The emails that Chartier wrote asked Academy members to vote for his film instead of, "a $500 million film," which referenced Avatar and later emails asked voters to rank The Hurt Locker first and Avatar 10th in the new preferential voting system. Over the weekend, Chartier apologized for those remarks.
"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," Chartier wrote in an e-mail obtained by The Associated Press. "Being nominated for an academy Award is the ultimate honor and I should have taken the time to read the rules."
It was also reported that the emails violated Academy rules, which bans any mailings that, "attempt to promote any film or achievement by casting a negative light on a competing film or achievement," according to Academy rep Leslie Unger. The Academy could punish Chartier for the rule violation, which could include taking away his Oscar tickets or not extending an invitation to join the Academy, but it was believed that the punishment wouldn't be announced until after the Oscar voting has completed, which ends tomorrow at 5 PM PST.
The Hurt Locker was released June 26th, 2009 and stars Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse, Evangeline Lilly, Christian Camargo. The film is directed by Kathryn Bigelow.
Avatar was released December 18th, 2009 and stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Joel Moore, Giovanni Ribisi, Michelle Rodriguez, Laz Alonso. The film is directed by James Cameron.
Comments (13)
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slysnide
Like his emails would change anyone's minds anyway. If any of them were that impressionable though, then those electors should be replaced. I mean let's face it, he's half right. It got nominated due to the amazing technical achievement and the amount of work that went into it to reach the final product. If not, then Pocahontas would've been niminated in '95, animated or not. And last year's Oscars are the reason they nominated 10 flicks, many of which are undeserving. Too many persons giving them ratings on awards night were too shocked at was omitted for which categories vs which were chosen. And this award show is trying to buy it back. But of course it can't.
2 years agoby @slysnideFlag
Josh
You don't have to read the rules to know it's tacky to pander when you're up for an award. It just cheapens the merit of your product.
2 years agoby @shuabertFlag
Bryan Yentz
@Zany:
Hahaha, that's great... Man I think if we keep it up we'll be like an Avatar Moses.
2 years agoby @bryanyentzFlag
ZanyZap
@Yentz: Nice...
Second Commandment: "Thou shall not take the Lord, James Cameron in vein."
Third: "Thou shall not covet thy neighbors 3D glasses."
Fourth: "Thou shall honor thy father and mother...Oh, f*ck that. Jim Cameron is your papa."
;P
2 years agoby @zanyzapFlag
Brian
Haha. What a dork. Why bash other films you're up against? It just looks petty.
2 years agoby @brianFlag
Josebond007
Hope this guy doesn't loose his Oscar for this
2 years agoby @josebond007Flag
Jason27
Well he should of read the rules! Noob!
2 years agoby @jason27Flag
Avian
That was a pathetic move, really. The Hurt Locker is better than Avatar, but there's no reason to try to break the rules for it.
2 years agoby @avian005Flag
The Narrator: The Better Man
Lol to Yentz and Err. I am with you guys on that. However, this might not bode to well for the film getting the win. Sad indeed.
2 years agoby @narratorFlag
Bryan Yentz
Holy sh*t... So the guy wanted his movie to win over James Cameron's--who wouldn't want theirs to win? Avatar is just becoming too much now--pretty soon that piece of celluloid is just going to become a god to people. Commandment One: "Thou shalt not speak ill of thine Avatar."
2 years agoby @bryanyentzFlag
JewJourn
When Mark Boal arrived in Iraq to cover the Army's high-risk bomb squad for Playboy magazine in 2004, officials startled him with two unusual questions...
http://www.jewishjournal.com/oscars/article/hurt_locker_writer_brings_the_trauma_home_20100301/
2 years agoby @jewjournFlag
Courtney O.
Yea that is weird. lamo
2 years agoby @chickflickFlag
Err
they have rules against sh*t-talking?
that's gay.
2 years agoby @err2005Flag