Bill Mechanic and Adam Shankman will produce the 82nd Academy Awards telecast, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak announced today. This will be the first significant Oscar show involvement for both.
Mechanic is the chairman and C.E.O. of Pandemonium Films and the former chairman and C.E.O. of Fox Filmed Entertainment. His producer credits include this year's Coraline. Shankman’s directorial credits include Hairspray and The Wedding Planner.
In an announcement, Sherak said that Shankman's experience in producing, directing, and especially choreography would prove assets to the production—suggesting dance could play a significant role in the program. He also said that Mechanic's experience as a producer, studio exec, and film historian would come into play.
The Oscars will be presented on March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre, and televised live by ABC.