Oscars After-Party

by

Approaching midnight, two major Oscar winners, Mikey Madison and Adrien Brody, attended the glamorous Vanity Fair party, one of the most illustrious events of Hollywood’s annual grand day, held at the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts in Beverly Hills.

As Brody confidently enters the bustling main party area accompanied by fashion designer Georgina Chapman, photographers flock around them. His beaming smile is evident as he holds his Oscar award. Following closely behind are his parents, Sylvia Plachy and Elliot Brody.

Every few steps at “The Brutalist,” the star is halted by one famous personality after another, extending their well-wishes: First comes Conan O’Brien, basking in accolades for his impressive hosting debut as a first-time emcee. Following him is Queen Latifah, who captivated audiences with her tribute to Quincy Jones during the show. Next, Vin Diesel greets Brody before he reaches the central bar, and Jon Hamm gives him a friendly pat on the back. By the time Jerry Bruckheimer finished his congratulations and Diplo got a feel for the trophy’s weight, I understand that I am surrounded by two Academy Award winners.

Across the glass window, Madison is being congratulated by a group of up-and-coming stars from Young Hollywood, who had gathered on the outdoor patio. Jenna Ortega (Madison’s co-star from “Scream”), Madelyn Cline, Hunter Schafer, Danny Ramirez, Reneé Rapp, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Rachel Zegler, and Cara Delevingne surrounded Madison, who held her Oscar with excitement. After around 20 minutes, she moved to a comfortable velvet couch in the party’s cozy sunken living room. The venue was meant to give off a retro-glam vibe, reminiscent of a 1960s Hollywood party, bathed in warm tones of marigold and peach.

At this moment, Brody is also seated, while Chapman rises to snap a photo of him and his family on the couch opposite Madison’s. It would be another thirty minutes before Sean Baker, director of “Anora”, arrived from the Neon party accompanied by his group, including his producing partner and wife Samantha Quan, who were carrying so many awards that it was hard to keep count. As the “Anora” team, which included Yura Borisov and Mark Eydelshteyn, crammed onto the couch for a group shot, there seemed to be enough trophies for everyone to hold one.

At the bustling event, I couldn’t help but notice that Madison and Brody, both in high demand, were not the only celebrities drawing a crowd. Many others found themselves under the spotlight as well.

The party was teeming with excitement, and it wasn’t just Madison and Brody who caught everyone’s attention. A host of other stars were also basking in the limelight that night.

Upon the arrival of the EbMaster reporter around 11 p.m., the lively party, orchestrated by Vanity Fair’s Radhika Jones, was at its peak. The evening’s best supporting actress, Zoe Saldaña, had just exited a sprinter van, accompanied by her Oscar and family (her parents Asalia Nazario and Aridio Saldaña, and her husband Marco Perego Saldaña).

I’ll find out from my sons where they’d prefer to place the award,” Saldaña shared with Marc Malkin at the red carpet event, “provided they don’t play rough games with it, I believe we’ll manage just fine.

When asked about what message she wants young Latinas to perceive when they observe her – being the third Latina to claim that trophy, and distinct from the character Anita in “West Side Story” – she responded: “That you’re capable of achieving anything you desire. You can surpass limitations.

Upon entering, Saldaña found herself among the captivating “Wicked” actress Cynthia Erivo, who was the center of attention in the living room along with her mother Edith Erivo, Lena Waithe, Serena Williams, and Debbie Allen. Soon after, a flurry of well-wishers flooded in, expressing their admiration for Saldaña (and eagerly seeking a selfie with her Oscar), preventing the “Emilia Pérez” star and her family from venturing beyond the entrance. Instead, they decided to settle on a banquette, enjoying In-N-Out burgers while grooving to the music.

Deeper within the spacious 5,000 square foot room, members of “A Complete Unknown” gathered in a cozy nook close to the bar. While patrons were enjoying Don Julio 1942 cocktails and Kosta Brown wine, they primarily waited to catch a peek at Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner. These two celebrities had decided to bypass the red carpet and instead reunite with her boyfriend inside the festivities.

The acclaimed duo rejoiced over Chalamet’s second Academy Award nomination, surrounded by a group that included his mother, Nicole Flender, her renowned sisters Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, as well as friends such as his fellow actors Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro. Prior to striking a pose for the in-house photographer, Elle Fanning exchanged friendly banter with Hailee Steinfeld by saying, “Hey girl.”

or

The celebrated pair commemorated Chalamet’s second Academy Award nomination in the company of a collection that encompassed his mother, Nicole Flender, her well-known sisters Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, along with friends like Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro. Before they posed for the house photographer, Elle Fanning playfully greeted Hailee Steinfeld by saying, “Hey girl.

The night’s ambiance was breezy, with stars constantly entering and exiting like a flowing river. For instance, when Erivo departed the party around 11:30 PM (perhaps en route to Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Gold Party?), Clarence Maclin, who stood out at Sing Sing, arrived via a mirrored corridor leading from the red carpet. Demi Moore and her daughters Tallulah, Rumer, and Scout Willis also popped in briefly (as she had a load of French fries to take home).

How did we identify all these stars? To find the popular faces in a bustling crowd, simply follow the flashes from cameras. For instance, when Camilla Cabello excitedly greeted Olivia Rodrigo, who was comfortably seated in the middle of the room, a photographer rushed over to capture the moment. Interestingly, right behind these pop stars under the radiance of a large five-foot disco ball, we found Mark Hamill from “Star Wars”, engrossed in his phone.

The brief exchange (or absence of it) lasts for just a moment, before Cabello and Rodrigo hurriedly move away to converse with British singer Raye, who was casually playing cards on the couch alongside her sister Abby Keen. The excitement from their recent performance of “Skyfall” during the James Bond segment at the show was still palpable around her. Raye’s tribute partners, Lisa and Doja Cat, were also present – with Doja Cat later taking to the dance floor with her boyfriend Joseph Quinn.

Nightclub VF, known as his domain, was where Lil Nas X reigned most frequently. As the mastermind behind hits, he spent more time than anyone else, dancing and shaking it up with a champagne glass in hand, to every tune played by the DJ – ranging from ABBA and Gloria Estefan, all the way to Kendrick Lamar. At one instance, he stepped outside for a brief break (and another sip of champagne) where he greeted Halle Bailey casually.

At the event, Lupita Nyong’o, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, “Wicked” Oscar winner Paul Tazewell, and costume designer Ruth E. Carter (who Tazewell acknowledged after his historic win) all joined in on the dance floor. In fact, during a game of “Find the Little Gold Men,” this reporter spotted around six Oscar statuettes grooving to the rhythm.

By 2 A.M., the party was mostly empty, with “Wicked” star Marissa Bode being one of the last to depart from the Uber waiting area. Many partygoers at VF, including Madison, Baker, and Saldaña, eventually migrated to Madonna and Guy Oseary’s yearly event, co-hosted by Gucci. This extravaganza included a shock appearance by Lil Wayne, who was introduced by Chris Rock.

Scroll down for more after-party highlights:

Read More

2025-03-04 02:19