2014 (Production)

2014-09-12 (Production)

English (Original)

Professional production

United States

John Pavlik, former Director of Communications for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is interviewed by Mae Woods at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood in 2014. He discusses his 27-year tenure with the Academy, sharing memories of Academy presidents and highlights from publicizing the Academy Awards.

Public relations executive John Pavlik is interviewed by Mae Woods at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood on September 12, 2014. Born in Melrose, Iowa, and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Pavlik briefly reminisces on his Midwest upbringing. He touches upon his Journalism studies at the University of Minnesota and enlistment in the Army Reserve, followed by a short stint as a newspaper reporter. He details his move into the film industry in 1968 as the Assistant Director of Public Relations with the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers. He discusses his function within the organization and establishing a partnership with the Academy, particularly with handling publicity for the Oscars. Pavlik speaks about his subsequent employment with AMPAS in 1979, serving as Executive Administrator. He shares his recollections of former Academy presidents, spearheading seminars and retrospectives, the Student Film Awards, initiating the Visiting Artists Program, and overseeing public relation campaigns. He shares the story behind the postponement of the 53rd Annual Academy Awards after the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan. Pavlik recounts his six-year term as Executive Director of the Motion Picture and Television Fund after which he returned to AMPAS as the Director of Endowment Development for the Academy Foundation. He speaks about the Foundation’s $15-million endowment campaign to raise money to build the Margaret Herrick Library. Pavlik discusses his appointment to Director of Communications in 1993, a post he held for fourteen years. Pavlik details publicity initiatives for the Academy Film Archive, the opening of the Pickford Center, and overseeing Academy member communications. He comments on his experience publicizing Academy Awards show broadcasts, the task of vetting reporters’ requests for Academy Awards credentials, and adapting to social media for Oscar publicity. Pavlik reflects on his retirement in 2007 and discusses the differences between marketing and public relation strategies. He concludes with musings on the current challenges facing the Academy and thoughts on diversity.

John Pavlik (born1940) was the Director of Communications for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science from 1989 to 2007. Pavlik was born in Melrose, Iowa. After studying journalism at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. He later worked as a news writer for the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph in Los Angeles. Eyeing opportunities in the film industry, Pavlik worked as the Assistant Director of Public Relations for the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers. He later accepted a position as Executive Administrator at the Academy. His duties included launching the Visiting Artists Program and Student Film Awards, organizing lectures, and supervising its public relations agency. Following a term as Director of Endowment Development for the Academy Foundation, Pavlik was appointed to AMPAS Director of Communications in 1993. During his Academy tenure he was responsible for publicizing programs and activities, spearheading public relations campaigns for the Academy Awards, and overseeing employee and member communications. Following his retirement in 2007, Pavlik turned his focus to lecturing at USC’s School of Journalism and serving on Academy screening committees.

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