Janet Yang Has Just Been Elected President Of The Academy

Today, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Janet Yang as its new president. Yang, who has been involved in movies such as “The Joy Luck Club” and “Over the Moon,” was elected to the position by the Oscars’ Board of Governors, The Hollywood Reporter reports. Although Yang has been part of the Oscar producers’ branch since 2002, her career began decades earlier.

In 1987, Yang was credited as a project consultant for “Empire of the Sun,” before going on to produce “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” “High Crimes,” and “Indictment: The McMartin Trial,” an HBO film about the Satanic Panic that won her an Emmy in 1995. Currently, she is head of Janet Yang Productions, which makes films like “Over the Moon,” an Oscar nominee for Netflix.

Yang’s election makes history for the Academy

In the past, Yang served as a governor-at-large on the Academy’s board, a position designed to advocate for equity and inclusion. Due to the outcry raised by the lack of diversity at the Oscars in 2015, these positions were created by the Academy President. However, Yang defeated producer DeVon Franklin in a race for the position of president.

Upon Yang’s election, Academy CEO Bill Kramer issued the following statement: Yang will succeed casting director David Rubin in the role and will be the first governor-at-large to serve in this role. A pillar was dedicated in Yang’s honor at the new Academy Museum to honor her work supporting Asian-American advancement in Hollywood, according to THR.

In the industry’s biggest award show, the change in leadership could prove a welcome one for the voting body. Even though the Oscar ceremony captured headlines this year, ratings dropped by 13.73 million viewers compared to pre-Covid telecasts, which regularly garnered 20 million or more viewers.

Dakota Cameron

Dakota Cameron is a seasoned web content writer and covers the Hollywood movies for the MovieThop Website
Ms. Cameron began his professional life as a freelance blogger. Later, he worked for Witbe as a content writer for two years. His interests include blogging, reading, movies and travel.
Ms. Cameron graduated in Journalism and Mass Communication from University State of Georgia University. He is fluent in French, Spanish, and other languages.