Angelina Jolie

Long Distance

UPDATED 04/04/2005 at 01:00 AM EDT • Originally published 04/04/2005 at 01:00 AM EDT

On March 17 in Las Vegas, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had three important tasks. One, plug their summer action flick Mr. and Mrs. Smith for theater owners at the annual ShoWest convention at the Paris Las Vegas. Two, do nothing to reignite rumors of an affair, which were heard round the world after Pitt and wife Jennifer Aniston split in January. And three, avoid running into Aniston, who arrived later to accept an award. The result? Missions accomplished. Though Pitt and Jolie chatted amiably backstage, their public appearance was carefully choreographed. They arrived on a private jet from L.A. with studio execs, entered the hotel through a loading dock and kept their distance while introducing a Smith clip. "We're really happy to bring you our film," Pitt said. "Maybe a couple of you have heard of it." That got a few laughs. And when they walked onstage, someone with a real sense of humor played "Tainted Love."

They never got closer than 6 inches apart!

LATER THAT NIGHT...

After the Pitt and Jolie show, Aniston took the spotlight

Arriving at the Paris Las Vegas hours after Pitt and Jolie departed, Aniston made a subdued appearance to receive the female star of the year award at ShoWest's closing ceremonies. Brushing off stories about her split with Pitt, she told Access Hollywood, "There is always going to be the tough and the nasty. You just tune out to that."

+ WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Aniston's upcoming film titles sound, uh, familiar
•Rumor Has It, a comedy due Dec. 21.
•Derailed, a dark drama with Clive Owen.
•Friends with Money, a comedy-drama about a single girl looking for love.
•The Break Up, a comedy costarring Vince Vaughn.