Rethink.

Remember the name Tom Sherak . As of Tuesday night, August 18th, Sherak is the newly elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , voted by the organization's Board of Governors. Sherak becomes the 33rd president of the Academy, known for its annual presentation of its golden Oscar statuettes. He is also beginning his seventh year as a governor representing the Executives Branch — members of the Academy represent 15 general areas. He served as treasurer of the Academy during the past year. He will served a one-year term, after which time the board will vote again. According to the Academy: "Sherak, a marketing, distribution and production executive with more than four decades in the motion picture industry, is currently a consultant for Marvel Studios. Previously, Sherak was a partner at Revolution Studios where he oversaw the release of more than 40 films including “Black Hawk Down,” “Anger Management,” “Rent” and “Across the Universe.” So what does t...

Outgoing Academy President Sid Ganis made a surprise announcement Wednesday morning in Beverly Hills, Calif. As most media outlets reported, the number of nominees for the Best Picture category will be doubled to 10 at the 82nd Academy Awards, which will be presented on March 7, 2010. At the beginning of the press conference, Ganis said, "This morning's event is about the Academy Awards, but it may not be exactly what you think it is. “We'll be casting our net wider and in casting that net wider who knows what will turn up,” he said, adding that a documentary, animated or foreign language film could be included in the larger field. "And what do you know, maybe even a comedy in that group of 10," Ganis added sardonically. The reason for the change is somewhat retrospective and retroactive. For nine years there were 10 nominees; the 16th Academy Awards (1943) was the last year to include a field of that size; “Casablanca” was named Best Picture. In 1931/32, the...

Yesterday, the Academy announced key dates for next year's Academy Awards, the 82nd annual. Set your calendars... ABC will televise the 82nd Annual Academy Awards from the Kodak Theatre on Sunday, March 7, 2010, Academy President Sid Ganis announced yesterday. Key dates: Tuesday, December 1, 2009: Official Screen Credits forms due Monday, December 28, 2009: Nominations ballots mailed Saturday, January 23, 2010: Nominations polls close 5 p.m. PT Tuesday, February 2, 2010: Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PT, Samuel Goldwyn Theater Wednesday, February 10, 2010: Final ballots mailed Monday, February 15, 2010: Nominees Luncheon Saturday, February 20, 2010: Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards presentation Tuesday, March 2, 2010: Final polls close 5 p.m. PT Sunday, March 7, 2010: 82nd Annual Academy Awards presentation The blog will return to normal next week.

Academy President Sid Ganis was in Chicago Friday to open the " Meet the Oscars, Chicago " exhibition. He was at The Shops at North Bridge on Michigan Avenue downtown. All Chicago people need to see this! My friends and I went to the one adjacent to the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood last year. It was awesome to be able to hold an Oscar statuette - albeit for a limited time. Make sure you get there quick, though. Remember, this is the only exhibit this year so it will probably be packed . The exhibition closes next Sunday , Feb. 22nd (Oscar Sunday). Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. The president of the statuette maker, R.S. Owens, Scott Siegel helped cut the ribbon. Other notes: Some singing drama, as reported by E!: Peter Gabriel announced to Laurence Mark , producer of this year's ceremony, that he will be attending the Oscars, but he won't be performing during the Best Song medley with ...

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis and Oscar-winning actor and Academy member Forest Whitaker announced the 81st Annual Academy Award® nominees this morning. ( Full list here and video embedded at bottom of post.) Nominations highlights: Nom Count : "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," 13; "Slumdog Millionaire," 10; "Dark Knight" and "Milk," 8; "Doubt" and "Frost/Nixon" and "The Reader" and "WALL-E," 5. Best motion picture of the year : “ The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), “ Frost/Nixon ” (Universal), “ Milk ” (Focus Features), “ The Reader ” (The Weinstein Company) and “ Slumdog Millionaire ” (Fox Searchlight). Music, original song : "Down to Earth" (from " WALL-E "), "Jai Ho" and "O Saya" (from " Slumdog Millionaire "). Notably absent include Golden Globe nominees from "Gran Torino...