SMILES & TEARS AT THE OSCARS.

Byline: Compiled by Evan Henerson, Greg Hernandez and Valerie Kuklenski

Backstage, honorary Oscar winner Robert Altman discussed the heart transplant he underwent 11 years ago. The donor was a woman, he said, who came from Washington state. Altman said he didn't disclose the fact earlier because he was afraid there might be repercussions within the industry. ``I thought maybe nobody would hire me again. There's such a stigma about heart transplants, and there's a lot of this out there,'' Altman said. ``Usually people fall out of trees and hurt their heads. They take the heart out and rush it to where somebody is waiting for it. I was waiting for it.''

Best screenplay co-writers Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry noted that their victory for ``Brokeback Mountain'' was ``bittersweet,'' since the film lost the best picture Oscar to ``Crash.''

``It's wonderful we won for screenplay and (score) and directing. It's wonderful, but this was a journey of nearly nine years for me of getting it to the screen,'' said Ossana. ``But the (best picture Oscar) honors everyone who works on the film, so it's bittersweet.''

McMurtry noted that of the four films he had worked on that had been up for best picture in his career, the three rural-theme films were losers while the urban film, ``Terms of Endearment'' (from McMurtry's novel), was the sole victor.

Ang Lee was embracing his directing award but still processing the fact that his ``Brokeback Mountain'' lost to ``Crash'' for best picture. He was asked backstage whether he thought some academy members did not see the film because of its subject.

``I'm so proud of the movie. They didn't vote for it? I don't know. You're asking me a question I don't know the answer to. It was a surprise for me, quite frankly, but congratulations to the 'Crash' filmmakers.''

Jordan ``Juicy J'' Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregardof (Juicy J of the group 36 Mafia) were probably the most under-dressed winners, having accepted their best song prize for ``It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp'' from ``Hustle & Flow'' just after performing the song. All three were dressed street-casual but dolled up with hunky diamond-crusted watches, glittery bracelets and ``grills'' - diamond dental work. ``I just couldn't believe it; I just didn't know what to do. I just started running,'' Houston said backstage. ``People probably thought the police be chasing me or something.''

Felicity Huffman should have won a special award for being the first nominee to burst into tears - on the red carpet. The producers of ABC's ``Countdown'' show surprised Huffman with a videotaped message from her ``Desperate Housewives'' co-stars - Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Marcia Cross and Nicollette Sheridan - who all sent love and good wishes to their friend ``Flicka.'' ``You ruined my makeup. Thank you very much,'' she said, dabbing her eyes.

Backstage, Nick Park and Steve Box, the co-creators of ``Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,' explained the brightly colored bow ties they were sporting on stage. They were made by British designer Paul Smith. When they arrived backstage, their respective Oscar statuettes were wearing litle mini bow ties as well. Steve Box's wife made the little ties on the way to the theater, according to Box.

Richard Taylor, (second to the left) one of the visual effects winners for ``King Kong,'' said his field has evolved since his earlier experiences when visual effects were an afterthought. ``We were there before the script was written,'' he said. ``It's becoming a lot more integrated process than a part of post-production.'' Taylor also noted that Andy Serkis' performance as the giant ape made ``King Kong'' a landmark film. ``This is the first time that a digital character has risen to the level of performance that the audience can cry.''

Art imitating life imitating art? That's sort of what happened in ``Syriana'' when the CIA operative played by George Clooney learned that a Hollywood heartthrob would be playing him on film. ``The gentleman I was playing in the movie when I first took the role was sort of pudgy and out of shape. I thought that was a pretty good thing,'' said Clooney. ``Then he found out a Hollywood guy was playing him, and he got in shape. It sort of screws everything up.''

For supporting actress winner Rachel Weisz, many of the questions backstage dealt with her pregnancy. Someone asked how the baby, due in two months, reacted to her big moment. ``The lead-up to it, the baby was going crazy,'' she said. ``I think it was all the adrenalin leading up to it. Once I was on stage, I couldn't feel anything.'' Asked how she would be celebrating her win, Weisz said she would be attending the Governors Ball and the Vanity Fair parties. ``I'm going to put some flat shoes on and have a virgin Mary.''

CAPTION(S):

12 photos

Photo:

(1) no caption (Robert Altman)

(2) no caption (Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry)

(3) no caption (Three 6 Mafia performing)

(4) ``It didn't matter if I was making a movie, they never hesitated to be proud of me.''

(5) ``My mom's name is Marilyn O'Connor and she's here tonight; so if you see her, congratulate her. She brought up four kids alone and she deserves congratulations for that. ... Be proud, Mom, because I'm proud of you, and we're here tonight and it's good.''

- Philip Seymour Hoffman, best actor winner for ``Capote,'' with a well-received nod to his mother onstage.

(6) ``It's 4 or 5 in the morning at home. I know because they're going crazy. There is so much celebrating. It's like a sports team, guys. It's like if you're a Yankees fan. We just won something we've never won before. I know that makes people back home very happy.''

- Gavin Hood, director, best foreign film, ``Tsotsi.''

(7 -- color) ``All right, so I'm not winning director.''

- George Clooney, Oscar winner, best supporting actor, ``Syriana,'' from the stage.

(8 -- color) ``There are so many leading ladies in this town that are gorgeous that I've never dressed. I think everyone would love to dress Nicole Kidman in a film or Reese Witherspoon in a film. Jennifer Aniston.''

- Colleen Atwood, Oscar winning costume designer for ``Memoirs of a Geisha.''

(9 -- color) ``Thank you. I do all my own stunts.''

- presenter Jennifer Garner, who stumbled.

(10 -- color) no caption (Felicity Huffman)

(11 -- color) no caption (Rachel Weisz)

(12 -- color) Richard Taylor (second from left)