After a tumultuous reign under David Rubin, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has voted for a new president. The winner of that election is producer Janet Yang. The 66-year-old New York native becomes only the second person of color to hold the position at the Academy (after Cheryl Boone Isaacs) and the fourth woman (after Bette Davis, Fay Kanin, and Isaacs).
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Yang reportedly beat out faith-based producer Devon Franklin for the position.
Recently promoted Academy CEO Bill Kramer noted, “Janet is a tremendously dedicated and strategic leader who has an incredible record of service at the Academy. She has been instrumental in launching and elevating several Academy initiatives on membership recruitment, governance, and equity, diversity, and inclusion. I am thrilled that she is taking on the esteemed role of Academy President and look forward to working closely with her on our shared vision to serve our membership, celebrate the collaborative arts and sciences of motion pictures, and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.”
Yang’s producing credits include “The Joy Luck Club,” “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” “Zero Effect,” “High Crimes,” “Dark Matter,” “Shanghai Calling” and “Over the Moon.” She won an Emmy Award for the HBO film “Indictment: The McMartin Trial.” A member of the Academy’s Producers Branch since 2002, Yang most recently served on the Board as vice president and chair of the Membership Committee and prior to that, the Membership and Governance Committee. She is also co-chair of the Academy’s Asian Affinity Group.
Additionally, the following positions have also been filled.
Teri E. Dorman, Vice President (chair, Membership Committee)
Donna Gigliotti, Vice President/Secretary (chair, Governance Committee)
Lynette Howell Taylor, Vice President (chair, Awards Committee)
Larry Karaszewski, Vice President (chair, History and Preservation Committee)
David Linde, Vice President/Treasurer (chair, Finance Committee)
Isis Mussenden, Vice President (chair, Museum Committee)
Kim Taylor-Coleman, Vice President (chair, Equity and Inclusion Committee)
Wynn P. Thomas, Vice President (chair, Education and Outreach Committee)
Along with Yang, this means six of the nine members of the Board of Governors Executive Committee are now women.
Yang, along with Kramer, will have to steady a ship that has seen a successful launch of the Academy Museum, but ongoing controversy over the Oscars telecast. This past year, a significant number of below-the-line categories were handed out before the ceremony began and the industry is still reeling from Will Smith attacking Chris Rock during the program. The show also endured its second worst ratings in decades.
How Yang plans on tackling these outstanding issues remains to be seen.