A view from backstage: How that big Oscars mistake overshadowed months of planning and precision

Techno-Jib operator Jay Kulick positions the camera at the end of the boom for a shot during rehearsals in the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood before the 89th Academy Awards ceremony.

By Jeffrey Fleishman

Feb. 27, 2017 3:55 PM PT

The mood backstage was high. Champagne had been poured and a long evening seemed destined for a suave and elegant ending. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway glided through the wings and onto the stage to announce the Oscar for best picture. But things went sideways inside the Dolby Theatre: “Oh my God,” said a stagehand, “he got the wrong envelope.”

That glitch led to the one of the biggest embarrassments in Academy Awards history when Beatty handed the envelope to Dunaway, who incorrectly named “La La Land” and not “Moonlight” as the winner. Stunned silence rolled through the darkened wings as stagehands peeked out to the spotlight. Confusion ensued and the casts of both films stood like well-groomed prizefighters in a disputed final round.

Those excruciating moments belied months of planning, rehearsals, sound checks, production designs, scripts and precision behind one of the world’s most watched television shows. The days leading to the program were filled with backstage intensity, tempers, humor and sublime narratives, such as the sultry notes from a lone saxophone and union workers wearing bootees so as not to dirty the carpet in the green room, where an Italian executive, who gave his name only as Massimo, roamed with exacting flair.

Backstage is a parallel, narrow universe that is the machinery of imagination. It is crowded with computers, cameras and stage sets that exist just a curtain away from the glamour that rises when the show begins.

To navigate this terrain is to chase characters in a sprawling play that unfolds through mazes of hallways and offices, past wardrobe rooms, caterers, security guards, carpenters, artists and stand-in presenters who pretend to be movie stars while giving mock acceptance speeches and holding up fake, wooden Oscars. They mingle amid the “talent,” including Lin-Manuel Miranda, who arrived with a new haircut, rapped a tune about “Moana” and wore a sweatshirt that read: “Rehearsal is the best part.”

One seasoned crew member nudged his underling. “If they tell us to do something, we do it. It’s the law.” Seconds after he finished the sentence, a woman floated by like a swan in a white gown, a man with a valise whispered to no one in particular, “It’s a little bit of a learning curve,” and a publicist assured her client over the phone that he or she would be sitting close to Justin Timberlake on awards night. She knew this because black-and-white pictures of celebrities were taped to sticks on seats in rows that gave the sensation of turning pages in a yearbook filled with cool kids.

The day before the show, director Glenn Weiss scrolled his iPad and sat before 25 tiny video screens at his desk in the theater during a rehearsal. He has dark, shoulder-length hair, a graying goatee and possesses a magician’s sly energy.

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Mahershala Ali comes backstage after winning the Oscar for supporting actor at the 89th Academy Awards. He won for his performance as Juan, a drug dealer who cares for a bullied boy.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Mahershala Ali accepts his supporting actor Oscar for his performance in “Moonlight.”

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Alicia Vikander backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A PricewaterhouseCoopers accountant stands backstage with red award envelopes to hand out at the Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Mahershala Ali is congratulated by Alicia Vikander backstage after winning the Oscar for supporting actor.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Emma Stone is seen from backstage as she accepts the lead actress Oscar for her work as aspiring actress Mia in “La La Land.”

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Emma Stone rises to accept the Oscar for lead actress.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Oscar lead actress winner Emma Stone embraces Brie Larson, the previous year’s winner in the same category, backstage.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Lead acting winners Emma Stone (“La La Land”) and Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”) hug backstage.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Leonardo DiCaprio, the previous year’s winner for lead actor, walks newly minted Oscar winner Emma Stone backstage.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“Moonlight” writer-director Barry Jenkins takes the stage with Tarell Alvin McCraney (white tuxedo) just behind him to accept the adapted screenplay Oscar.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Barry Jenkins, seen from backstage, accepts the adapted screenplay Oscar.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“Moonlight” actors Ashton Sanders, left, and Jharrel Jerome embrace backstage after the dramatic final moments of the 89th Academy Awards ceremony, in which “La La Land” was incorrectly announced as the best picture winner before the award went to “Moonlight.”

For the Record, Feb. 28, 2:52 p.m.: An earlier version of this caption misidentified Sanders as Andre Holland and Jharrel Jerome as Sanders.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“Moonlight” actors Andre Holland, left, and Ashton Sanders react backstage to their film’s best picture win.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“Moonlight” actors Trevante Rhodes, center, and Jharrel Jerome, right, react backstage after their film’s best picture win.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“Moonlight” actor Mahershala Ali and “La La Land” actor Ryan Gosling interact backstage after the former’s film won best picture despite the initial announcement that the latter’s had.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Writer Tarell Alvin McCraney and writer-director Barry Jenkins celebrate their adapted screeplay win for “Moonlight.”

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Supporting actor winner Mahershala Ali, who received the evening’s first award, is congratulated backstage by Justin Timberlake, who opened the show by singing the nominated original song “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” which he co-wrote for “Trolls.”

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Janelle Monáe, who acted in two of the year’s best picture nominees -- “Hidden Figures” and the winning “Moonlight” -- is seen backstage.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Octavia Spencer, a supporting actress nominee for “Hidden Figures,” is seen backstage.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“Hidden Figures” stars Janelle Monáe, standing from left, Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer hang out backstage with trailblazing former NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson. Henson played Johnson in the film.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Viola Davis approaches the stage to accept the supporting actress Oscar for her performance in “Fences.”

