Producer and Executive Producer

Laurence Mark		Bill Condon

Producer Laurence Mark has been tapped to produce and writer-director Bill Condon to executive produce the 81st Annual Academy Awards® telecast, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis announced. It will be their first involvement in the production of an Oscar show.

The filmmakers each already had distinguished careers when, in 2006, Mark produced and Condon wrote and directed “Dreamgirls” – their first time teaming. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won two Oscars®, including one for Jennifer Hudson for Actress in a Supporting Role.

Mark is currently in post-production on “Julie & Julia,” starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams and written and directed by Nora Ephron for release next year. His other credits include “I, Robot,” “The Lookout,” “Finding Forrester” and “Jerry Maguire,” for which he received a Best Picture Oscar nomination. He also served as executive producer on “As Good As It Gets” and “Working Girl.”

Condon is writing a film, which he will direct, about Richard Pryor for The Weinstein Company. He wrote the Oscar-nominated screenplay for “Chicago” and wrote and directed “Kinsey,” as well as “Gods and Monsters,” for which he won the Academy Award® for Adapted Screenplay.

Director

Roger Goodman has been named director of the 81st Academy Awards® telecast, producer Laurence Mark and executive producer Bill Condon announced.  This will be Goodman’s first time calling the camera shots for the Oscar® show.

Goodman’s work as a live events producer-director has spanned news, sports and entertainment.  Prior to the Oscar telecast, Goodman will direct ABC News’ coverage of the upcoming presidential inauguration.  His credits also include the Academy Awards Countdown Show, the Daytime Emmy® Awards, Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Super Bowl halftime shows, the Indianapolis 500 and the Kentucky Derby, as well as “20/20,” “Primetime,” “Nightline” and “Good Morning America.”

In addition, Goodman directed and co-executive produced ABC News’ 24-hour global news and entertainment coverage of the turning of the millennium, which involved more than 200 cameras, 32 satellites, four control rooms and staff of more than 1,000 technicians.  He currently holds the title of vice president, special projects, for the ABC Television Network.

Goodman has earned dozens of news and sports Emmy nominations and has won 25 Emmy Awards.  Other honors include three Christopher Awards, three Peabody Awards and two Edward R. Murrow Awards.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.