Following Sunday’s Oscar award ceremony that ended with everyone’s head spinning, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs sent out an email to the members, highlighting the positives of the infamous evening while, of course, addressing the snafu heard around the world. In the email, she lauds show producers Jennifer Todd and Michael De Luca for the “tremendous (and often thankless) job” and host Jimmy Kimmel for doing an “impeccable and effortless” job as well as the stage crew who handled “everything remarkably from the set collapsing during dress rehearsal to the rather chaotic ending of the show.”
Speaking of that ending, Isaacs assured members “changes will be implemented to ensure this never happens again.” These changes are already taking place as an Academy spokesperson confirmed yesterday that the two PwC accounts who handled the envelopes would no longer bare that responsibility.
Isaacs opens the letter on a high note, calling this year’s ceremony “one of the best” of all time — which many would agree — and praising “a show that was entertaining, enlightening, and emotional, and that reminded people around the world why we love the movies.”
Read the letter below.
It’s now been a few days since what was one of the best — and certainly most dramatic and talked about — Oscar ceremonies of all time.
I am so proud of the work and effort from each and every one of you this past year leading up to our show last Sunday, and the tremendous (and often thankless) job achieved by Jennifer Todd, Michael De Luca and their entire team in producing a show that was entertaining, enlightening, and emotional, and that reminded people around the world why we love the movies.
We have so much to be proud of:
— The impeccable and effortless hosting job by Jimmy Kimmel.
— From Justin Timberlake’s electric opening number that brought everybody to their feet, Sting’s stunning tribute to James Foley, “Moana’s” sixteen-year-old sensation Auli’i Cravalho and the multi-talented Lin-Manuel Miranda, to John Legend’s soulful serenade from “La La Land.”
— The acceptance speeches that touched our hearts.
— The inspiring introduction of Katherine Johnson by the cast of “Hidden Figures.”
— The many truly emotional segments including when stars shared the stage with the legends that inspired them, and Jennifer Aniston’s heartfelt remarks about the icons we have lost along with Sara Bareilles’ beautiful tribute.
— The professionalism of the crew and stage managers, led by Rob Paine, who handled everything remarkably from the set collapsing during dress rehearsal to the rather chaotic ending of the show. By now, thanks to the non-stop coverage of the past few days, we all know that that wrong envelope and the problems that ensued were caused by the failure of PwC’s accountants to follow established protocols and their delay in immediately remedying the situation. PwC has accepted full responsibility for the error. Rest assured changes will be implemented to ensure this never happens again.
–But, most of all, we are all proud of the spirit and enthusiasm of all the presenters, including Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, and filmmakers, especially those from “Moonlight and “La La Land.” The grace and humility they demonstrated onstage, with the world watching, shows the strength of the bond that connects all the artists in our community.These are just a few of these reasons why live television is so exciting, why hundreds of millions of people across the globe watch the Academy Awards every year and why we have so much to celebrate.
I’ve included a celebratory video that showcases a few unforgettable moments from Sunday. I hope you enjoy it and look forward to what I know will be a memorable 90th Oscars in 2018.
Cheryl
