Gruelling party plan for Rings contingent

If our Oscar nominees look a bit tired when they - hopefully - take the stage on Monday (New Zealand time), you can blame the big Los Angeles weekend they will have had.

The emphasis this year is on pre-awards parties rather than those after. Which means Peter Jackson and the Lord of the Rings contingent will be attending multiple functions in the evenings leading up to the 74th Academy Awards on Sunday night, Los Angeles time.

"Peter will be very busy going to many private and official functions," said Claire Riskind, a publicist with New Line Cinema, backers of the production.

While previous Oscars have been surrounded by lavish public spectacles, this year the ranks have closed and the emphasis is on small private parties prior to the event.

"This year is very different," said Carole Willcocks, of Entertainment Weekly.

"I think there is more concern about security since September 11 and with the economy tightening, studios are reticent to lash out on big events this year.

"There is also an emphasis on pre- parties for all the nominees. Before the Oscars, everyone is sure they will turn up because they are all potential winners. With post-Oscar parties, often only the winners will turn up."

The New Zealand consulate was throwing one of the biggest pre-Oscar bashes last night - an evening celebrating New Zealand film-making at the swish Beverly Hills Hotel.

Although Peter Jackson and the rest of the LOTR crew were to be the guests of honour, the emphasis, in accordance with Jackson's wishes, was to be on the whole New Zealand film industry.

But so busy is Jackson's schedule for the weekend that he and partner and co-nominee Fran Walsh were expected to leave early for another function at the home of Hollywood agent Ed Lamato.

This afternoon (LA time), Jackson is expected to attend the exclusive champagne reception honouring the music composers and lyricists nominated for Oscars. LOTR composer Howard Shore and singer Enya are expected to attend, with other nominees such as Sting and Sir Paul McCartney.

Jackson is also expected at the home of Bob Shaye, head of New Line Cinema, who is holding a private bash for the LOTR nominees.

Meanwhile, fewer parties and heightened security will make it impossible for regular folk even to gawk at celebrities at bashes such as the annual Governors Ball.

About 1650 guests have been invited to the party in a grand ballroom near the Kodak Theatre, new home to the Oscars ceremony.

But Hollywood may look more like a no-man's land than party-central. Police this week began closing streets and subways around the theatre amid fears of another terrorist strike on the US.

A spokeswoman for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said only 400 people were cleared for the time-honoured tradition of watching celebrity arrivals for the awards from the bleachers.

Leron Gubler, of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, said the security was the biggest the famous movie district had ever seen.

"The Oscars ... could obviously be a potential target."

- HERALD CORRESPONDENT, REUTERS

nzherald.co.nz/oscars

Oscar nominees (full list)