THE GOVERNORS BALL SHRINE EXPOSITION HALL
Everyone's first stop for private mutual admiration after the show's public display. on location Oscar winners past (Kevin Spacey, Michael Douglas) and very present (Julia Roberts, Benicio Del Toro) compared trophy tales. thank you and good night! Steven Soderbergh's victory lap had to be quick: He left within an hour to fly back to his Ocean's Eleven set in Las Vegas. ''He arranged a 6 a.m. shoot,'' confirmed Ocean's star Matt Damon. fancy footwork Billy Elliot's Jamie Bell recounted how thrilled he was when his new pal Russell Crowe won. ''I actually leapt off my seat and almost hit [my costar] Julie Walters in the back of the head. I wanted to dance out of the theater and shout with joy.'' At least someone was smiling.
'VANITY FAIR' PARTY MORTONS
As one of the two major post-Oscar bashes, this perennial hot spot only got more scorching, with everyone making it their must-mingle. ON LOCATION As the lawyer for attendee Sean ''Puffy'' Combs might say, If their names are in lights, they were there for the night: Julia & Ben, Matt & Ben, Nicolas & Renee, Sarah Jessica & Lara Flynn. UNHOLY ALLIANCE Eyes followed the pneumatic twosome Pamela Anderson and Elizabeth Hurley, who circled the party arm-in-arm celebrating their fledgling friendship (the actresses met only the day before at the home of photographer David LaChapelle). Anderson later won a Most Awkward Moment trophy while gushing to Sting; when his wife, Trudie Styler, told her, ''My husband is completely in love with you.'' Pam replied, ''Oh, really? Who's your husband?'' ALL DOORS OPEN FOR WINNERS...EXCEPT ONE Roberts' entourage kept her company while waiting for an open bathroom. ''I've never needed anything so much in my life,'' she joked to friends, before finally ducking into the men's room.
SONY SOIREE CRUSTACEAN
With opulent Asian design (period furniture and bamboo vases), this low-key party did not dishonor Crouching Tiger's art-direction Oscar. ON LOCATION The Crouching crew, with Ang Lee and Michelle Yeoh, joined ER's Ming-Na to turn this fete into Hollywood Far East. Ed Harris and Marcia Gay Harden represented Sony Pictures Classics' other Oscar pride, Pollock. CROSS TALK After the red carpet, Chow Yun-Fat and Tiger costar Chang Chen ran across Santa Monica Boulevard to talk to Chinese fans.
DREAMWORKS DOMINICK'S
Planned as a private gathering, the party was thrown open once the studio realized it was the big winner for the second year running. ON LOCATION Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg, and David Geffen toasted their winning Crowes, Russell and Cameron. OUT OF THE RING After a hasty exit, Russell held a small fete that went till 7:30 a.m. at the Hotel Bel-Air. His mom partied with Douglas and Zeta-Jones. TIME CODE Spielberg's suggestion for shorter Oscar shows: Vote for Asian filmmakers. ''All the honorees from Taiwan spoke so eloquently and succinctly.'' And unlike the Italian Roberto Benigni, none stepped on his head.
