September 6, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  John Pavlik - (310) 247-3000

Beverly Hills, CA - Producer and executive Laura Ziskin has been tapped to produce the 74th Annual Academy Awards telecast, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Frank Pierson announced today.

It will be Ziskin's first involvement with the production of an Oscar^® telecast. The March 24, 2002, telecast will be beamed for the first time from the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland^TM, the first presentation to be broadcast from a new venue since 1969.

Laura Ziskin

Ziskin is no stranger to Academy Award^® success - pictures she has produced or executive produced have received 10 nominations and two statuettes. The producer of a dozen films since 1985's "Murphy's Romance," including the upcoming "Spider-Man," Ziskin also was executive producer of "As Good As It Gets" and "Pretty Woman."

Before forming Laura Ziskin Productions in 1999, Ziskin had served for five years as founder and president of Fox 2000.

"This show is one of the most difficult - if not the most difficult - producing jobs in show business," Pierson said. "In looking for someone who can carry on the level of excellence Gil Cates has established, Laura Ziskin brings intelligence, experience and a wit expressed in everything she has done. "

"In an environment where there is an awards show or two or more every week, the Academy Awards Show is still the jewel in the crown, the Big Kahuna," Ziskin said. "I have been watching the Oscars^® for five decades and it was actually one of my childhood dreams to produce this unique event, which has become a part of our culture and which year after year celebrates the art, the glitter and the glamour of the movies.

"I intend to borrow shamelessly from my predecessors, including Gil Cates, the Zanucks, Quincy Jones and others, and I will do everything I can to make the 74th Academy Awards Show one you will be happy you stayed up to watch."

The 74th Oscar telecast will again be preceded by the Academy's official arrivals pre-show from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Ziskin also will serve as executive producer of that show.

After graduating from the USC School of Cinema, Ziskin began her career as a development executive, moving into feature films with Jon Peters' production company where she worked on the remake of "A Star Is Born," starring Barbra Streisand.

Ziskin formed Fogwood Films with partner Sally Field in 1984, and produced "Murphy's Romance," which received a Best Actor nomination for James Garner and a cinematography nomination for William A. Fraker.

As an independent producer, she cast then-relatively-unknown actors Kevin Costner and Sean Young with veteran Gene Hackman and produced the hit thriller "No Way Out" for Orion Pictures.

In 1990, Ziskin executive produced Touchstone Pictures' "Pretty Woman," starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, who received a Best Actress nomination for her role.

Ziskin executive produced "As Good As It Gets" in 1997. The film received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and three acting nods, and its stars, Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt, took home the leading role Oscars in the acting categories.

Ziskin's other producing credits include "What About Bob?," based on a story by Ziskin and two-time Oscar winner Alvin Sargent; "The Doctor;" "Hero," again based on a story by her and Alvin Sargent; "To Die For;" "D.O.A.;" "The Rescue" and "Everybody's All-American."

As a television producer, Ziskin served as executive producer with George Clooney and Pam Williams for the live CBS presentation of "Fail Safe." This fall, Ziskin executive produced the Norman Jewison-directed "Dinner with Friends" for HBO. She also will executive produce "Tarzan" alongside David Gerber for the WB Network and Warner Bros. Television for Fall 2002.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2001 will be presented on March 24, 2002, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland^TM. Sunday at the Oscars^® will be televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. (PST) with a half-hour arrivals segment.

Editor's Please Note:
A downloadable photo of Laura Ziskin is available on the Academy's website www.oscars.org/press/photos