For Publicity?

As newspapers and magazines such as The Hollywood Reporter, the Los Angeles Times, Premiere, and Variety suddenly broke the news of a betting dispute between Warren Beatty and a young CAA agent;

Disney's two films currently in production, Pretty Woman and Dick Tracy, indeed gained quite a bit of buzz.

Inside Jeffrey Katzenberg's office at Disney.

"You've really got some nerve, making an established star lose face like that?"

Jeffrey Katzenberg was naturally pleased. After all, Pretty Woman had completely ridden Dick Tracy's coattails in terms of publicity.

Dick Tracy, adapted from a popular comic, with an Oscar-winning director, an Oscar-winning actor, and the world's pop queen, was hardly something a low-budget romantic comedy could compare to.

Aaron had seen the newspapers too, though his name was barely mentioned. The coverage mainly focused on Warren Beatty's side.

Still, Al Pacino's involvement in Pretty Woman was also a newsworthy point.

A nobody like him did not even get many chances to show his face, did he?

"But your publicity stunt has been quite effective!"

What Jeffrey Katzenberg saw was Disney's interests. As for what the final outcome might do to the young man before him, he did not care much.

Aaron smiled. "Do you think I did this to promote the movie, Mr. Katzenberg?"

"Oh, wasn't it?"

Jeffrey Katzenberg looked at Aaron Anderson in confusion. Could Pretty Woman's box office really be more than twice that of Dick Tracy?

"How could an ordinary script like Dick Tracy compare to a script I've taken a liking to?"

"What good movie could a useless womanizer like Warren Beatty possibly make? Has everyone forgotten what happened with Ishtar two years ago?"

Aaron shook his head. "There's been no place for them in New Hollywood for a long time."

"The only reason audiences watch their movies is out of nostalgia from old folks. What young person wants to watch a bunch of old men talk about old-fashioned love?"

"What young people like are Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone trading bone-crushing blows, Bruce Willis and Mel Gibson being invincible heroes, and Tom Cruise's handsome face. No one's interested in those old Hollywood studs anymore..."

America's new generation pursued individuality and freedom, rebellious personalities, new ideas, and new trends.

"As long as you're confident," Jeffrey Katzenberg said. He did not care about anything else. Both films were Disney productions, and as long as there was a news hook, that was enough.

Nor did Aaron need to worry that Warren Beatty would dare pull any tricks against a Disney project. A publicly traded conglomerate worth tens of billions of dollars was an absolute behemoth.

That evening, Aaron met Nicole Kidman and producer Steven Reuther at a Hollywood bar.

"Aaron, you really went big this time, didn't you?"

After all, as the producer of Pretty Woman, Steven Reuther was delighted that the film's buzz had suddenly soared.

Aaron Anderson had really put in a lot of effort for publicity this time!

Aaron was speechless. Do they all think I'm just chasing attention? I'm telling the truth. The truth.

"Warren Beatty said in an interview that you were just doing it for a news hook," Nicole Kidman reminded him from where she sat in Aaron's lap.

Aaron blinked. "Do people not believe the truth anymore?"

"Who would want to watch an old man in his fifties, his face wrinkled like a Shar-Pei, strutting around trying to look cool?"

"The Warren Beatty of today isn't the Warren Beatty of his youth. His face has aged into a replica of Richard Nixon's!"

If the acting was good, one could focus on the story. If the physical skills were good, one could deliver action scenes. Even if Dick Tracy succeeded, it still could not compare to Pretty Woman!

Steven Reuther smiled. "Fine. We'll know the result when the films come out next year."

After Steven Reuther left, Nicole Kidman asked worriedly, "Aaron, weren't you a little impulsive this time?"

Aaron smiled. "It's fine. Sex, Lies, and Videotape comes out in August. When the time comes, this low-budget movie's box office will leave everyone stunned."

"Then you'll see just how sharp my eye is!"

"Mm, there's a producer in Australia I worked with before who wants me to appear in a youth romance film. It's not the lead role, though. Should I go?"

Nicole Kidman asked.

Aaron shook his head. "Aren't Australian films just a waste of time?"

"Next, we'll go straight to New York and secure the female lead for Wild at Heart first. Then you can prepare properly."

"This art film has a lot of potential for awards!"

Elsewhere, in Warren Beatty's Beverly Hills villa, newly crowned Best Actor winner Dustin Hoffman emerged from a room with his clothes in disarray, his arm around a young model.

Warren Beatty lay naked on the sofa, reclining sideways with a cigar in his mouth. Looking up at Dustin Hoffman's expression, he smiled. "Satisfied?"

Dustin Hoffman nodded. "I was a little out of strength, though. I don't know what's going on!"

Warren Beatty smiled. "What's the big deal? Our old friend Playboy goes around looking for things to spice things up, and he never goes without them."

"So, are you still angry about that CAA kid from before?"

As Dustin Hoffman poured himself a glass of whiskey, he said, "Young people achieve a little something and suddenly think they're above everyone else. Would Ovitz really make us unhappy for his sake?"

Of course Warren Beatty was angry. He had been nominated for Best Actor and won Best Director, yet a newly minted Hollywood agent had challenged him to his face?

"Hmph, he's just grandstanding. But Pretty Woman is a project Jeffrey Katzenberg at Disney has his eye on, so there's nothing we can do."

Dustin Hoffman smiled. "Don't worry. Could a low-budget romantic comedy possibly compare to a gangster blockbuster like ours?"

However, Warren Beatty truly needed a successful film now; there was barely any place left for him in Hollywood.

After so many years without a release, he had made his comeback two years ago by directing and starring in Ishtar, only for it to suffer a double failure in both reviews and box office!

No wonder Hollywood's younger generation no longer took Warren Beatty seriously. After all, Hollywood respected results above all else.

Hearing Dustin Hoffman's words, Warren Beatty nodded as well. If Dick Tracy had not secured Dustin Hoffman's involvement, Disney could never have offered him a $47 million budget.

"What a pity. I'd originally planned to have Al and you play the eccentric mob boss in the film. That would've drawn most of the attention too!"

Now, he could only look for someone else.