Standing at an awards ceremony watched by tens of millions of viewers, very few people would actually feel bored or dull.
The three hours passed in a flash.
As more and more major awards were handed out, everyone in the theater hall, whether they knew the inside story or not, realized that aside from The Piano's best-actress win and one best-foreign-language-film statuette, all twenty-three of Daenerys Entertainment's nominations this year had essentially come up empty.
The final two heavyweight prizes.
Best director went, unexpectedly yet predictably, to Barbra Streisand for The Prince of Tides.
The multi-talented star who had begun as a singer, become famous as an actress, and then switched to directing became Hollywood's first-ever female Oscar winner for best director.
The very next award, best picture, was also claimed by The Prince of Tides.
All told, The Prince of Tides walked away with eight nominations and six statuettes, best picture, best director, best actor, best supporting actress, best adapted screenplay, and best art direction, making it the biggest winner of the 64th Academy Awards.
This year's post-Oscar Gucci party, held in cooperation with Ygritte Portal, took place at the Beverly Hilton.
After throwing its full weight behind information services, Ygritte Portal, which had quietly come to dominate the World Wide Web's user-content gateway, had become one of North America's most important news and information platforms without anyone quite noticing.
Nicole Kidman arrived at the Hilton at roughly the same time as the many other stars heading to the Gucci party.
As she reached the media zone she happened to see Joan Severance posing in front of the backdrop wall. Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista had probably already arrived as well.
Because of the weekend, a small awkwardness still lingered. She simply nodded politely at Joan Severance.
Joan Severance finished her photos, smiled back at Nicole without attempting conversation, and turned toward the party hall.
The party was set up in the same ballroom usually used for the Golden Globe Awards, large enough to accommodate the flood of guests.
ICM president Jeffrey Berg, who had been chatting with a middle-aged man, spotted Joan Severance, excused himself, and walked over.
"Joan, you look absolutely stunning tonight."
"Oh, thank you."
Joan Severance politely hugged Jeffrey Berg and clearly sensed the shift in the ICM executive's attitude toward her.
In the past this executive had never been so courteous.
After the greeting Jeffrey Berg said, "One thing. I already had Adam drop that Fire of Passion project for you. You should keep pushing for mainstream commercial films instead of these low-budget erotic thrillers."
Joan Severance's first few film attempts, from Hear No Evil onward to Mel Gibson's Bird on a Wire, had all been solidly mainstream big-screen commercial movies.
But for a pure eye-candy type like her, Hollywood offered very little room to grow.
After years in the circle with no real progress, Joan Severance had stopped believing she would ever catch the same lucky break as Rene Russo. That was why she had decided to take on the erotic thrillers that had exploded in popularity after Basic Instinct.
Coming from modeling, she had no strong objection to showing skin.
Of course, if a chance to return to the mainstream appeared she would not miss it.
Still, the film she had just finished, Almost Pregnant, which she had shot alongside former Charlie's Angels star Tanya Roberts, was extremely explicit.
Jeffrey Berg clearly had that in mind as well and continued, "As for Almost Pregnant, I just spoke with Danny Morris at New World Pictures. He will try to reach ANA to buy the distribution rights."
Joan Severance understood without needing further explanation.
Once New World Pictures acquired the distribution rights to Almost Pregnant, Simon Westeros could easily influence the film's release, or even shelve it entirely with a single word.
She had no intention, however, of asking Simon to bury Almost Pregnant.
After spending a weekend with him she had learned enough about the young man's personality. If she asked, he might actually do it, but then there would probably be no "after."
Besides, very few actresses in Hollywood had never appeared nude.
Stallone had even shot adult films before he became famous.
Still, listening to Jeffrey Berg's arrangements, Joan Severance said, "Thank you, Jeffrey. I know what to do."
Jeffrey Berg smiled. "If you're willing, I can personally take over as your agent going forward. I believe your potential is no lower than Rene's."
Rene Russo, also a former model, had earned an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress with Goodfellas and then landed a role in Spielberg's blockbuster Jurassic Park. She had successfully shed her eye-candy label and was now guaranteed at least solid mid-tier status.
Having the ICM president act as her personal agent was not something Joan Severance would refuse.
Cindy Crawford had transferred her own representation contract to Nancy Josephson, daughter of ICM chairman Marvin Josephson, just last year.
Unlike CAA with its cross-packaging model, ICM still operated as a traditional talent agency.
The higher the agent's rank, the more resources they controlled.
She extended her hand generously. "Then, Jeffrey, I'll be counting on you from now on."
