NextSharkNextShark.com
Latest Newsletter🍵 Biden awards Asian artistsRead

Article

Janet Yang makes history as first Asian president of film organization that hosts the Oscars

  • Esteemed producer Janet Yang just became the first Asian to be elected as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

  • The 66-year-old Hollywood veteran, whose film and TV credits include “The Joy Luck Club,” “Shanghai Calling” and “High Crimes,” was elected to her new post on Tuesday.

  • “Janet is a tremendously dedicated and strategic leader who has an incredible record of service at the Academy,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer was quoted as saying. “I am thrilled that she is taking on the esteemed role of Academy President and look forward to working closely with her on our shared vision to serve our membership, celebrate the collaborative arts and sciences of motion pictures, and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.”

  • In June, Yang was also honored by the Academy Museum with the unveiling of one of the museum’s pillars in her name.

  • The Academy, which is an international organization for filmmakers, is known around the world for its annual Academy Awards, also known as the "Oscars."

Asian America Daily - in under 5 minutes

Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories, to your inbox daily, for free!

Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive

Film and TV producer Janet Yang has been elected president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

With her election, she became the first Asian and only the fourth woman to be elected as president of the film organization since its establishment in 1927. 

The 66-year-old Hollywood veteran, whose film and TV credits include “The Joy Luck Club,”
“The People vs. Larry Flynt,” “Shanghai Calling” and “High Crimes,” was elected by the organization’s Board of Governors during a meeting on Tuesday. The Board also voted several other officers into key roles.

Yang, who is of Chinese descent, is set to start her first term as president and her second term as a Governor-at-Large. As prescribed by the Academy’s bylaws, presidents are elected for one-year terms and cannot be elected for more than four consecutive terms.

“Janet is a tremendously dedicated and strategic leader who has an incredible record of service at the Academy,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer was quoted as saying. “I am thrilled that she is taking on the esteemed role of Academy President and look forward to working closely with her on our shared vision to serve our membership, celebrate the collaborative arts and sciences of motion pictures, and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.”

Yang has been an active member of the Academy’s Producers Branch since 2002. She recently served on the Board as vice president and chair of the Membership Committee.

She currently co-chairs the Academy’s Asian Affinity Group.

In June, Yang was also honored by the Academy Museum with the unveiling of one of the museum’s pillars in her name.

The Academy, which is an international organization for filmmakers, is known around the world for its annual Academy Awards, also known as the “Oscars.”

Featured Image via AsiaSocietyHK

Support our Journalism with a Contribution

Many people might not know this, but despite our large and loyal following which we are immensely grateful for, NextShark is still a small bootstrapped startup that runs on no outside funding or loans.

Everything you see today is built on the backs of warriors who have sacrificed opportunities to help give Asians all over the world a bigger voice.

However, we still face many trials and tribulations in our industry, from figuring out the most sustainable business model for independent media companies to facing the current COVID-19 pandemic decimating advertising revenues across the board.

We hope you consider making a contribution so we can continue to provide you with quality content that informs, educates and inspires the Asian community. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way.  Thank you for everyone's support. We love you all and can't appreciate you guys enough.

Support NextShark

Mastercard, Visa, Amex, Discover, Paypal