Russell Boyd, winner for his cinematography on "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," said the Peter Weir -directed film might have fared better on the Oscar stage had it been released in a year without Frodo and his clan.

"We might have had a better shot in another year, actually," Boyd said. "We are very proud of the nominations anyway, and I think 'The Lord of the Rings' was a brilliant work."

Sure, New Line is more than proud of its "Lord of the Rings" franchise, but perhaps running a close second in the trilogy's fan club is New Zealand.

"Yeah, I can hear the champagne bottles popping from here," said art direction Oscar winner Grant Major, who won for his work on "King" along with Dan Hennah and Alan Lee. "There have been a lot of people there behind us wishing us well, so I'm sure they are all watching tonight. I'm sure they are thrilled."

Major and Hennah are heading back to their homeland to reteam with director Peter Jackson on his upcoming "King Kong." "For Dan and I, it's kind of like business as usual," Major said.

Gay relations had a big presence on the Oscar stage, from a joke between host Billy Crystal and presenter Robin Williams to a heartfelt "thank you" from best animated short film winner Adam Elliot to his boyfriend. But the latter said backstage that his wasn't planned. "Actually, it just popped into my head; it wasn't something I planned to do," said the "Harvie Krumpet" director, who hails from Australia. "I've only been going out with him two months. In Australia, (homosexuality) isn't that big of a deal, so it wasn't a problem as far as I could see." That public statements like Elliot's hardly register anymore is a good sign.