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.
Additionally, AMPAS elected the officer positions including Lois Burwell to First Vice President (chair, Awards and Events Committee), Sid Ganis to Vice President (chair, Museum Committee), Larry Karaszewski to Vice President (chair, Preservation and History Committee), Nancy Utley to Vice President (chair, Education and Outreach Committee), Jim Gianopulos to Treasurer (chair, Finance Committee) and David Rubin to Secretary (chair, Membership and Administration Committee). Burwell, Gianopulos, Rubin and Utley were re-elected to their posts. Ganis, who returned to the board this year, served as Academy President from 2005-2009. This will be the first officer stint for Karaszewski who replaces Kathleen Kennedy who previously served two years in the same position. Ganis replaced Michael Tronick.
Bailey is the first cinematographer to hold the position of Academy President. His credits include “Ordinary People,” “American Gigolo,” “The Big Chill,” “Groundhog Day,” “As Good as It Gets,” “The Anniversary Party,” “The Way Way Back” and “A Walk in the Woods.” While a winner of the ASC Lifetime Achievement Award Bailey has actually never won nor been nominated for an Oscar.
The Academy is best known for putting on the Academy Awards, but it is also responsible for numerous philanthropic efforts and has been focused on the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures which is scheduled to open in 2019. The 91st Oscars will be held on Feb. 24, 2019.