When it comes to the Oscars you’ve got to be careful, as there are all sorts of rules and regulations about how you are and aren’t allowed to campaign for an award, as well as a lot of people prepared to cry foul if they see anything they deem untoward.
Hurt Locker producer Nicolas Chartier is currently in a bit of hot water for e-mails he sent out asking Academy members to vote for his movie rather than a “$500 million” movie. He also asked them to rank Hurt Locker at number 1 and Avatar at number 10 in the new preferential voting system for Best Picture, as this would help his film’s chances of picking up the main prize. Unfortunately for him though, Academy rule specifically forbid people from campaigning against rival movies, or as they put it, they ban any “attempt to promote any film or achievement by casting a negative light on a competing film or achievement.” And it seems they feel Chartier has done this by specifically singling out The Hurt Locker’s main rival in his e-mails.
Chartier has now apologised profusely, with the AP reporting he sent out a new e-mail saying, “My naivete, ignorance of the rules and plain stupidity as a first-time nominee is not an excuse for this behavior and I strongly regret it.. Being nominated for an academy Award is the ultimate honor and I should have taken the time to read the rules.”
Despite his apology, the Academy has decided he did break the rules and will announce its punishment soon, which could involve taking the producer’s Oscar tickets away or not extending an invitation to join the Academy (both of which they’ve done to previous rule breakers). It’s also possible – but highly unlikely – that Hurt Locker could be removed from the Best Picture category if the infraction is deemed bad enough.
With Oscar voting ending today, Chartier will hope the fuss hasn’t hurt his film’s chances and also that his punishment isn’t too severe, especially as if The Hurt Locker does now lose Best Picture, all fingers are likely to point at him.