Samuel Goldwyn Jr.

Samuel Goldwyn Jr.

New York, Manhattan.

Aaron Anderson arranged for Nicole Kidman to meet with director David Lynch and the others, having her audition alongside Nicolas Cage for Wild at Heart.

Twenty-five-year-old Nicolas Cage had a low-budget black comedy horror film, Vampire's Kiss, released last month. His full-throttle performance in it had caught David Lynch's attention;

Nicole Kidman's performance in the thriller Dead Calm had also drawn David Lynch's notice.

Of course, Aaron Anderson's recommendation of Nicole Kidman to PolyGram Filmed Entertainment's executives was also an important factor. After all, PolyGram was the main source of funding for Wild at Heart;

Together with France's Canal+ television network and North American distributor Samuel Goldwyn Films, which had also contributed part of the funding, they had prepared a $10 million production budget for David Lynch's Wild at Heart.

"Aaron, don't worry. David has seen Nicole's performance in Dead Calm. There won't be any problems!"

In PolyGram US's office, film executive Michael Kuhn spoke to Aaron with a smile.

Aaron nodded and looked at him. "PolyGram is going into film production too, isn't it?"

"Yes. PolyGram Filmed Entertainment has just acquired a 49% stake in Working Title Films, so we really are going to produce our own projects."

"You know as well as I do that the British film market is completely dominated by Hollywood. Our productions can't compare with Hollywood projects."

As Michael Kuhn spoke, he handed Aaron a drink.

It was obvious that PolyGram had its sights set on American independent films. After all, the costs were low, weren't they?

And this year, Sex, Lies, and Videotape had become the first American independent film to win a major prize at a top international film festival;

Aaron Anderson's eye had attracted the attention of quite a few European filmmakers.

Aaron walked over to the window. "Independent films have existed for a long time, but Hollywood mainstream cinema has always looked down on them from above."

"To the mainstream, independent films are nothing more than street stalls by the roadside!"

"Michael, it won't be long before independent films become big business too. Smart Hollywood studios will even package and release their mainstream films as independent movies."

The streets below teemed with crowds. As the heart of the world, New York offered endless opportunities and challenges.

Michael Kuhn smiled. "PolyGram needs to establish its name first. Showing up at international film festivals is absolutely necessary."

Los Angeles on the West Coast was the famed center of the film industry, while New York on the East Coast was the center of independent film;

But had anyone ever considered that New York had originally been the birthplace of American cinema? At the start of the century, those Jewish people fled New York to escape Edison's film monopoly and established Hollywood on the West Coast!

"Aaron, you're better suited to be a film producer than an agent."

"Is that so? Hollywood has managers as well." Aaron shook his head. Managers were tied to their artists, and he had no interest in spending too much of his time on just a few actors.

"What do you think about Wild at Heart?"

"Take it to film festivals. Artistic works like this fit the European mainstream better!"

"Mm, that's exactly what I was thinking," Michael Kuhn said.

"Has director Steven Soderbergh had any new projects lately?"

Aaron shook his head. "His debut, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, will begin its theatrical release next month in August."

"We'll talk after it comes out. He doesn't have any new ideas at the moment."

Then Aaron smiled. "In the future, we may be working together very soon!"

"Oh? Aaron, do you have a script in mind?"

"Yes. When the time comes, I'll send you the proposal for a look." It was relatively difficult for Aaron to raise investment in Hollywood; Europe and Japan would still have to be his targets.

That evening, Aaron returned to the hotel with Nicole Kidman. Judging by her expression, the audition had gone rather well.

"That Nicolas Cage... is he really director Coppola's nephew?"

Nicole Kidman sat down on the sofa and asked, still somewhat doubtful.

"How could that be fake? How else could someone so young show his face in all kinds of films? How could someone born into a prominent family be the same as an ordinary person?"

"Mm, his acting is very good. It felt very comfortable acting opposite him!"

"His acting is very good?"

Aaron smiled. That was Nicolas Cage. He had appeared in all kinds of film and television productions since his teens, and by nineteen, he was already starring in movies.

So what if he changed his surname? Did people not know he was Francis Ford Coppola's nephew?

Even he himself had said that he got those roles mainly because of the effect of his identity.

Still, Nicolas Cage's acting really was good. He had been honing his skills in arthouse films all along!

Aaron leaned back on the sofa. "You're only twenty-two. You're still very young, so it's necessary for you to hone your acting in artistic films like these."

"When the time is right, I'll arrange for you to take on some commercial films. Awards are certainly important, but Hollywood ultimately looks at box office!"

"Mm, I know." Nicole Kidman moved close to Aaron. "Let's go get some rest..."

In July, competition during the summer season remained fierce.

Warner Bros.' Batman was far ahead of the pack, surpassing Paramount's sequel Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!

At the same time, taking advantage of the production of Wild at Heart, Aaron also began discussing the distribution of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Samuel Goldwyn Jr., the head of distributor Samuel Goldwyn Films;

After filming wrapped, producer Thomas Ruger gave Aaron a copy of the rough cut so he could take it around and pitch it.

In a small conference room, Samuel Goldwyn Jr. rubbed his eyes. "Aren't the scenes in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles a little too violent?"

"It was R-rated to begin with. Its sharp, stripped-down action scenes are the movie's biggest selling point, and there's a sizable audience for this kind of film," Aaron explained.

"But the sets are cheap, and the costumes, makeup, and props are rather crude. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is just a low-budget B-grade action movie."

Samuel Goldwyn Jr. looked at Aaron. "Perhaps the video market would be a better home for it!"

Aaron shook his head. "Going straight to video is definitely out of the question. A theatrical release is a must."

"Three million dollars. I want the North American distribution rights to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, including theatrical, video, and television broadcast rights."

Aaron smiled. "Impossible. We have a lot of confidence in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the film cost $13.5 million to produce."

"To buy out the North American distribution rights, the price would have to be at least seven million dollars..."