Argo director-star Ben Affleck (pic borrowed stolen from PopSugar) prior to this evening’s premiere screening at the Academy & prior to the after-party at the Beverly Hills hotel. Affleck told me he’s very mindful these days of Oscar race estimations on the top online columns (like Tom O’Neil’s Gold Derby, he said), and that one of his goals is to lift Argo out of the #4 slot on HE’s Oscar Balloon. I actually have Argo listed as #2.

Argo producers George Clooney, Grant Heslov. Their latest co-production, August: Osage County, is currently lensing in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. No sets, no sound stages — the production company bought a home in Bartlesville and is shooting much of the film inside it.

Argo after-party at Beverly Hills hotel.

Argo costar John Goodman.

Argo costar Bryan Cranston.

Argo costar Alan Arkin.

Since we’re all so deep into Lincoln these days, I noticed this sculpture outside the large Spanish-style home once owned by the late Samuel Goldwyn.

Goldwyn’s former home at 1000 No. Crescent Drive.