There's a flurry of activity outside the ballroom of Langham Hotel in Pasadena, California one winter afternoon. Publicists, agents, makeup artists and hairstylists move about in a group, forming a circle – not unlike hyenas surrounding their preys.

But these are no preys. Look closely and you’ll see the entourage is getting a group of ladies – Zoe Kravitz, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep – ready for their close-ups.