John Bailey, former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, passed away Friday (11/10) in Los Angeles. He was 81.
”It is with deep sadness I share with you that my best friend and husband, John Bailey, passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning. During John’s illness, we reminisced how we met 60 years ago and were married for 51 of those years. We shared a wonderful life of adventure in film and made many long-lasting friendships along the way. John will forever live in my heart,” said Carol Littleton, an Oscar-nominatd film editor and former Academy governor.
“All of us at the Academy are deeply saddened to learn of John’s passing,” shared Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy president Janet Yang in a joint statement. “John was a passionately engaged member of the Academy and the film community. He served as our president and as an Academy governor for many years and played a leadership role on the Cinematographers Branch. His impact and contributions to the film community will forever be remembered. Our thoughts and support are with Carol at this time.”
Bailey’s career spanned nearly five decades. He worked on films such as “Ordinary People,” “The Big Chill,” “Silverado,” “The Accidental Tourist,” “Groundhog Day,” “In the Line of Fire,” “As Good as It Gets,” “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” and “Must Love Dogs.”
He was a member of the Cinematographers Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1981, serving 15 years as an Academy governor and two terms as Academy president from 2017-2019, making him the first cinematographer to hold the position of president.
During his tenure as governor, he was vice president and chair of the Preservation and History Committee. He also served on the Academy Museum Board of Trustees and on several Academy committees, including the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, Film Scholar and Grants, International Outreach, the Science and Technology Council, Membership Screenings and In Memoriam committees, as well as the former Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee. He also served as the Academy’s representative on the Library of Congress’ National Film Preservation Board.
Bailey was a member of the American Society of Cinematographers, serving as secretary and vice president on its board of governors. He served on the juries of the Venice Film Festival, Aspen Shortsfest and Poland’s EnergaCAMERIMAGE Film Festival. In November 2014, he received the Ojai Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, and was honored by the American Society of Cinematographers with its Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2015. In 2019, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the EnergaCAMERIMAGE Film Festival.
A cinematographer since 1978, Bailey began his career as an assistant cameraman on the 1971 film “Two Lane Blacktop.”
A memorial service will be held at a future date. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Academy Foundation in memory of John Bailey.
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More