You might have heard recently heard that Renata Klein, also known as Dr. Ellie Satler, also known as Diane from Twin Peaks—a.k.a. Laura Dern—was running for the president of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I was eagerly campaigning for her on the streets of Los Angeles with my FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: LAURA DERN sign and a cow, as one does.
But because the universe is cruel, Laura Dern was not elected president! She lost to cinematographer John Bailey who, according to the Hollywood Reporter, “emerged as a surprise contender.” Bailey was elected to serve a one-year term (the maximum one can serve as president is four years) and while he has a fine cinematography resumé (The Big Chill, Ordinary People, etc.) I think Dern deserved this honor.
Even though Bailey is succeeding Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the first black president and the third female president of the Academy, it would be nice to have someone in charge again who is a woman, non? The Academy has taken strides in recent years by adding hundreds of new members that better reflect the racial and gender diversity of the industry but is still largely white and male.
To which I say: JUSTICE FOR LAURA DERN!