Spotlight shift

EVERYONE knows about the Governors Ball and the A-list Vanity Fair bash. And everyone who isn’t anyone watches coverage of celebs arriving at these post-parties on their high-def, 42-inch plasma screens. Yawn.

But the coolest Oscar parties are the semi-secret ones held in the days and nights leading up to the Oscars. These less-public, no-red-carpet, media-free agency soirees for agents, managers, studio honchos and stars are routinely held at private homes on Oscar weekend. If you are an A-lister, you probably already know about most of them. And if you don’t, well, you probably aren’t invited.

These days the famous and powerful do perfunctory pit stops at the big public parties, pose for a few photos and then flee to the more sedate bashes away from the prying eyes of the media and slathering sponsors. Even the freewheeling Golden Globes are going that way.

While all the media coverage was focused on the WB/In Style party and the Paramount/DreamWorks fete at last month’s Globes, the big stars actually left those parties quickly and ended up at either Bryan Lourd’s Creative Artists Agency gathering or Prince’s private party high in a Beverly Hilton penthouse. That trend is set to continue for this year’s Oscar celebrations.

The Sunday day-of parties are still the big three: the academy’s Governors Ball, Vanity Fair and Elton John’s annual AIDS Foundation bash (with James Blunt performing).

But no studios are throwing congratulatory bashes. No post-parties are planned for Paramount, New Line, Fox/Searchlight, Universal/Focus, Disney/Buena Vista or Picturehouse.

On the down low this year, Warner Bros. is hosting a nominees dinner at the Hotel Bel-Air on Friday. About 250 guests are invited, so expect the big guns, such as Martin Scorsese, Mark Wahlberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Ed Zwick. But don’t expect cameras. The exclusive event is media-free.

Of course, these lower-key industry insider parties have been going on forever, but many are gaining on the big, media-friendly events.

Industry observers are saying Jeffrey Katzenberg’s Motion Picture & Television Fund “Night Before” party on Saturday is now more popular than Vanity Fair’s Sunday bash at Morton’s. Why? No red carpet. No nosy media. No gown or tux necessary. And you can avoid the gaze of Vanity Fair’s new live party webcam.

Even studio pre-parties are on the wane. Along with the Warners party this Friday, there was a party on Feb. 7 at Simon’s L.A. in the Sofitel, celebrating the nominations for “Babel” director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, “City of Men” director Alfonso Curon, and “Pan’s Labyrinth” director Guillermo del Toro. But that’s about it.

Meanwhile, there are more options than ever for those who want to see and be seen (in private) before the big night.

The new addition to the bunch is Giorgio Armani’s fete at Ron Burkle’s Green Acres Estate in Beverly Hills on Saturday. The Champagne reception and exclusive showing of his new Armani Prive couture line will no doubt have a very special audience that probably will include Victoria and David Beckham, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony and Armani’s faithful fashion fans, such as George Clooney, Annette Bening and Warren Beatty.

Speaking of fashion, Barry Diller and wife Diane von Furstenberg will host a private luncheon at their home on Saturday afternoon.

And London-based fragrance and skin care mogul Jo Malone is doing a cocktail party Thursday for Miramax’s nominated “The Queen” and “Venus” at the Sunset Tower Hotel on the Terrace overlooking Hollywood. Expect to see the indefatigable front-runner Helen Mirren and the irrepressible dark horse Peter O’Toole at this private fete.

Then there are The Night Before and Friday night’s agency parties thrown by ICM’s Ed Limato, CAA’s Lourd and Endeavor’s Ari Emanuel. Each of these is a friends- and clients-only event at the agents’ homes.

Even the 79th annual Governors Ball immediately after the telecast will be following the new low-key trend. The formerly formal assigned-table dining has been scrapped in favor of a Tuscan-style buffet with casual seating that will include sofas, banquettes and lounge areas as well as stand-up tables and bars. So will nominees have to serve themselves? If they want to. Wolfgang Puck’s open-kitchen feel (seen at Cut and Spago) will feature 14 interactive kitchens and chefs cooking for -- and in front of -- the guests.

Doubtless, Oscar winners may have enough studio minions to fetch them food. And there will be 800 servers. But some giddy winners may want to try their hand at juggling an Oscar and a plate of pasta, sushi or tapas.

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INVITATION ONLY

With big, media-filled Oscar parties on the wane, the following is a list of this year’s more prominent private events.

Katzenberg’s bash

What: Jeffrey Katzenberg’s annual Night Before party benefiting the Motion Picture & Television Fund

Where: The Beverly Hills Hotel

When: Saturday

Who: Everyone. Literally. Last year’s attendees: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy, Jake Gyllenhaal, George Clooney, Elton John, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Haggis. Jamie Foxx did DJ duty while Oliver Stone boogied. Execs list: Bob Iger, Alan Horn, Les Moonves, Jim Gianopulos, Ron Meyer and Brad Grey.

Why? No red carpet. No nosy media. No gown or tux necessary. And no kissing up to Graydon Carter required.

At the estate

What: Giorgio Armani’s Champagne reception

Where: Ron Burkle’s Green Acres Estate in Beverly Hills

When: Saturday

Who: Probably Victoria and David Beckham, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, George Clooney, Annette Bening, Warren Beatty, Steve Martin and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Why: With Armani in town for the first time since 1992, this is the fashion event of the award season. Not to blow any smoke at Donatella Versace’s star-studded Walk of Style awards that took place Feb. 8, but the fact is no designer knows Hollywood like Armani.

Once-a-year shirt

What: Ed Limato/ICM’s pre-Oscar party

Where: Limato’s Beverly Hills home

When: Friday

Who: ICM clients such as Denzel Washington, Steve Martin and Halle Berry, natch ... and every other important person in town.

Why: Ed has the city close off his street that night to keep the annoying paparazzi at bay. Wear shoes, although Ed doesn’t. But don’t wear a colorful Versace shirt that might outshine the one Donatella designs for Ed every year. He only wears it once.

A-list directors

What: Warner Bros. annual nominees dinner

Where: Hotel Bel-Air ballroom

When: Friday

Who: Invitees include “Blood Diamond” stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and their director Ed Zwick, Mark Wahlberg and the man of the hour, director Martin Scorsese, as well as Clint Eastwood, George Miller, Steven Spielberg. You get the idea.

Party? What party?

What: Bryan Lourd/CAA’s pre-party

Where: Historically, Lourd’s home. No word on where this year’s event will be. In fact, CAA will neither confirm nor deny that there will even be a party.

When: Friday

Who: CAA’s huge client list of writers, directors, producers and studio execs. Expect Oliver Stone, maybe Brad Pitt. Last year’s drew Keith and Nicole, Tom Ford, Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams, Scarlett Johansson, even Mick Jagger. But don’t expect Sean Combs. After Diddy showed up uninvited to Lourd’s post-Globes party at the Sunset Towers, he’s likely not invited to CAA bashes.

Power play

What: Endeavor agency pre-party

Where: Ari Emanuel and Sarah Addington’s Brentwood pad

When: Friday

Who: The agency represents the majority of the year’s nominated filmmakers, as well as a slew of actors. Last year’s list included studio heads Brad Grey, Amy Pascal, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Shaye and Tom Rothman posing for group photos while past Oscar winners Diane Keaton and Frances McDormand mixed with nominees Keira Knightley and Amy Adams. Client Mark Wahlberg, nominated this year, will surely be back.