Janet Yang Elected Motion Picture Academy President

EXCLUSIVE: Mammoth Pictures has acquired film and TV rights to the bestselling novella Diary of a Murderer from award-winning Korean author Young-ha Kim. The company’s Creative Director Kourosh Ahari (The Night, Parallel) is set to direct an English-language feature adaptation, marking the first production under the deal, from a script by Henry Chaisson (Searchlight’s Antlers, Apple TV+’s Servant).

Earlier today the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences not only sent out their latest edition of their digital newsletter, A. Frame to their entire 10,000+ strong membership, they also alerted press and made it available to them as well just an hour later. The reason for all this? An “Exclusive” interview with new CEO Bill Kramer who last month replaced previous CEO Dawn Hudson.

After nearly half a century, the Academy is issuing a long-overdue apology to Sacheen Littlefeather for mistreatment at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973. At the time, "The Godfather" was the talk of the town, and it earned Hollywood icon Marlon Brando an Oscar for Best Actor that year.

The Godfather. At the time, Brando boycotted the Best Actor win on account of the misrepresentation of Native Americans in the film industry, and sent Littlefeather – herself an activist for Native Americans – in his place.Her appearance during the ceremony marked the first time a Native American woman had taken to the Oscars stage, but the reason for her presence was quickly met with heckling and boos from the audience.“[Brando] very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award,” Littlefeather said during the speech, “the reasons for this being the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry and on television.”Now, nearly five decades since the incident, the Academy has made public a letter sent to Littlefeather apologising for the “abuse [she] endured” in the wake of the speech.Written by Academy president David Rubin in June and published by the Academy Museum yesterday (August 15), the letter says the reception to Littlefeather – both during the ceremony and among Hollywood in the years since – “was unwarranted and unjustified.”“The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable.

onstage at the 1973 Academy Awards ceremony on behalf of Marlon Brando.The now-75-year-old was booed, laughed at and heckled for refusing Brando’s award for Best Actor in “The Godfather.” Now, almost 50 years later, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has offered her a formal apology.“The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified,” wrote academy President David Rubin in the note. “The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Monday that it has formally apologized to Sacheen Littlefeather over the actress’ famed appearance at the 1973 Oscars, where she appeared on Marlon Brando’s behalf to decline his Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Godfather.

The Academy has finally apologized to Sacheen Littlefeather.

Nearly 50 years ago, Littlefeather attended the Oscars in Brando’s place after the actor decided to boycott the ceremony out of protest for the portrayal of Native Americans in the entertainment industry. When Brando was named the winner of the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in “The Godfather,” Littlefeather gave a speech on Brando’s behalf declining the honor with a mix of applause and jeers, with presenters Raquel Welch and Clint Eastwood making dismissive jokes about Brando and Littlefeather’s actions later that evening. “You made a powerful statement that continues to remind us of the necessity of respect and the importance of human dignity,” Academy President David Rubin wrote.

At the start of the month, the Atlanta-based festival Music Midtown announced it would not be going forward in September. A reason for the cancellation was not given, though Billboard reported that Georgia's gun laws, which would have permitted firearms to be brought onto the festival grounds, led to organizers nixing the show. In a new interview with Billboard, Phillip Evans, the gun activist and blogger who threatened the lawsuit against Music Midtown, says he wants to "challenge" Live Nation's weapons policy banning guns inside Georgia amphitheaters.

William Earl Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood in-person celebration returns to Los Angeles on Aug. 11, presented by Facebook Gaming. This year’s honorees include producer, cook and host Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, actor Angus Cloud, singer and actress Halle Bailey, and singer and actress Becky G.

EXCLUSIVE: WME has upped Liam Buckley to agent in the motion picture literary department in the agency’s Beverly Hills office.

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)Tightened term limits helped made this year’s presidential election an unpredictable one.

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.

Clayton Davis Hollywood producer Janet Yang has been named the new president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by the organization’s Board of Governors. Yang, who is of Chinese descent, is the first Asian person ever to hold the position and the fourth woman behind Fay Kanin (1979-1983), Cheryl Boone Isaacs (2013-2017) and Bette Davis (Davis resigned after two months in 1941).Yang is beginning her first term as president and her second term as a Governor-at-Large.

Here’s a wish for Tuesday:

write.Madonna is scripting and directing her own musical biography film, with actress Julie Garner reportedly being offered the coveted role of the singer herself.“I have a very long script that is really hard for me to make shorter,” the “Like a Virgin” crooner told Variety recently. “I’ve been whittling away at it, but it’s like hacking off my limbs.”Madge also said the pressure is on, given her level of celebrity.“I’ve had an extraordinary life, I must make an extraordinary film,” she said.

Sydney Sweeney has baby fever!

Madonna continues to do things her own way.

Madonna has said she decided to make her own biopic in order to stop “misogynistic men” from taking over the project.As announced back in 2020, the Queen Of Pop is directing and co-writing the forthcoming film with Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody. Amy Pascal (Ghostbusters, Little Women) will serve as a producer.Last month, it was reported that Ozark actor Julia Garner had been offered the lead role after she “emerged the favourite” from over a dozen candidates.During a new interview with Variety, Madonna gave a brief update on the as-yet-untitled movie and explained why she took a more hands-on role.“I’ve had an extraordinary life, I must make an extraordinary film,” she said. “It was also a preemptive strike because a lot of people were trying to make movies about me.