August 8, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  John Pavlik - (310) 247-3000

Beverly Hills, CA - Academy Award^® winner Frank R. Pierson, a governor representing the writers branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, was elected president of the Academy Tuesday night (8/7) by the organization's Board of Governors.

Pierson, who begins his eighth year as a governor, served as a vice president of the Academy last year. He succeeds Robert Rehme, who had served the maximum four consecutive one-year terms in the office.

A past president of the Writers Guild, Pierson has been nominated three times for an Academy Award, for "Cat Ballou" (with Walter Newman) and "Cool Hand Luke" in the adapted screenplay category, and he took home the Oscar^® for his original screenplay of "Dog Day Afternoon." Pierson has also directed a number of high-profile pictures, including the 1976 "A Star Is Born" and such well-regarded cable-tv projects as "Citizen Cohn," "Truman" and this year's "Conspiracy."

Roger Mayer, an executives branch governor, was elected first vice president, sound branch governor Don Rogers and actors branch governor Kathy Bates were elected vice presidents, music branch governor Alan Bergman was elected treasurer and producers branch governor Saul Zaentz was elected secretary. Rehme will automatically serve this year as Immediate Past President, an officer slot.

Mayer and Zaentz have not previously served as officers of the Academy. Rogers has previously served two terms as vice president, one term as treasurer and eight terms as secretary. Bates has served one term each as secretary and vice president. Bergman has served four terms as the Academy's first vice president, three terms as vice president and once as the organization's secretary.

"I accept the presidency with great humility," Pierson told the board. "Bob Rehme has left a great gift to us all with his four years of service, and I look forward to carrying on in his tradition. One thing I know for sure; he's left a very clean desk."

Pierson was first elected to the Board of Governors in 1993 and served one three-year term. He was elected to the board for another three-year term in 1997 and was re-elected in 2000.

Board members serve three-year terms, while Academy officers serve one-year terms, with a maximum of four consecutive terms in any one office.