If The Hurt Locker nabs the Oscar for Best Picture on Sunday night, there will be one less producer to deliver thank yous. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that Nicolas Chartier’s invitation to the ceremony has been revoked. Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal and Greg Shapiro will still be permitted to attend and accept the award should the film win, but Chartier must watch from home.

The Academy rules prohibit “casting a negative or derogatory light on a competing film” and that’s exactly what Chartier did. He sent an e-mail to particular Academy voters and film industry figures in which he promoted his own picture and disparaged another. The executive committee of the Academy’s Producers Branch came together for a special session and decided that, while Chartier’s nomination still stands, he will not be allowed to come to the Kodak Theater for the ceremony.

Ouch. What possessed Chartier to risk attending the event, let alone his nomination? The Hurt Locker isn’t a sure thing, but it is in a good position. Clearly that other film is a certain James Cameron moneymaker because ABC News reports the e-mail in question sought support for The Hurt Locker and not a "$500 million film.” A tiny part of me sympathizes with Chartier, but there’s no denying he was caught red-handed and committed a serious offense. How can he not have enough faith in that spectacular film to let it take the award nobly? He must be desperate to win, but what a selfish move to make. Even if The Hurt Locker doesn’t come out on top at the Oscars, hasn’t Chartier won enough awards this season?