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences president John Bailey and Carol Littleton, a member of the Board of Governors, appeared at the EnergaCamerimage Film Festival in Bydgoszcz, Poland. While the discussion varied greatly, you better believe that the members of the Academy were asked about the recently shelved idea for a “Popular Film” category. And despite what seems to be unanimous outrage from film fans and Hollywood-types alike, Bailey says that the idea is still on the table.

Continue reading Academy President Says 2019 Oscars Could Lead To A Resurrection Of Infamous “Popular Film” Category at The Playlist.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has found its producing team for the 2019 Academy Awards and it’s a mix of a little something new and a little something familiar. Donna Gigliotti will be the primary producer and Glenn Weiss, who won an Emmy for directing the 90th Oscars in September (and then proposed to his girlfriend on stage), will co-produce and direct.

Jennifer Todd and Michael De Luca produced the last two Academy Awards telecasts and were not expected to return.

Continue reading Donna Gigliotti Set As Producer & Glenn Weiss As Co-Producer For 2019 Oscars at The Playlist.

The Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences convened on Tuesday night to determine who will lead them for the forthcoming year and, to no one’s surprise, John Bailey was re-elected as President.  The longtime cinematographer will now enter his second term after replacing Cheryl Boone Isaacs who was termed out last year.  This comes after Bailey was investigated and cleared of sexual harassment claims in March.

Continue reading John Bailey Earns Second Term As President Of The Academy at The Playlist.

Updated 6:17 PM PT:  Following the news earlier today that former 20th Century Fox Chairman Bill Mechanic resigned from the Academy’s Board of Governors,   The Hollywood Reporter has gotten a copy of the resignation letter sent to AMPAS President John Bailey and the rest of the Board.   It’s a harsh critique that tackles the organization’s efforts for inclusion (an industry problem in his opinion), the declining Oscar ratings (too many awards, too many indie films), recognizing non-theatrical features (Netflix), the over budget and late Academy museum and, perhaps more importantly “dedicated employees” who have left out of frustration.

Continue reading Bill Mechanic Rips Academy In Board of Governors Resignation Letter [Updated] at The Playlist.

Many were skeptical of the sexual harassment allegations that were levied against Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President John Bailey on March 13. That skepticism was clearly warranted after the organization cleared Bailey Tuesday night.

The Academy’s Membership and Administration Committee took one statement and their investigation concluded it was without merit. In a statement, the Academy noted, “The Committee unanimously determined that no further action was merited on this matter.

Continue reading Academy Clears President John Bailey Of Sexual Harassment Allegations at The Playlist.

In what can only be described as a dramatic Friday surprise, Variety reports that Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President John Bailey is being investigated for sexual harassment.  Bailey is in the middle of his first year as President of the Motion Picture Academy and is responsible for the Academy Awards and the upcoming Academy museum.

According to the trade outlet, the organization received three allegations of sexual harassment on Wednesday and immediately began an inquiry. 

Continue reading Academy Investigating AMPAS President John Bailey For Sexual Harassment at The Playlist.

In an unforeseen development, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors voted John Bailey as the new President of the organization Tuesday night. Bailey, who has been the head of the Cinematography branch of the Academy for the past 14 years and was a one-time Vice President, succeeds Cheryl Boone Isaacs who served the maximum consecutive four-year term.

Many believed the frontrunner for the position was Laura Dern who has close ties to Academy CEO Dawn Hudson, an employee of the Academy who serves in a contractual position.

Continue reading No Laura Dern Isn’t The New Academy President, Cinematographer John Bailey Is at The Playlist.