Hollywood Elsewhere (Free subscription) | 10/31/2009
"When Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Sid Ganis announced the expansion of the best picture category to 10 nominations back in June, everyone was talking about J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" being the kind of movie that might benefit from a wider field," writes Variety's Glenn Whipp. "Critics liked it; audiences loved it: It was the type of sturdy popcorn movie...
Variety.com (Free subscription) | 10/30/2009
Eye on the Oscars: Best Picture Preview: A glass half empty view of Oscar's new rules -- When Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Sid Ganis announced the expansion of the best picture category to 10 nominations back in June, everyone was talking about J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" being the kind of movie that might benefit from a wider field.
Sadly, No! (Free subscription) | 10/29/2009
In roughly four month’s time: The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, Academy President Sid Ganis announced today. There is always a collective wingnut freakout over teh Hollywood left’s big event, but next year’s could be particularly hilarious. Especially if Michael Jackson’s ‘This Is It’ wins an Oscar. At the very least, [...]...
TAG Blog (Free subscription) | 09/25/2009
100 degrees where I live. How toasty. How refreshing. And then there was : "Ice Age" helmer Chris Wedge will next direct "Leaf Men," a feature toon that Fox has committed to finance through its Fox Animation label, with Blue Sky Studios producing. The development comes after a fascinating tug-of-war over the project between Fox, Blue Sky Studios co-founder Wedge and Disney-based...
Company Town (Free subscription) | 09/23/2009
While it will likely be years before we know if Walt Disney Co.'s deal to buy Marvel Entertainment pays off for Bob Iger and Disney shareholders, several Marvel officers and board members will have to wait only a couple of...
Vulture (Free subscription) | 08/21/2009
Nikki Finke reports that Tom Hanks was the board of governors' top choice to replace the departing Sid Ganis as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, but that he turned down the gig (he'll serve as first vice-president instead), which ultimately went to veteran marketing and production executive Tom Sherak. This presumably makes Sherak the odds-on favorite to replace Hanks...
Upcoming Pixar (Free subscription) | 08/20/2009
After the maximum four years in office, AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences) president Sid Ganis has been replaced by Tom Sherak, elevated from treasurer. Sherak wasn’t the only person to get a promotion when the election took place last night. Of course we’re here to talk about Pixar’s own John Lasseter being named secretary of the organization! Prior to this, Lasseter...
Gold Derby (Free subscription) | 08/19/2009
Studio executive Tom Sherak has been chosen by his fellow members of the Board of Governors as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Sherak, a consultant to Marvel Studios, replaces PR guru Sid Ganis, who had served the maximum four consecutive one-year terms as chief honcho of the Oscars. The Board of Governors is comprised of three representatives from each of 14 branches...
Hollywood Elsewhere (Free subscription) | 08/19/2009
Studio marketing veteran Tom Sherak was elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Tuesday night, succeding Sid Ganis. Sherak is one of the nicest men I've ever known in any industry or realm. He was a guest at a film class I moderated back in '97, and the crowd loved him because, as one fellow put it, "he sounds like Joe Pesci." Sherak is one of the smartest and...
Variety.com (Free subscription) | 08/19/2009
Film News: Sid Ganis to serve on exec committee -- Tom Sherak has been elected prexy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, a one-year post.
Celebrity zone 24 hours (Free subscription) | 07/08/2009
Now that the Oscars reveals the Best Picture field to 10 films, things are going to get Cocoa Puffs crazy: The Hangover and Paul Blart for Best Picture; Transformers’ Megan Fox for Best Actress. I wasn't planning on resuscitating this blog until September, but with news this huge, I'll gladly make an exception. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that it will name...
Film News (Free subscription) | 07/07/2009
Another proud moment is going to be added to the pages of Rahman’s credits. The Music Guru of India has been invited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, along with 133 other artists and executives to join its organisation. The academy, the board behind Oscar awards, selects distinctive personalities - who made their mark in the theatrical motion pictures - to be the part the Academy’s...
forces of geek (Free subscription) | 07/07/2009
FoG is now in its seventh month of being online! During this wonderful time, I've reminisced, examined, lamented and disclosed, but to date I have not posted what I feel is a full-fledged tirade. With the recent announcement of the Academy Awards expanding the Best Picture category to 10 nominees, the time has now come for me to RANT. Dear Academy, must we have doubled the Best Picture nominees in...
The Washington Times (Free subscription) | 07/05/2009
During its 82-year existence, the Academy Awards have been subject to almost annual readjustments and changes of mind by its governing body, comprised of representatives chosen within the principal guilds and unions of the Hollywood movie industry. This tinkering with guidelines and bylaws can range from the merest tweaks to 180-degree reversals. Two weeks ago when Sidney Ganis, president of the Academy...
iCelebZ.com (Free subscription) | 07/02/2009
Hugh Jackman has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The "Australia" actor was asked by the Academy - which organizes and selects winners of the Oscars - to become a member of the honorary body, along with Anne Hathaway, Michael Cera, James Franco, Michelle Williams and "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle. Academy president Sid Ganis said:...
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