What does it take to get fired from the Oscars? Apparently, you can mix up the envelopes for Best Picture, cause huge embarrassment not only for presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, but for the entire Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Oscar show as a whole, and you’ll still be welcomed back.
THR reports that accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers will be back for the Oscars next year, despite a major breach of protocol and a laissez faire attitude to the whole process that led to “La La Land” being accidentally announced as the winner for Best Picture, before a very confused correction was made, and “Moonlight” took home the honor. The Academy notes that they have been “unsparing” in their talks with PricewaterCoopers which sounds like they lectured the company like parents would a disobedient child. But instead of being grounded, PwC has new rules to play by.
Among the many new policies in place, PwC partner Rick Rosas, who worked on the Oscars from 2002 to 2013, will be back to oversee everything, while another employee with knowledge of the results, will be in the control room as a double measure to prevent any screw ups. Even more, PwC accountants will be part of the Oscar dress rehearsals and have to leave their gadgets and phones at the door on the day of the show.
Geez, you’d think keeping envelopes safe and handing them out to be opened would be simple. Guess not.