Jeremy Renner stars in Kathryn Bigelow's film The Hurt Locker, which is up for nine Oscars. One of the film's producers is in trouble for directly lobbying Oscar voters, prohibited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Jeremy Renner stars in Kathryn Bigelow's film The Hurt Locker, which is up for nine Oscars. One of the film's producers is in trouble for directly lobbying Oscar voters, prohibited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. (Summit Entertainment)

An uproar has erupted in Hollywood concerning one of the producers of the acclaimed film The Hurt Locker, who has admitted to directly lobbying Oscar voters.

Voting is set to close Tuesday for the Academy Awards, which are to be presented March 7.

P.O.V.:

Hurt chances? Academy upset over The Hurt Locker producer's dig at Avatar

Nicholas Chartier is one of four producers of the Kathryn Bigelow-directed film, running on par with Avatar with nine nominations.

Chartier emailed a message on Feb. 19, which was obtained by The Associated Press, that implored voters to trounce the competition: "I hope you liked Hurt Locker. If you did and want us to win, please tell ... your friends who vote for the Oscars, tell actors, directors, crew members, art directors, special effects people, if everyone tells one or two of their friends, we will win and not a $500m film."

Chartier, likely accidentally, sent the email to his competitors, the producers of Inglourious Basterds and Avatar.

The "$500m film" is an obvious reference to Avatar, helmed by Canadian James Cameron, who happens to be the ex-husband of Bigelow.

'Plain stupidity'

Leslie Unger, spokesperson for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said the emails violated the academy's rules that prohibit mailings that "attempt to promote any film or achievement by casting a negative light on a competing film or achievement."

Chartier sent out an apology mid-week, saying his "naiveté, ignorance of the rules and plain stupidity as a first-time nominee is not an excuse."

The Academy hasn't decided what action it might take against Chartier and will make an announcement once voting closes on Tuesday at 5 p.m. PST.

One of the possibilities is to take Chartier's name off the ballot. It would be devastating for the producer, who at one point remortgaged his house to raise funds to make the film, which focuses on a bomb disposal unit in Iraq.

Other measures include possibly taking away Chartier's Oscar tickets, and the unlikely option of removing The Hurt Locker from best picture consideration.

Another option is that if The Hurt Locker captures the top film prize, the Academy might decide not to extend membership to Chartier, which it does to most first-time Oscar winners.

With files from The Associated Press