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Viola Davis gives a memorable speech after winning the supporting actress Oscar for her performance in “Fences” as Rose, a wife whose husband betrays her trust.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux are seen backstage.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced the title heroine of “Moana” and performed the original song nominee “How Far I’ll Go” during the ceremony, is seen backstage.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Shirley MacLaine backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Dakota Johnson backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Viola Davis backstage after winning the supporting actress Oscar.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Charlize Theron backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Chrissy Teigen and John Legend backstage at the 89th Academy Awards. Chart-topping musician Legend, who played a band’s frontman in “La La Land,” performed both of the film’s original song nominees, “City of Stars” and “Audition (The Fools Who Dream),” during the ceremony.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Jennifer Aniston, left, Nicole Kidman, and Keith Urban backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Warren Beatty backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Presenter Faye Dunaway (in white) backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“Manchester by the Sea” writer-director Kenneth Lonergan, center, accepts the Oscar for original screenplay from Matt Damon, left, and Ben Affleck, who were presenting the award 20 years after winning it for writing “Good Will Hunting.”

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“Manchester by the Sea” writer-director Kenneth Lonergan approaches the stage to accept his original screenplay Oscar.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Ben Affleck, left, Kenneth Lonergan and Matt Damon head backstage after Lonergan’s win.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Presenters Matt Damon, left, and Ben Affleck backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Presenter Scarlett Johansson backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Co-lyricist Justin Paul, left, and composer Justin Hurwitz head backstage after winning the original song Oscar for “City of Stars,” which they wrote with co-lyricist Benj Pasek for “La La Land.”

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” actors Felicity Jones, center, and Riz Ahmed backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Charlize Theron, left, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Felicity Jones and Riz Ahmed talk to Samuel L. Jackson backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Amy Adams backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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The star-studded crowd at the Oscars reacts in shock when “Moonlight” is revealed as the best picture winner after “La La Land” was initially announced as the award’s recipient.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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The audience is stunned after it’s announced that “La La Land” was erroneously named the best picture winner instead of “Moonlight.”

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“Moonlight” writer-director Barry Jenkins reacts after being handed the best picture Oscar for his film following the initial, incorrect announcement that “La La Land” had won.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“La La Land” producer Fred Berger congratulates “Moonlight” actor Mahershala Ali onstage. Representatives from both films crowded the stage after the erroneous announcement that “La La Land” had won was corrected.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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The star-studded crowd at the Oscars reacts in shock when “Moonlight” is revealed as the best picture winner.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“Moonlight” actors Ashton Sanders, left, and Trevante Rhodes celebrate backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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The star-studded crowd at the Oscars reacts in shock when “Moonlight” is revealed as the best picture winner.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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The star-studded crowd at the Oscars reacts in shock when “Moonlight” is revealed as the best picture winner.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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The star-studded audience in the Dolby Theatre reacts to the corrected announcement that “Moonlight” had won best picture, not the previously declared “La Land Land.” Producers from “La La Land” were making acceptance speeches when they received the news.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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“La La Land” producer Jordan Horowitz is seen from backstage at the 89th Academy Awards. He delivered a best picture acceptance speech before being notified of the mix-up and relaying news to the audience that “Moonlight” had in fact won.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Oscar statuettes backstage at the 89th Academy Awards.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

“Go to 19 and roll wide,” he said into his microphone as actor Mark Rylance stood onstage practicing his lines. Rylance, the supporting actor winner from the year before, would present the supporting actress award on Sunday night. Weiss said the Oscar’s were an awards show “on steroids” and he wondered what President Trump or other unscripted moments he might encounter during the live show.

“The political climate is impactful on me because there’s 24 awards where someone will be standing at the mike saying something I have no knowledge or control over,” he said. “It’s complex in many ways because of the magnifying glass the show is under. The whole world is tuned in to see this and you want to make sure every entrance, every last movement onstage you maximize and get the most out of.”

To do that, Weiss, mounted a camera on a track in the orchestra pit to follow movement on stage. It rose like the elongated neck of a strange bird, and when needed, switched tracks and rolled under the stage, popping up from a hole amid Art Deco set designs and 300,000 Swarovski crystals.

“Technology allows us to do really fun moments and theatrical things that five or 10 years ago,” said Weiss, who has directed two Oscar shows . “You have to keep it moving. You’re doing it for millions on television but you don’t want to lose this room either.”

Weiss’ compatriot was stage manager Gary Natoli, an ever-present wanderer, a kind of phantom with a headset whose voice commands attention. “All right everybody we’re going to try one here,” he told dancers as John Legend took the stage to rehearse “La La Land” music. “Hello, dancers,” said Legend, dressed in black and characteristically chill. Natoli stepped to the side: “Five, four, three, two, one.” The dancers twirled and swayed, two of them rising on strings suspended against the twilit Hollywood Hills.

It seemed magical. Until a man with a bucket of paint and a roller walked past. He disappeared down a hallway. Legend and the dancers did another take, and another. “Here’s to the heart that aches,” sang Legend. Again, lovely. But ticktock. Singer-composer Sara Bareilles and Auli’I Cravalho, the 16-year-old voice of “Moana,” were on the schedule. “Thank you, everybody,” said Natoli, “We’re moving on.” The dancers dispersed; Legend descended the stairs and drifted away. The orchestra glowed in the pit.

Samuel Jackson showed up in sweats and sneakers on Saturday to run his lines. Jason Bateman practiced with Kate McKinnon. Dwayne Johnson held his arms up onstage as someone snapped a picture with an iPhone. Scarlett Johansson approached the mike with cropped hair and a tapered jacket. Each of them had a sliver of a part in a drama that on paper was a carefully blocked out night told in 15 acts that on occasion could drain more hours than a Shakespeare play.