Academy Announces Films in Competition for Achievement in Makeup Beverly Hills, CA. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced the seven films being considered for Achievement in Makeup for the 78th Academy Awards The films in consideration are listed below in alphabetical order: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" "Cinderella Man" "A History of Violence" "The Libertine" "Mrs. Henderson Presents" "The New World" "Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith" Ten-minute clip reels from each of the seven films will be screened for the Makeup Award Nominating Committee on Saturday, January 28. The committee may nominate three of these seven films for Oscar consideration. Nominated films will be announced along with nominations in 23 other categories on Tuesday, January 31, at 5:30 a.m. PST. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2005 will be presented on Sunday, March 5, 2006, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland (R), and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. PST.

January 5, 2006 Jon Stewart to Host Oscar Telecast Jon Stewart Beverly Hills, CA. Jon Stewart has been set to host the 78th Academy Awards telecast, producer Gil Cates announced today. This will be Stewart's first stint as Oscar host. "My wife and I watch him every night," Cates said. "Jon is the epitome of a perfect host. Smart, engaging, irreverent and funny." Academy President Sid Ganis echoed Cates' enthusiasm. "I'm very excited," he said. "Stewart is a superb choice: witty, current, intelligent and charming. What a terrific addition to our roster of great hosts!" The host of Comedy Central's multiple Emmy- and Peabody- winning "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Stewart has transformed 'The Daily Show" into one of America's most influential and popular television shows. Stewart and the writers of 'The Daily Show" also authored America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction at the end of 2004. The book, which was recently awarded the Thurber Prize for American Humor, was a staple on The New York Times best sellers list for 46 consecutive weeks, including 15 consecutive weeks in the #1 position. "As a performer, I'm truly honored to be hosting the show," said Stewart. "Although, as an avid watcher of the Oscars, I can't help but be a little disappointed with the choice. It appears to be another sad attempt to smoke out Billy Crystal." Stewart has appeared in several motion pictures, including "Death to Smoochy," "Big Daddy," "The Faculty" and "Playing by Heart." Prior to taking over "The Daily Show" in 1999, Stewart's television credits included a one-hour HBO comedy special, "Jon Stewart: Unleavened," and a recurring role as himself on HBO's series-within-a-series, "The Larry Sanders Show." He also hosted "The Jon Stewart Show" on MTV, which went on to be nationally syndicated. Stewart has recently been featured on "Oprah" and "60 Minutes." The ceremonies honoring 2005 achievements in motion pictures will be held on Sunday, March 5, 2006. The 78th Annual Academy Awards Presentation will be broadcast live from the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland by the ABC Television Network, beginning at 5:00 p.m. PST. ... January 3, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Toni Thompson Å0á30Å0á73 (310) 247-3000 tthompson@oscars.org Robert Z. Shapiro Returns to Senior Exec Consultancy for Oscar Telecast   Beverly Hills, CA Robert Z. Shapiro has been named senior executive consultant to 78th Academy Awards telecast producer Gil Cates, his 12th Academy Awards assignment. As a media consultant to NASA, Shapiro most recently spearheaded the space agency's outreach efforts to the Hollywood creative community. Shapiro has served as a production executive on movies and miniseries for the ABC, NBC and CBS television networks. He also has created and produced programming for various interactive television ventures. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements for 2005 will be presented on Sunday, March 5, 2006, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood Highland, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. PST ... November 30, 2005 New Photo Exhibition at Academy Gives Viewers All Access Jack Nicholson and Nicolas Cage take a break back stage just prior to the 75th Academy Awards. Beverly Hills, CA-"All Access at the Academy Awards: Photographs by Art Streiber," a new exhibition featuring 120 images taken at and around the five most recent Oscar presentations, will open to the public at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on January 13, 2006. Admission is free and 'All Access" will continue through April 16 in the Academy's Grand Lobby Gallery. Art Streiber has been given virtually unfettered access by the Academy since the 73rd Academy Awards in 2001. He has been able to capture a wide range of unique moments both in the days just prior to the Oscar presentations and during the show itself. In addition to the staggering emotion experienced by winners, Streiber's images portray a variety of humorous moments, causal exchanges among celebrity participants and the enormity of the event as a whole. Several members of the shows' production teams are pictured, as are Oscar winners Adrien Brody, Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Hilary Swank, Peter O'Toole, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Julia Roberts, Robert Redford, Charlize Theron, Jamie Foxx, Tim Robbins, Renee Zellweger, Sean Penn and Clint Eastwood. Numerous others who have presented or performed at the Academy Awards are also included in the photographs. Since 1993, Streiber has been a Los Angeles-based freelance photographer specializing in reportage, travel and portrait work. He regularly contributes to such publications as Vanity Fair, W, Wired, Time, Entertainment Weekly, Forbes, Town & Country, Esquire, Elle and Premiere, where his work from the 73rd, 74th, 75th and 76th Academy Awards appeared. Streiber also contributes to In Style Magazine, which will publish his images from the 77th Academy Awards Streiber also has photographed a number of feature film one-sheets, including "The 40 Year Old Virgin," "Running with Scissors" and "Accepted." Viewing hours for 'All Access at the Academy Awards are Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends, noon to 6 p.m. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, please call 310-247-3600.       ... © Extrovert Magazine 2005. All rights reserved.