Academy Remains on the Defense Over OSCAR Night Best Picture Disaster; Keeps PwC

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Parent Category: Entertainment
Category: Entertainment News
Published on Friday, 31 March 2017 06:27
Written by Janet Walker

Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences President Cheryl Boone Issac's recently informed the Academy members of its decision to maintain its storied relationship with the accounting firm of PriceWaterhouseCoopers despite the Best Picture snafu.

A high-profile Academy Governors meeting recently took place to review procedures and build additional safeguards into the presentation ceremony to ensure the very public Best Oscar mistake of 2017 doesn't happen again.

No single system can be completely fool proof which is the reasoning, in part, behind the recent policy changes that call for the Academy's accountants to remain offline. Yes, they will have to check the phones at the door.

Additionally, a third accountant will be sequestered with the shows director throughout the presentation as a safety measure.

Boone-Isaacs addressed the unfortunate Best Picture mix up that had Hollywood Icon Warren Beatty and his Bonnie & Clyde co-star Faye Dunaway, announcing in front of a televised audience the Best Picture Oscar goes to La La Land.

Oscar Night Shocker: Envelope Error Moonlight Wins Best Picture Stunning La La Land Filmmakers Already on Stage (Video)

What follows is one for the record books PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants, Brian Cullinan and Martha Ruiz, the only two people in the universe who knew the recipients before the show, were busy congratulating winners, snapping selfies, twitting and generally enjoying the moment that few ever experience.

The unfortunate side to this is the two were, actually, working. Notwithstanding the gravity of the event, the two accounts were "on duty" and were supposed to ensure the presenters received the correct envelopes.

Granted, the envelope design, which underwent a change of vendor this season, may have played a part in the fiasco, the facts remain the accountants, who have since admitted fault, were, in actuality, the reason behind the stunning gaff.

Academy Awards: From The Press Room – Backstage Reactions from Emma Stone, Casey Affleck, Viola Davis, Mahershala Ali

PricewaterhouseCoopers has apologized to all and, one can assume as the Academy has chosen to maintain its relationship with the storied Top Five accounting firm, has agreed to adopt, any and all changes the Academy sets in place to guarantee this type of error doesn't happen again and of course to retain a lucrative account and keep high profile relationship happy.

The two now infamous senior PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants? Brian Cullinan, will retain his position as partner although he will no longer be involved with the academy awards. Martha Ruiz, will also retain her position with the top five firm, and also will not return to the academy awards.

One day after the awards ceremony PricewaterhouseCoopers issued this statement: We sincerely apologize to "Moonlight," "La La Land," Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, and Oscar viewers for the error that was made during the award announcement for Best Picture. The presenters had mistakenly been given the wrong category envelope and when discovered, was immediately corrected. We are currently investigating how this could have happened, and deeply regret that this occurred. We appreciate the grace with which the nominees, the Academy, ABC, and Jimmy Kimmel handled the situation.

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