Oscar-winning Pixar short 'Piper' draws inspiration from the San Francisco Bay

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KGO) -- The Oscars ended with a surprise that nobody in the Dolby Theatre had anticipated. ABC News says the wrong envelope was given to Best Picture presenter Warren Beatty by a PricewaterhouseCoopers staffer who was distracted while taking pictures of Emma Stone backstage.[br /][br /][b]RELATED: [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/entertainment/moonlight-wins-best-picture-after-oscars-mix-up/1774720/" TARGET="" REL=""]Moonlight wins Best Picture Oscar after mix-up[/url][/b][br /][Ads /][br /]Bay Area-based Pixar Studios won for Best Animated Short Film for "Piper" and they say the mood at the awards at the end of the ceremony was unreal. It was a dramatic end to what was already a great night.[br /][br /]Pixar's newest Oscar-winners say Sunday night's ceremony is mostly a blur. "You come in and out of consciousness, 'Oh that's really funny, Jimmy Kimmel.' And then you think, 'Wow, our category is coming up,'" said Director Alan Barillaro.[br /][br /]What they do remember vividly is the moment actor Gael Garcia Bernal opened the envelope and announced their film won.[br /][br /]Berillaro says "Piper," the story of a little bird, was inspired by his morning jobs along the bay.[br /][br /]"There are all these shore birds that fly in and run back and forth along the waves," said producer Marc Sondheimer.[br /][br /]The short film took three years to complete and their win adds to a growing list of Pixar's other award winners.[br /][br /]Sunday's Oscars ceremony was also a huge night for East Bay native Mahershala Ali. As a graduate of St. Mary's College in Moraga, one of his theater professors is hoping his win will help current students in their pursuits.[br /][Ads /][br /]"There's nothing like success to persuade you, or to persuade parents," said professor Rebecca Engle.[br /][br /]Current students are excited about his win. "I feel really excited that now his legacy here will become more known," said theater student Kimiya. "And I know that inspires people to become part of this theater family we have at Saint Mary's.[br /][br /][b]RELATED: [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/entertainment/saint-marys-theater-professor-beams-over-former-student-mahershala-alis-win/1775086/[br /]" TARGET="" REL=""]St. Mary's theater professor beams over former student Mahershala Ali's Oscar win[/url][/b][br /][br /]Ali's star is on the rise. Following the Oscars Calvin Klein released an advertisement campaign featuring the cast of "Moonlight."[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/oscars" TARGET="" REL=""]Click here [/url]for more of ABC7 News' stories, photos and videos on the Oscars.[/b]