Ganis re-elected as Academy topper
AMPAS president nabs a fourth term
More Articles:
Most Viewed:
'New Moon' breaks box office records(6423 views)'Avatar' toys with augmented reality(2557 views)Spielberg, King team on 'Dome'(2464 views)Ever capable entrepreneur(1814 views)Planet 51(1636 views)'Oprah' to end run in 2011(1476 views) |
The Acad’s board of governors voted Ganis a fourth term as topper on Tuesday night.
In other board of governor positions, past president and executives branch governor Robert Rehme was re-elected first VP; producers branch governors Kathleen Kennedy and Hawk Koch are now VPs; executives branch governor Tom Sherak was elected treasurer; and public relations branch governor Cheryl Boone Isaacs was tapped secretary.
Ganis told Daily Variety that the Academy still has much to accomplish in his fourth term, including the opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures off Vine Street in Hollywood, behind the ArcLight Cinemas. If production remains on schedule, Ganis said the museum should open some time in late 2012.
"It’s a big job, and there’s a big fund-raising effort we need to begin," Ganis said. "Our architects and designers are working on it right now. We’re moving ahead in every aspect of the project."
On a more immediate front, Ganis said he and the board are already looking ahead at the 2009 Oscar kudocast — scheduled for Feb. 22 at the Kodak Theater — and seeking ways to increase viewership while keeping the tradition of the show intact.
"We have a big job ahead of us this year," he said. "We lost some momentum last year and will do everything to try and gain it back. We want to innovate but be completely and totally loyal to the integrity of the Oscars."
Last week, Justin Timberlake was buzzed about as a possible host. The Academy flatly denied that Timberlake has been asked, but when asked if next year’s emcee might be someone of Timberlake’s twentysomething generation, Ganis said, "I wouldn’t say so, but it’s an open game. We’ll see how it progresses. We want everyone to tune in, and we need to make an effort to grab the audience. It’s much tougher these days."
New term will be Ganis’ last consecutive cycle as president, as there is a maximum of four terms for any one office. Academy board members serve three-year terms, while officers serve one year.
Ganis, who followed Frank Pierson as president, founded the Out of the Blue Entertainment shingle and has an office on the Sony lot. His most recent film as producer was "Akeelah and the Bee," and he’s currently working on "The Governess," with Jennifer Lopez, and a bigscreen version of "I Dream of Jeannie."
