Oscars: Academy Welcomes New Governors Including Marlee Matlin, Horror Producer Jason Blum, Director Jason Reitman, and Doc Maker Chris Hegedus

Here’s the release from the Academy. Great new names have been added to the list of Governors, or board members. Including those I posted in the headline, Dion Beebe is one of the great cinematographers. And Megan Colligan is a PR trailblazer who rose to the top of the ranks at Paramount under the late Brad Grey. Chris Hegedus won the DGA Award for Best Documentary in 2000 for “Startup.com,” and made dozens of films with her late husband, the legendary DA Pennebaker including “The War Room.”

Congrats to all!

Elected to the Board for the first time:

Marlee Matlin, Actors Branch
Richard Hicks, Casting Directors Branch
Dion Beebe, Cinematographers Branch
Jason Reitman, Directors Branch
Chris Hegedus, Documentary Branch
Nancy Richardson, Film Editors Branch
Megan Colligan, Marketing and Public Relations Branch
Jason Blum, Producers Branch
Missy Parker, Production Design Branch
Marlon West, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch
Peter Devlin, Sound Branch
Paul Debevec, Visual Effects Branch 

Incumbent governors reelected to the Board:

Ruth E. Carter, Costume Designers Branch
Donna Gigliotti, Executives Branch
Howard Berger, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch
Eric Roth, Writers Branch

Returning to the Board after a hiatus:

Charles Fox, Music Branch

They will join returning governors Pam Abdy, Kate Amend, Bonnie Arnold, Lesley Barber, Charles Bernstein, Susanne Bier, Jon Bloom, Gary C. Bourgeois, Rob Bredow, Brooke Breton, Paul Cameron, Eduardo Castro, Bill Corso, Teri E. Dorman, Tom Duffield, Ava DuVernay, Linda Flowers, DeVon Franklin, Rodrigo García, Whoopi Goldberg, Lynette Howell Taylor, Larry Karaszewski, Laura C. Kim, Christina Kounelias, David Linde, Isis Mussenden, Stephen Rivkin, Howard A. Rodman, Terilyn A. Shropshire, Kim Taylor-Coleman, Wynn P. Thomas, Jennifer Todd, Jean Tsien, Mandy Walker, Rita Wilson, Janet Yang and Debra Zane.

As a result of this election, the Board comprises 54% women and 28% belonging to an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.

The Academy’s 17 branches are each represented by three governors, who may serve up to two three-year terms (consecutive or non-consecutive), followed by a two-year hiatus, after which eligibility renews for up to two additional three-year terms, for a lifetime maximum of 12 years.  The Board of Governors sets the Academy’s strategic vision, preserves the organization’s financial health, and assures the fulfillment of its mission.