Can't Take Being Pushed Around

"Aaron, you've signed far too few new clients. Look at the other agents—they can't wait to sign newcomers every week."

Paula Wagner smiled as she reminded him.

Aaron clinked glasses with her. "Didn't I just sign Jennifer Connelly? She already had some name recognition before!"

At the very least, Jennifer Connelly was now Aaron's most popular client, even more so than director Steven Soderbergh.

Nicole Kidman, who had come over from Australia, was even less worth mentioning.

Paula Wagner discreetly glanced at Nicole Kidman in the distance. "Fine. As long as you can handle those relationships. You represent Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Cinema Paradiso, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

"You've done well. So, are you still looking for film representation deals next?"

"A bit of everything. After all, films needing representation are either new independent films or foreign productions. They aren't that easy to come across," Aaron said. He could not just take on work at random.

"You didn't go to Venice. Why not check out the upcoming Toronto Film Festival? There are only so many platforms for independent films now."

Aaron nodded. "I'll consider it. Will director Tony Scott develop the screenplay for True Romance after he finishes shooting Days of Thunder?"

He had no choice. True Romance was written by Quentin Tarantino, one of his clients. The script would only gain recognition after it was adapted into a film.

"Not that soon. Director Tony Scott helmed the Kevin Costner action film Revenge in the first half of the year, and he's currently shooting Days of Thunder."

"His next project won't be decided until next year."

Paula Wagner often went to the set of Days of Thunder to discuss matters with Tom Cruise, so she knew Tony Scott's situation fairly well.

Soon after, Aaron spotted Kevin Costner, who had joined CAA this year. Costner had founded TIG Productions, and Orion Pictures had invested 15 million US dollars in his first self-directed, self-starring film, Dances with Wolves.

For such an epic Western, 15 million US dollars would definitely not be enough for him to spend.

"Fine," Aaron said. He did not have that much time to wait for someone else to develop it. Besides, Tony Scott's work seemed to have only been good with Top Gun.

The already completed Revenge and the currently filming Days of Thunder were both mediocre!

A while later, Aaron was chatting with Nicole Kidman and had her covering her mouth as she laughed sweetly when he heard an ill-timed remark.

"Aaron, don't you have even the slightest sense of crisis?"

"Hm?" Aaron turned and saw that it was his colleague, Richard Lovett.

"I'll find you later," Aaron said, kissing Nicole on the cheek.

Then he went with Richard Lovett to the hotel balcony. Aaron casually lit a cigarette. "Go ahead. What is it?"

Richard Lovett sighed. "Because of your arrogance, Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman are now targeting my people."

"You know what Dustin Hoffman's status is, especially now. Julia Roberts finally got a leading role, and Pretty Woman is about to wrap."

"Some of Julia's new projects have already been affected!"

Aaron narrowed his eyes. "Have you smoked yourself stupid every day? The leading actress of Pretty Woman is being targeted by the leading actor of Dick Tracy."

"Instead of blaming those two old bastards, you came to blame me—the one who made the development of Pretty Woman happen?"

"Is this your first day in Hollywood? At a time like this, all you can think of is complaining. What are you afraid of from some washed-up old man?"

"Won't everything be resolved once Pretty Woman comes out next year? What status does Julia Roberts even have? What projects could she possibly have?"

Richard Lovett's face instantly flushed red from Aaron's scolding. Looking utterly incredulous, he pointed at Aaron. "Won't the people under you be targeted too?"

"Are you insane!"

Aaron tossed away his cigarette butt. "The deals I closed in half a year were worth over 10 million US dollars. A washed-up actor and a dwarf want to target me?"

"How are they going to target me? Once those two films come out next year, those two pieces of trash will have to call me Mr. Anderson when they see me!"

With that, Aaron left the balcony directly, leaving Richard Lovett alone in the wind.

What kind of person was Aaron? He could not stand being pushed around!

In his previous life, he had been ruthless enough to drag a whole carload of people down with him. And now Richard Lovett, some insignificant agent, thought he could do what?

After returning to the banquet hall, Aaron ran into Pretty Woman producer Steven Reuther and its leading actor, Al Pacino.

"What, do you two have no confidence in Pretty Woman?"

Al Pacino smiled. "How could an actor lack confidence in his own work? During the filming of this movie, I felt the story was pretty good."

Steven Reuther nodded as well. "There may be a surprise next year."

After all, When Harry Met Sally..., which was currently in theaters, had recently surprised many people.

"By the way, Aaron, director Coppola is preparing The Godfather Part III for Paramount. There's a role for a young girl in it, playing my daughter."

"Perhaps I can recommend one of your actresses for an audition."

Al Pacino was returning the favor Aaron had done him before.

"The Godfather Part III's daughter?"

Aaron nodded. "Thank you. I just signed a young actress, Jennifer Connelly. I can let her give it a try."

"She has filmed movies in Italy before as well!"

Aaron knew that Francis Ford Coppola and the others were Italian immigrants. Actors in The Godfather series, such as Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, were also of Italian descent.

However, Aaron remembered that the daughter in The Godfather Part III was played by Francis Ford Coppola's own daughter, Sofia Coppola, and that she had even won a Golden Raspberry Award.

"I can only recommend her and get her an audition opportunity for the role. The person who can make the final decision is still director Coppola."

Al Pacino reminded him.

The Godfather Part III was in preparation, with Francis Ford Coppola serving as both producer and director. As one of the main figures in the series, "the Godfather" Al Pacino was still discussing his salary with Coppola.

"I understand. Just having an opportunity is good enough. This is Coppola's The Godfather series! Who knows how many actors want to be part of it."

An audition opportunity alone was enough to satisfy Aaron. At the very least, it would let Jennifer Connelly know that he was fighting to get her a role.

After Al Pacino left, Steven Reuther stepped close to Aaron and quietly warned him, "Dustin Hoffman has met with Mr. Ovitz. They discussed the misunderstanding between you and Warren Beatty."

"Dustin has a big reputation now, so you need to be more careful within CAA."

Aaron merely smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. Once Pretty Woman comes out next year, the results will speak for themselves!"