Oscars 2013: And That’s A Wrap!

Tinseltown has been busy partying it up – before awards season officially ends for another year. It won’t be long before a new one kicks off in a few months, with a whole new crop of films to route for and cheer on. But until then, Hollywood has been celebrating the filmmakers and actors that won big at the Oscars on Sunday night.

From the official after-party of the Oscars – the Governors Ball – to Madonna’s annual soiree and the famed Vanity Fair party, there are always plenty of options for the movie industry to keep the festive atmosphere of the awards ceremony going until early into the next day. Or for those nominated who didn’t win, there are loads of places to drown one’s film-themed sorrows, and commiserate with like-minded fellow nominees.

There was only joy, though, at the Elton John Aids Foundation Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party. The event that Elton and his partner David Furnish put on every year turned 21 this year, and with the help of hosts, Grey Goose, and a few fun celebs, the evening was another success for the charity that raises funds for those affected by HIV/Aids in Africa and beyond, raising about $6 million dollars. Bono, Heidi Klum, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj and Glee’s Chris Colfer were just some of the attendees attended the event, some of whom stayed on to enjoy the spunk and sincere lyrics of Brit-winning singer Emile Sande as she performed straight after the Oscars telecast was over.

Chris Brown was there too, without Rihanna, singing along to his hit “Don’t Wake Me Up”, when the DJ played it on the mirrored dance-floor, while Nia Vardalos and her husband Ian Gomez looked like they were having a whole lot of fun, drinking the Grey Goose Best Picture-nominated themed drinks. That’s what Oscars night seems to be all about – celebs from every aspect of the entertainment world getting together and kicking off their shoes and having a good time.

At the Grey Goose pre-Oscars party held inside the famed Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard on Saturday night, the likes of Taylor Lautner, Josh Hartnett and Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick  stayed until quite late, each having a good time with their respective group of friends. Even Joaquin Phoenix, Best Actor nominee, looked like he was having a good time, and he granted an earnest fan an autograph on his way out.

For me, personally, a highlight of that Oscars event was half-stalking British singer Morrissey, who sat in a booth for most of the night, dressed in an oh-so dapper plaid grey and pink suit. When I finally plucked up the courage to say hi, as he was making his way out of the party, he shook my hand and I noticed the salmon pink tie he was wearing that just made his look even more dapper. Russell Brand had been talking Morrissey’s ear off for most of the night – as he did with another celeb I admire, Jean Dujardin. Last year’s Best Actor winner was gracious ahead of announcing the Best Actress winner at Sunday’s ceremony.

                                                                                             [Pic: Grey Goose]

And on Sunday night, included among the party-goers after the ceremony was a pair of South Africans who feature in the Searching for Sugar Man film that picked up Best Documentary. Stephen “Sugar” Segerman told me he, and others from the film, including Craig Bartholomew Strydom,  the director Malik Bendjelloul and producer Simon Chinn went to the Vanity Fair party. It was cheers all around for “the little film that could” – made on a low budget but done so with great passion and a love for Detroit-born singer Rodriguez that helped resuscitate his career. The singer himself didn’t end up going to the ceremony, as Malik mentioned in his acceptance speech, preferring instead to let the filmmakers and his fans take the spotlight, while he recovered from his recent big tour to South Africa.