TINSELTOWN SPYWITNESS.

Byline: Elizabeth Snead, Lilliam Rivera and Jenny Peters

DON'T TRUST ANYONE OVER 30: Movieline's Hollywood Life magazine kickoff party at the Falcon Restaurant turned out to be a quick study in being young and fabulous. Pretty boys with meticulously messy hair and carefully

placed trucker hats circled around model-thin girls in tight, butt-bearing jeans. (They are still wearing those?) Vodka was flowing, and barely-21 actors took turns looking fab. It was the scene!

But it wasn't all for show. A charity auction of various memorabilia, including a signed Sandy Koufax baseball, had weather girl Jillian Barberie interested. Too bad the crowd was a little more interested in the scantily clad models in Parasuco jeans. ``Blue Crush'' surfer boy toy Matthew Davis played it casual in baggy faded jeans and a green T-shirt, but even he couldn't resist the eye candy.

``Less Than Perfect'' star Sara Rue graciously talked to every journalist as she walked the red carpet. And ``Barbershop's'' Troy Garity looked hip-hop cool in baggy attire as he tried to maneuver through the crowd.

An unrecognizable ``American Dreams'' Jamie Elman shed his retro look for a studious look in black-rimmed glasses and a reddish mock turtleneck. The ``Everwood'' contingency was there, including Gregory Smith and Mike Erwin. And so was Thomas Ian Nicholas, veteran of the ``American Pie'' movies, who made his way out into the patio for a little air.

SHORT STUFF: A dating robot, soccer balls made out of condoms, and director Alexander Payne's take on ``Carmen.'' Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre became an international hodgepodge of filmmakers and producers celebrating the 2003 Short Shorts Film Festival Gala.

It was the films that prompted actor Michael Madsen to attend. Although Payne's short ``Carmen'' was made when he was a UCLA film school student, it still showed ``About Schmidt'' elements, with a service-station attendant, who lives in a trailer park, suckered into giving free gas to Carmen.

After the screenings, everyone poured out into the courtyard, where sushi and vodka was in order. The courtyard became a cherry blossom extravaganza with a DJ turning some trance music.

FROM ACTION TO RELAXIN': Even butt-kicking beauties need to kick back now and then.

``X2'' mutant mamas Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Famke Janssen and Halle Berry have all been spotted at Kinara on North Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood in recent weeks.

Carrie-Anne Moss, from ``The Matrix Reloaded,'' is also a regular junkie for Kinara co-owner/skin guru Olga Lorencin's skin treatments.

The spa, which means literally ``reaching your spiritual goal,'' features Eastern European skin care, high-tech equipment and an array of international gifts, all wrapped up in a tres-Zen Franco-Balinese decor. It seems stars love to escape here for pampering because they can also call from their cell phones on the way over and have their favorite red lavender tea, champagne, muffins, soups, fresh salads, sandwiches or desserts ready for them. All are from the cafe's menu, created by co-owner Christine Splichal's husband Joachim Splichal, the renowned L.A. restaurateur (Patina Group).

NOVEL APPROACH: Acclaimed author Elmore ``Dutch'' Leonard has been in town to check up on some new Hollywood projects based on his writings.

He also turned up at the Los Angeles Press Club's cocktail party at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Leonard had just seen the pilot for a new TV series based on the further adventures of federal agent Karen Sisco, the character played by Jennifer Lopez in ``Out of Sight.'' Who can forget those steamy love scenes with Lopez and George Clooney? The Universal TV series stars Carla Gugino (``Spy Kids'') and will air on ABC.

So how was it? ``It's pretty good,'' Leonard admitted.

He was looking forward to seeing the remake of the '69 film ``The Big Bounce,'' based on his novel. The new Warner Bros. movie stars Owen Wilson, Gary Sinise, Morgan Freeman, Vinnie Jones and Charlie Sheen, and was shot on location in Hawaii and directed by George Armitage. It was almost Leonard's big moment on screen.

``They asked me if I would do a cameo in the film,'' Leonard said. ``I said yes.'' When the producers called to say his cameo had to be shot in Hawaii right after Christmas, Leonard backed out, preferring to stay home for the holidays with his wife, Christine. ``They brought in Harry Dean Stanton to take my place, so naturally I'm curious to see how he did.''

More than two dozen films have now been made from Leonard's work, including ``Get Shorty.'' And here comes another one. ``Tishomingo Blues'' is slated to be directed by Don Cheadle, who will also star in it. ``Tishomingo's'' plot is pure, unadulterated Leonard, who says he entertained himself by putting an odd bunch of characters together and seeing what happens when they bump into each other.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1) BARBERIE: Eye on the baseball.

(2) ELMAN: In your ``American Dreams.''

(3) MADSEN: Though 6-foot-2, he likes his films short.

(4) LEONARD: Not ready for his close-up.

Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage.com