The Oscars are now run totally by women. You can feel it getting better already. Tonight the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences picked a new president. They chose their first female in 30 years, since Fay Kanin ended her term in 1983. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, who comes the public relations branch, will take over Hawk Koch closes out his term.
Boone-Isaacs is a much respected veteran of the Academy who ran the successful Oscar campaigns at Paramount for “Forest Gump” and “Braveheart.” She’s also advised on many Oscar campaigns and worked at New Line as VP head of marketing . She has her own consulting business now and helped steer many films, including “The King’s Speech,” to Oscars. She knows quality and has a lot of respect for Academy history.
Also elected tonight: John Lasseter became first vice president; Jeffrey Kurland and Leonard Engelman were elected to vice president posts; Dick Cook was elected treasurer; and Phil Robinson was elected secretary.
Boone Isaacs now joins Dawn Hudson, who runs the day to day operations of the Academy. And it’s all good, even though we’ll miss Hawk Koch. Academy presidents get a two year term. Koch only served one year because he was already in the middle of a term as Governor. (Don’t ask.)