Jeffrey Berg shook her hand and smiled. "Actually I already have a few roles that would suit you perfectly. Of course, right now it's a party, so enjoy yourself. We'll talk at the office tomorrow."
After a few more words Jeffrey Berg moved on.
A striking "target" like Joan Severance would normally have no shortage of men circling her. But word of Friday's events had probably spread, so for the short term no man would dare approach her.
She could sense that the seemingly indifferent young man at the center of it all felt little real possessiveness toward them.
Other people, however, clearly did not see it that way.
At Gucci party.
Any woman who tried to flirt with Westeros at an event like this probably did not want a future in Hollywood.
Joan Severance took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, glanced around, and walked straight toward Daenerys Entertainment CEO Amy Pascal.
She had no plan to borrow the young man's influence to throw her weight around. She simply wanted to use the present opportunity to exchange a few words with this powerful female executive.
It could only help.
A few years earlier it had not been easy for her to even attend an event of this level.
She stopped a short distance from Amy Pascal, noticing the other woman was in a serious discussion with a man in his thirties, and waited patiently instead of approaching at once.
"Simon's view is that Raise the Red Lantern winning is a very good opportunity. We must use it to push several films into the Asian market. You should fly across the ocean with the Director and the others yourself. Remember, we are not chasing immediate returns, only cultivating a possibility."
"Like Hasbro giving away the Transformers cartoon for free?"
"Of course not. Even if it's only a token price, we cannot simply give them away."
"But Amy, I still feel it's a shame to open the market with Batman, Ghost, and Toy Story almost for free."
"In five or ten years, Mark, do you think those films could still earn money in theaters?"
"They could be released on video or sold for television broadcast."
"Given that country's situation, do you think that's possible?" Amy Pascal shook her head and added solemnly, "Before you leave, you should speak with Simon again. He values this matter even more than you realize."
"I understand."
Mark Belford nodded seriously.
As the two continued talking they noticed Joan Severance glancing their way now and then. Mark Belford recognized her as the subject of his boss's latest gossip, gave her a small nod and smile, and stepped away on his own.
Amy Pascal had noticed Joan Severance as well.
When the other woman drew near she reached out first. "Hello, Ms. Severance."
"Hello, Ms. Pascal. If you don't mind, you can call me Joan." Joan Severance shook Amy's hand and added a compliment. "Wonderful party."
"Yes, I hope you're enjoying yourself." Amy replied, then smoothly changed the subject. "That dress is gorgeous. What designer?"
"I designed and had it made myself."
"Wow, that's quite a surprise."
The two women chatted casually for a while. At the end Amy hesitated briefly but still handed Joan Severance a business card.
Sophia Fache finished making the rounds and walked over just as Joan Severance left Amy's side.
Glancing at Severance's retreating figure, Sophia asked curiously, "Amy, who was that?"
Sophia clearly knew nothing about a certain guy's gossip. Since that was the case Amy saw no reason to mention it and simply said, "An actress who came over to say hello."
"Oh." Sophia did not pursue it. She waved over a waiter, exchanged her glass for red wine, and continued, "I was just talking with Nancy. We suddenly wondered whether we should change next year's Gucci party to a Melisandre party. It might feel more appropriate."
Amy smiled. "That way we would have Melisandre, Ygritte, and Daenerys, the three 'women' all together."
Sophia had not thought of it that way and now found it amusing. "True. If we count Cersei that makes four."
Four…
Four women.
Amy gave Sophia a strange look.
It really was quite the coincidence.
Sophia caught the change in Amy's expression and asked suspiciously, "What is it?"
"Nothing."
"You're definitely hiding something from me." Sophia studied Amy a moment longer, then asked directly, "Something about Simon?"
"If you want to know, ask him yourself."
"I'm not going to ask. If anyone asks it should be Janet." Sophia shrugged. Noticing two tall women entering the hall she said, "Anyway, Nadja and the others are here. I'll go talk with them about the CK endorsement."
"They are really a waist spirit and leg spirit."
Sophia laughed. "Yes, too bad you're a woman."
The two parted.
Sophia headed toward Nadja Auermann and Yasmeen Ghauri while Amy exchanged quick greetings with a few people from the Thelma & Louise team before walking toward the main cast of tonight's big winner, The Prince of Tides.
On the surface Daenerys Entertainment had gained almost nothing this year. In reality, however, Barbra Streisand and Warner Bros Pictures had paid the Highgate Pictures team a full eight million dollars in campaign fees to secure The Prince of Tides' wins, three million of which went to the Highgate public-relations team as commission.
Anyone in the circle who knew the rough details understood that this year had simply been Daenerys Entertainment choosing to step back on purpose.