A placard with a photograph of British director Sam Mendes marks his seat in the Shrine Auditorium March 22 in Los Angeles. Mendes is nominated for an Academy Award as best director for his film " American Beauty" which received eight Oscar nominations, the most of any film. Stand-in Rosemary Stevens is shown (L.) The Shrine is the site of the 72nd Academy Awards which will be presented March 26.

FSP/MMR