Lucky for Julian Schnabel that he's an artist, which means he should have an appreciation for surreal experiences. On one hand, he seems to be taking his bizarre DGA encounter in stride, noting graciously that he got a lot more publicity for being heckled by a tipsy Sean Young than a mere nominee might otherwise. (He lost the big prize to the Coens, of course.)

But he's none too cheery about a top snub suffered by "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" at the Oscars. Yesterday at the nominees' luncheon he griped to the L.A. Times, "It's interesting to be nominated for best direction, best editing, best cinematography, best screenplay, but not best picture," he said. "I don't know what else you have to do to make a picture."

Cheer up, Julian! Now that there's hope that the WGA strike may be settled before Feb. 24, your film's nominees may actually receive their kudos in person instead of how you learned about "Diving Bell's" Golden Globe victories as best director and foreign film — while waiting at baggage claim at JFK airport.

Wait a minute! Maybe this is all just a bad dream after Schnabel fell out of bed one night? Didn't Elizabeth Snead describe Schnabel as dressed in purple pajamas at the nominees' luncheon yesterday?

(Wire Image)