April 18, 2018
Producer Bill Mechanic, CEO of Pandemonium Films, has stepped
down from the board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has
not stated a reason.
Mechanic said he has resigned from the Board of
Governors but declined to elaborate on the reasons, reports variety.com.
"The Academy thanks William Mechanic for his five years of service on the Board
of Governors, where he represented the members of the Executives Branch," read a
statement.
Mechanic, who remains a member of the Academy itself, had
raised concerns in the past over the Academy's new code of conduct, which seeks
to impose discipline for sexual harassment, discrimination and abusive conduct.
Last month, the code got its first test when Academy President John Bailey
faced three misconduct allegations. Bailey denied the claims and the board opted
to take no action.
In December, Mechanic told Vanity Fair magazine that
the Academy was ill-equipped to deal with such allegations.
Mechanic, a
veteran film executive, co-produced the 82nd Academy Awards show in 2010. He
rejoined the Board of Governors in 2016 after a hiatus.
He last produced
Mel Gibson's 2016 film "Hacksaw Ridge", which was nominated for six Oscars,
including Best Picture.