Tom Fleischman, Oscar-Winning Sound Engineer, Resigns From Academy Over Broadcast Category Cuts

variety.com:

J. Kim Murphy Tom Fleischman, a frequent collaborator of Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee and a five-time Oscar-nominee for his work as a rerecording mixer, has resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in response to the organization’s plan to remove eight categories from the live broadcast of the 2022 Academy Awards.An industry veteran, Fleischman has accrued nearly 200 credits as a rerecording mixer, with a career spanning more than five decades.

He won the Academy Award for best sound mixing in 2012 for his work on Martin Scorsese’s family period piece “Hugo” after being nominated four times before, for “Reds,” “The Silence of the Lambs,” “Gangs of New York” and “The Aviator.” He is currently working in post-production on Scorsese’s upcoming western “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Fleischman did not immediately respond to a phone call and email requesting comment.Fleischman also serves on the board of directors of the Cinema Audio Society.

The organization released a statement regarding the Academy’s widely criticized decision earlier this week.“The decision of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to celebrate some categories differently than others ultimately communicates a sobering insensitivity to the affected creative arts and is potentially divisive to the community,”  the organization stated. “This action understates the indispensable contributions these crafts impart upon the works being celebrated on Oscar night.

It is our sincere desire that the Academy will reverse its decision and choose not to diminish the prestige of its esteemed honor to the filmmaking community.”In February, the Academy confirmed its decision to present several Oscar categories outside of the live March 27.