'Hurt Locker' Producer in Trouble for Email

He broke the rules.

The Academy Awards are almost here, and it just wouldn't be the same without a little controversy. Thankfully a producer for the Best Picture nominee The Hurt Locker has fixed that -- Oscar officials are unhappy with Nicolas Chartier after he sent out an email asking for votes.

Nicolas Chartier understandably really wants his film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, but now he has broken offical rules, and the punishment has yet to be handed out.

In an email to friends and industry insiders, Chartier asked for help against bigger, more expensive productions *coughAVATARcough* that his film is up against at the awards ceremony.

"Tell actors, directors, crew members, art directors, special effects people," reads his letter. "If everyone tells one or two of their friends, we will win and not a $500M film, we need independent movies to win like the movies you and I do, so if you believe The Hurt Locker is the best movie of 2010, help us!"

This, of course, is totally against the Academy's campaign rules, and Cartier has since apologized. Still, penalties have yet to be doled out. Let's just hope it doesn't harm The Hurt Locker's chances.