Just a Microcosm

In August, Aaron also returned to Los Angeles from New York, with another signed client, Jennifer Connelly. Nicole Kidman, meanwhile, had joined the production of Wild at Heart!

Amid the fiercely competitive summer season, high-grossing films such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Dead Poets Society, Ghostbusters II, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Batman, and Lethal Weapon 2 emerged.

However, among the July releases, a low-budget romantic comedy distributed by Columbia Pictures, When Harry Met Sally..., had broken out;

When it first premiered in mid-July, this romantic comedy without any major stars naturally could not compete with the other blockbusters or sequels. It had opened on a small scale, screening in only forty-one theaters;

But as word of mouth spread, four weeks after its release, When Harry Met Sally... had expanded to 1,200 theaters. Its North American box office had surpassed 35 million US dollars and was still climbing!

And Meg Ryan, the female lead of When Harry Met Sally..., had spent several years struggling in Hollywood. Thanks to this film, her blonde, blue-eyed Hollywood Sweetheart image quickly became familiar to audiences.

At Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Sex, Lies, and Videotape held its premiere. Miramax had invited quite a few stars to attend!

Aaron drove his Lotus to the event with Jennifer Connelly.

"I haven't seen this movie yet," Jennifer Connelly said. Dressed sexily and hooked through Aaron's arm, she seemed rather curious about the film.

"It's a very artistic film, after all. It won both the Cannes Palme d'Or and Best Actor;"

"Quite a few stars came. It looks like Miramax put some real thought into this."

Aaron understood that Miramax was trying to raise its profile and establish its position in independent film.

"That's Meryl Streep!"

Jennifer Connelly spotted an actress she liked.

After entering the theater, Aaron introduced Jennifer Connelly to Steven Soderbergh and the others.

"A newly signed client?" Steven Soderbergh asked.

"Yeah, but she still has to continue her studies at Stanford University!"

"Doesn't that mean you practically haven't signed her at all?"

"It's fine. I don't have many resources on hand right now anyway. We'll take it slow."

When he arrived backstage, Aaron ran into Harvey Weinstein. "Congratulations. Miramax has picked up several films at low prices this year."

Harvey Weinstein looked Aaron over. "You're the impressive one. In just half a year, you've already handled three films;"

"Interested in becoming a film buyer for Miramax?"

Aaron smiled. "Since when did Miramax need film buyers?"

Wasn't the fat man standing before him already handling Miramax's film distribution?

"What a pity," Harvey Weinstein said, shaking his head. "CAA is just an agency, after all. Working directly for a distribution company would better show off your abilities!"

Hearing that, Aaron gave the fat Harvey another look. "So far, I've handled three films and one screenplay, and I've signed four newcomers;"

"It's only August. Maybe I'll have even more achievements ahead. Under CAA's performance rules, my income this year could very well reach one million dollars;"

"And this is only my second year at CAA!"

Harvey Weinstein froze for a moment, then broke into a grin and merely patted Aaron Anderson on the shoulder.

In its first week, Miramax arranged for Sex, Lies, and Videotape to screen in twenty-eight theaters. It opened with 600,000 dollars, averaging more than 20,000 dollars per theater;

In the second week, the theater count increased to forty, then rose to 102 in the third week!

Thanks to its solid word of mouth, Sex, Lies, and Videotape had grossed 3.8 million dollars in three weeks. According to industry estimates, its final box office would definitely exceed 20 million dollars.

Steven Soderbergh had achieved fame and success, while Miramax gained both prestige and profit. It had spent only 1.2 million dollars at the Sundance Film Festival to purchase the screening rights;

And the marketing costs for Sex, Lies, and Videotape amounted to little more than some expenses at the Cannes Film Festival. Harvey Weinstein's sharp eye had been proven right.

However, Aaron Anderson then followed Jennifer Connelly to Palo Alto in the southern California Bay Area;

This was where Stanford University was located, because Jennifer Connelly was about to start school.

"So this is Stanford?"

There was nothing he could do about it. The soul deep within Aaron was curious about the famous Stanford University. Even though Los Angeles had top private universities like the California Institute of Technology and USC;

Still, Harvard University and Stanford University were simply too famous.

"Yeah. The year after next will be Stanford University's centennial anniversary," Jennifer Connelly said as she acted as Aaron's guide around campus.

"Stanford University was founded by Leland Stanford and his wife in memory of their only son, Leland Stanford Jr., who died young of typhoid fever;"

"For it to develop into a world-class institution is something everyone should remember!"

Aaron curled his lip and glanced at Jennifer Connelly beside him. "Don't act like I don't know anything;"

"Leland Stanford was also president of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, one of the ten great industrial tycoons of the United States' Gilded Age, and California's first governor;"

"A terrifying, bloodthirsty capitalist predator. On the transcontinental railway across the American Midwest that he championed, beneath every railroad tie lay the corpse of a Chinese laborer!"

Stanford University was merely a microcosm of America's development, built atop countless bones and filled with blood and cruelty.

Jennifer Connelly shrugged. "Have you ever considered continuing your education? Given your current situation, getting into college wouldn't be difficult!"

Aaron shook his head and casually pointed at some nearby college students. "Tell me, among those people about to graduate, how many can immediately earn one million dollars a year?"

"I graduated high school last year, and this year I'm already close to making that much. And I'm confident my income will keep growing next year;"

"Do you think I should waste my time? By then, graduates from these prestigious schools will be trying every possible way to get into my company!"

Jennifer Connelly nodded, fully agreeing with Aaron Anderson's thinking. The average weekly wage in the United States was only 400 dollars now;

An annual income of one million dollars was indeed an incredible achievement.

"All right, focus on studying acting. I'll keep an eye out for roles on my end. If there's something suitable, I'll notify you directly;"

"Don't take controversial screenplays like Boiling Point. Hollywood has never lacked beautiful women with great figures!"

Aaron had only come to satisfy his curiosity about the legendary Stanford University. He still had Quentin Tarantino's screenplay Natural Born Killers waiting to be pitched.

"Got it. How about we go to a nearby bar and grab something to eat?" Jennifer Connelly suggested.

"Let's go!"