Oscar After-Party

The Governors Ball, the official after-party of the 58th Academy Awards in 1986, was held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, the same venue that hosted the awards ceremony. This elegant ballroom was filled with the night's Oscar winners, nominees, presenters, and a host of other distinguished guests from the film industry. The atmosphere was electric, buzzing with congratulations and joyous celebrations of cinematic achievements. Attendees mingled, sharing their excitement and relief after the intense anticipation of the ceremony. A gourmet meal and drinks were served, and it was the tradition for the evening's Oscar winners to make their first stop at the Governors Ball to have their newly-won statuettes engraved, making it a truly special place to witness the immediate aftermath of Hollywood's biggest night.

Alex, accompanied by Mia and the rest of the Catch Me If You Can team who had attended the ceremony, was still reeling from the incredible wins. Diane, another key member of the Catch Me If You Can team, had a remarkable streak: three of her films (Catch Me If You Can, Mask, and Back to the Future) had all won at least one award tonight.

They also received an invitation to Irving Paul "Swifty" Lazar's renowned after-party, a gathering known for its power players and celebrity elite. 

Irving Paul "Swifty" Lazar was a highly influential American lawyer, talent agent, and dealmaker. He represented a wide array of prominent figures, from movie stars to renowned authors, even including someone as high-profile as former President Richard Nixon.

Lazar earned his famous nickname "Swifty" from none other than Humphrey Bogart, who was impressed by Lazar's remarkable speed and efficiency in putting together three major deals for him in a single day. This moniker perfectly captured his reputation as a dynamic and quick-witted negotiator.

However, while the Lazar party undoubtedly held significant cachet in Hollywood, Alex felt no particular need to be there. Having just experienced an extraordinary triumph by winning two Academy Awards, he wasn't seeking further validation or exposure. His focus remained on celebrating this monumental night with his Catch Me If You Can team at the official Governors Ball.

As Alex was still basking in the glow of his wins and receiving congratulations,Robert Redford approached him, Meryl Streep and Sydney Pollack by his side. Robert Redford, who had portrayed the older version of Alex's character in the film 17 Again, stepped forward with a warm smile.

Robert Redford clapped Alex on the shoulder, his iconic smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. "Alex, congratulations again. Youngest screenwriter and producer to win an Oscar. That's quite a legacy to start so early in your career. Enjoy this, you've earned it."

As Alex received Robert Redford's congratulations, his eyes widened slightly. "Really?" he asked, looking from Redford to Pollack. "Not joking?"

Sydney Pollack chuckled. "No joke, young man. Including both adapted and original screenplay categories, you are indeed the youngest winner. Before you, the youngest was Orson Welles when he won for Citizen Kane."

Meryl Streep added, with a smile her face, "And for producing, before you, the youngest to win Best Picture was Carl Laemmle Jr. for All Quiet on the Western Front in 1930. He was 22 years, 6 months, and 8 days old when he won. Alex, you beat him by winning at 22 years, 5 months, and 9 days."

Alex looked at them, his eyebrows raised in genuine surprise. "How do you even know all that?" he asked, clearly not expecting such detailed knowledge offhand.

"Well," Robert Redford replied with a slight smile, "one of the Academy members mentioned it earlier. It tends to be the kind of trivia that floats around on a night like this."

Alex nodded in understanding. It made sense that such facts would be circulating among the attendees.

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By this time, Mia, having finished mingling with some other guests, rejoined Alex and the group. She greeted Sydney Pollack, Robert Redford, and Meryl Streep with a warm smile, and they returned her greetings politely.

"So, Alex," Meryl Streep asked, her curiosity piqued, "what's next for you?"

"My next film is actually being released in four days, on March 28th," Alex replied, a hint of excitement in his voice.

"Oh, that's right! Say Anything..., isn't it?" Robert Redford asked, his eyes twinkling.

Mia looked at Robert Redford, "You remember the name of the film?" she asked, a touch of surprise in her voice.

Sydney Pollack chuckled, noticing Mia's expression. "Don't be too surprised, my dear. It's because his daughter has been relentlessly asking him to procure premiere show seats for that film. She's quite a big fan of Alex Hayes, it seems."

Robert Redford shot a playful glance at Sydney. "Speak for yourself, Sydney. Weren't your two daughters also asking for premiere show seats for Alex's film? They were certainly enthusiastic about it, considering they didn't even attend your Out of Africa premiere!"

Sydney Pollack coughed lightly, a look of mild embarrassment washing over his face.

Meryl Streep, Mia, and Alex shared a laugh at Robert Redford's playful jab at Sydney Pollack's expense.

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After their conversation with Alex, Mia, and Steven, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, and Sydney Pollack excused themselves to mingle with other guests at the lively after-party. Alex and Mia continued to soak in the joyous atmosphere of the Governors Ball, congratulating fellow winners and enjoying the celebration. Alex and Mia finally departed the lively Governors Ball after the clock had chimed past midnight.

***********

The following morning, the headlines of newspapers across the country reported the results of the 58th Academy Awards.

Out of Africa was celebrated for its impressive haul of five Oscars. The surprising story of the night was The Color Purple, which, despite its eleven nominations, went home empty-handed. But the biggest news was undoubtedly Catch Me If You Can's triumph, securing the coveted Best Picture award along with wins for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing. And adding to the film's glory was the remarkable achievement of its young writer and producer, Alex Hayes, hailed as the youngest screenwriter and producer in Academy history to win an Oscar.

This incredible wave of positive press surrounding Alex Hayes and Catch Me If You Can, coming just days before the release of his next film, Say Anything..., provided a publicity boost that studios dream of. The newspapers weren't just reporting on the Oscars; they were showcasing a bright new talent who had just conquered Hollywood's biggest night. This undoubtedly created a significant buzz and heightened anticipation for Say Anything... among audiences.

Paramount, the studio behind 'Say Anything...', was undoubtedly taking this film's release very seriously. Internal reviews had indicated that while it was a good film, it might not possess the same broad, comedic appeal as Ferris Bueller's Day Off or the crime-comedy-drama elements of Catch Me If You Can that could propel it to blockbuster status. Nevertheless, the studio had strong faith in Alex's burgeoning star power and his established niche in these kinds of films. As a result, they were set to release Say Anything... in a wide run across 1840 theaters domestically.