PricewaterhouseCoopers Still Invited to Oscars – Sans Cellphones

0

Following the high-profile, tweet-related flub at last month’s Oscars that led award presenters to announce the wrong Best Picture winner, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided to retain PricewaterhouseCoopers for its accounting and Oscar balloting business. But no cell phones will be allowed backstage.

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs sent an e-mail on Wednesday to academy members outlining new protocols for announcing Oscar winners that will add an extra member to the traditional two-person balloting team, The New York Times reported.

PwC, which has tallied the Oscar ballots for 83 years, had taken responsibility and offered apologies for Oscar’s biggest gaffe. Partner Brian Cullinan tweeted a photo of best actress winner Emma Stone just before handing presenter Warren Beatty the wrong envelope for best picture winner, which Beatty turned over to co-presenter Faye Dunaway, who announced “La La Land” as the winner instead of actual winner “Moonlight.”

Traditionally, two PwC partners have overseen Oscar balloting and are the only people who know the winners before they are announced onstage. Boone Isaacs’ new protocols reportedly call for a third balloting partner with knowledge of the winners to sit with the telecast director going forward. Balloting partners will also be required to participate in Oscar rehearsals.

PwC and Academy representatives were not immediately available for comment.

Contact media and entertainment reporter Diane Haithman at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @dhaithman for the latest in L.A. business news.

No posts to display