November 14, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: John Pavlik (310)247-3000
        

Beverly Hills, CA - Dennis Doty will be back to produce the pre-show for the 75th Anniversary Academy Awards^®, Oscar telecast producer Gil Cates announced today.

This will be Doty's third pre-show. He produced the first Oscar pre-show, which aired prior to the 71st Academy Awards in 1999, as well as the show preceding the 73rd Awards in 2001.

The 2003 show will air on the ABC Network at 5 p.m. PST, immediately preceding the Oscar telecast.

"It is a joy to work with Dennis, which is why he's my partner and has been my friend for more than 30 years," Cates said, "but more importantly, it is liberating because he will carry the burden and get the show done beautifully and I won't have to worry about it at all."

"I'm thrilled that Gil has turned to me again to produce the Oscar pre-show," Doty said. "Covering the glamour and excitement on the red carpet, especially on Oscar's 75th anniversary, is like televising the overture to the greatest event on television. That, plus the production team that Gil assembles and the assistance of the terrific Academy staff makes producing the pre-show a joy for me, and I think that that will again rub off on the show."

Together with partner Cates, Doty formed Cates/Doty Productions twelve years ago with a focus on development and production of motion pictures, mini-series and specials for television. Cates/Doty Productions telecasts this last year include James Agee's "A Death in the Family" for PBS Masterpiece Theater; Donald Margulies' "Collected Stories" for PBS Hollywood Presents; "An American Celebration at Ford's Theatre" for ABC and "Rockin' for the USA: A National Salute to the U.S. Military" from the aircraft carrier Harry S Truman for CBS. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2002 will be presented on March 23, 2003, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland^® and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.