HOW OSCAR PRESENTERS GET THE WINNING NAMES:
- Consulting firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers tabulates the winners based on ballots cast by the academy's 6687 voting members.
- Two accountants are tasked with bringing the final results, inside sealed envelopes, to the Oscars ceremony. They are the people carrying briefcases on the red carpet, flanked by police protection. Each briefcase contains an identical set of envelopes for the show's 24 categories. The accountants also memorise the winners.
- The two accountants are ostensibly the only people who know the winners before they are announced live on TV.
- During the telecast, the two briefcase-toting accountants are stationed in the Dolby Theatre wings, one stage left and one stage right.
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- Most presenters enter stage right. They come backstage a few minutes ahead of time, and the accountant hands them their category's envelope just before they walk onstage. The category is indicated on the envelope and on the card with the winner's name. The sealed envelope with the winner's name inside is opened live onstage.
- The unused duplicate envelopes are discarded, though there is no formal process for how that happens, such as a dedicated shredder or wastebasket.
- On Sunday, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway entered stage right, where PricewaterhouseCoopers representative Brian Cullinan handed them the errant envelope.
- The previous award, best actress, was presented by Leonardo DiCaprio, who entered stage left. PricewaterhouseCoopers representative Martha Ruiz handed him the envelope for the correct category.
- A duplicate, unopened envelope for best actress remained stage right, and apparently ended up in the hands of Beatty and Dunaway.
