Mark and Condon to Guide 81st Oscar® Telecast

Beverly Hills, CA –– Producer Laurence Mark has been tapped to produce and writer-director Bill Condon to executive produce the 81st Annual Academy Awards® telecast, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis announced today. It will be their first involvement in the production of an Oscar show.

“Larry and Bill are fresh thinkers who will bring a unique perspective to the Oscar show,” Ganis said. “That fact, joined with their enormous collective talent and enthusiasm, will serve the 81st Awards proceedings perfectly.”

The filmmakers each already had distinguished careers when, in 2006, Mark produced and Condon wrote and directed “Dreamgirls” – their first time teaming. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won two Oscars®, including one for Jennifer Hudson for Actress in a Supporting Role.

“What a thrill to produce the Oscar show,” Mark said. “I’m excited about this opportunity and look forward to the challenge of a live television show that celebrates the very best in film.”

“The Oscars are the ultimate recognition of excellent work in movies, and I’m so pleased to be part of putting the show together,” Condon said.

Mark is currently in post-production on “Julie & Julia,” starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams and written and directed by Nora Ephron for release next year. His other credits include “I, Robot,” “The Lookout,” “Finding Forrester” and “Jerry Maguire,” for which he received a Best Picture Oscar nomination. He also served as executive producer on “As Good As It Gets” and “Working Girl.”

Condon is writing a film, which he will direct, about Richard Pryor for The Weinstein Company. He wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for “Chicago” and wrote and directed “Kinsey,” as well as “Gods and Monsters,” for which he won the Academy Award® for Adapted Screenplay.

Academy Award nominations in all categories will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2009. The 81st Academy Awards presentation will be telecast live by the ABC Television Network on Sunday, February 22, 2009.

Editors: Downloadable images are available at http://photos.oscars.org.

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards – in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners – the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.