EXCLUSIVE: Although the Oscars season has ended, the journey for The Substance seems to be ongoing.
Nicolas Royer, executive producer of the Demi Moore-led horror film, has penned a letter to the Association of Production Managers in support of Marilyne Scarselli, who was among those who won the Oscar for the film’s Makeup and Hairstyling.
The letter, sent to the 110 members of the association, comes on the back of a dispute between Scarselli and Frédérique Arguello, who was head of the hair department on the movie, with Royer saying the case has turned into the “lynching” of Scarselli.
In the week leading up to the ceremony, Deadline reported that Arguello claimed she was passed over for an Oscar nomination in the Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling category in favor of Scarselli, her assistant. Scarselli denied that she took the position from Arguello, citing her work with principal actress Moore as the reason for her being nominated.
Before the ceremony, Scarselli told Deadline she was already being harassed by Arguello and she believed her career to be in jeopardy. “It’s really, really bad,” she said. “She tried to destroy my career in Paris and all the hair stylists in Paris killed me on Facebook and social media. It’s really bad for me and for my career.”
The situation seems to have reached a peak once the film won the Oscar in the category, making Scarselli a first-time Oscar winner and depriving Arguello of the Oscar she made the claim for.
“I note with sadness and horror that this case is turning into the lynching of Marilyne Scarselli,” Royer wrote in his letter. “I must bring you the version of the Production that does not hang Marilyne Scarselli out to dry.”
In the letter (read it in full below), Royer mentions Scarselli has been the subject of denigration, letters from lawyers and threats to her career, which Scarselli had mentioned previously. “[Arguello] called a lawyer to bring me a letter to leave the Oscar nomination,” she says. “She really wants to destroy my name, my career, and she’s doing that now.”
Royer also points out that the Academy is the one that makes the nomination decisions, not Scarselli. “It is the Academy, not Marilyne, who is responsible for her appointment in place of Frédérique after studying the applications,” he writes.
Each year the Academy’s Makeup and Hair Branch Executive Committee go through a thorough review to make a determination based on material submitted by the production and those involved in the work. However, a maximum of three artists are allowed to be selected and determinations are made by a private vote.
Here is Royer’s letter:
The adventure of the film The Substance, for which I, Nicolas Royer, was the Executive Producer for three years, ended on Sunday night after the Academy Awards. The film was awarded for “Best Make-up & Hair Styling.”
You may have read about it in the press or on social networks, that the Oscar would have been stolen by Marilyne Scarselli, the hairdresser’s assistant. I note with sadness and horror that this case is turning into the lynching of Marilyne Scarselli and I must bring you the version of the Production that does not hang Marilyne Scarselli out to dry.
Frédérique Arguello and Marilyne Scarselli both held the position of Head Hairdresser on the film TheSubstance. Frédérique intervened more in preparation for the search for looks and during part of the shooting. Marilyne took care of the main actresses more, in conjunction with the Special Makeup Effects team.
Frédérique and Marilyne were therefore complementary and are both legitimate to be credited as “Key Hair Artist” in the credits as well as to compete for the various awards. They both won the BAFTA in London in mid February. The rules are different for the Academy Awards. After a long process of interviews, surveys and study of applications, it retained only three nominees for the Make-up / Hair Styling category.
Frédérique and Marilyne both applied according to the rules and the Academy finally selected Marilyne Scarselli as the nominee with the director, we sent them a letter in which we gave more details about the roles of each one, to be sure that the Academy has all the elements to make the right choice.
A few days later, the governor replied that they had studied the applications again and that their decision would not change, it was final. Since then, a real denigration of Marilyne Scarselli has been set in motion, based on letters from lawyers, threats of being “grilled” in the profession. I thought it was important to inform you that: Frédérique Arguello and Marilyne Scarselli are both very talented and have done a great job on The Substance, It is the Academy, not Marilyne, who is responsible for her appointment in place of Frédérique after studying the applications. If you have the opportunity to hire one of them, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
