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WHEN THE 86TH Academy Awards air tonight, those watching will have little idea of the painstaking efforts put into every tiny aspect of the ceremony.
Down to the red seals on the back of the 24 winning envelopes.
While we only get to see the outside of a golden envelope, presenters get to see much more than just a winner’s name.
The envelope and inside nominee card were simple cream pieces of paper up until four years ago when the Academy hired Marc Friedland, CEO of Couture Communications, to liven up the stationery.
The old-style envelopes and cards back in 2002. (YouTube: Oscars)
Since then, the winner’s names are housed inside a golden envelope.
Christopher Waltz last year. (Chris Pizzello/AP/Press Association Images)
Business Insider spoke with Friedland to find out more about the creation of the envelopes.
The 2011 design. (Matt Sayles/AP/Press Association Images)
Three set of 24 envelopes and 121 nominee cards will be made for this year’s Academy Awards.
Jennifer Lawrence receiving her award last year. (Image: Chris Pizzello/AP/Press Association Images)
To us, they’ll look a little like this.
(Image: Matt Sayles/AP/Press Association Image)
But the presenters will see it from this side.
(Image: Matt Sayles/AP/Press Association Images)
Friedland says it takes 110 man hours to create all 72 envelopes and 363 nominee cards.
(Image: Marc Friedland/Couture Communications)
Multiple sets are made in case of an emergency at the ceremony.
(Image: Marc Friedland/Couture Communications)
Here’s a closer look at the finished product. There are little Oscar trophies lining the inside of the envelope.
(Image: Marc Friedland/Couture Communications)
The card tucked inside also hold the presenter’s script for announcing the award (including producers’ names etc.)
(Image: Marc Friedland/Couture Communications)
The ‘pwc’ seal on the envelope are the initials for PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accountancy firm that tallies the votes.
(Image: Marc Friedland/Couture Communications)
The finished product.
(Image: Marc Friedland/Couture Communications)
What happens to them after? They are kept by the winners.
Ann Hathaway backstage last year. (Image: Matt Sayles/AP/Press Association Images)
Friedland says the nominee cards that aren’t selected as winners get destroyed so they don’t turn up on auction sites such as eBay.
(Image: Marc Friedland/Couture Communications)
Have you not nerded out enough? This video should do it:
(YouTube: Marc Friedland)
Stationary nerd = nerd who does not move. I was expecting an interesting story about motionless nerds. Instead, we get this. Picture my disappointment.
Should the headline read Stationery? Or Stationary? I’m a stationary stationery nerd so either way I’m happy.
Stationery is with a ‘e’…. does anyone proof read these articles?
I’m sure they’re (badly) proof read at whichever news site they appear on before they’re copied and pasted on the journal.
Hi See My Vest,
This piece is copy-pasted. Or syndicated, as we call it.
This is clearly highlighted at the top of the piece where the massive Business Insider box is.
Or down the bottom, where it says “Published with permission”.
The headline error was corrected within minutes and there is a link for emailing corrections to the author.
Paul
Why does it matter what way they spell “stationery”?
Pity they destroy the nominee cards. They should auction them off for charity or something
Riveting stuff.!!
The Jane Doe story was epic
Pity we never found out who she was though.
She was John Doh’s wife
This article is like a pencil with a eraser on both ends. Pointless
slow news day?
have your say