Young People Were So Arrogant

After Aurora Film Company was established, Aaron immediately began work on Phone Booth. With David Fincher and Propaganda Films assisting, progress was swift;

There was no other reason—the settings for Phone Booth were simply too uncomplicated.

On Broadway Avenue across from Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles, Aaron and David Fincher were scouting locations for a public phone booth. Quentin Tarantino, who was still working at a video store, had come along as well.

"Across the street is the Bradbury Building. This is a great spot," David Fincher said. He had been studying the script these past few days, and the location needed to have some high-rises nearby.

In Los Angeles, only the area around downtown had any real high-rises.

Aaron looked around. "If this doesn't work, we can go to New York!"

New York had plenty of high-rises, and the environment suited the film perfectly.

The budget for Phone Booth was between $1.5 million and $2 million. David Fincher and Nicolas Cage alone cost $500,000 in salaries.

Aaron had $1 million himself and planned to seek out European distributors for the rest. The script had already been sent to PolyGram;

The people at Propaganda Films also thought the script was good, and believed PolyGram would be willing to get involved.

Quentin Tarantino looked around. "When we shoot, it would be best to capture the genuine reactions of the extras. It'll create a more tense atmosphere!"

The moment Quentin Tarantino spoke, he came up with a highly creative idea.

David Fincher agreed. "That would leave the least trace of performance and feel the most authentic."

Quentin Tarantino smiled. "How about letting me try the sniper role? This guy is an observer, a voyeur, and a sadist with a dark sense of humor;"

"I think he's pretty interesting!"

"A phone killer who only shows his face for two or three minutes in the whole movie. It's mainly about the voice and tone—your voice, really. Can you do it?"

Aaron did not care much, since the phone killer's voice could be dubbed in post-production. They only needed to find someone suitable.

David Fincher smiled. "We can let Quentin give it a try!"

After all, Quentin Tarantino was on the crew as an assistant director. David Fincher had spent time with him lately and knew he always had wildly imaginative ideas.

"Mm, you two can decide. And things have been settled with Nicolas Cage. I'll raise the remaining funds as soon as possible;"

"You just need to get the crew properly set up!"

Aaron had also considered it. Quentin Tarantino's mind really was different from ordinary people's, with a hint of something twisted.

Thanksgiving had just passed, and December was about to begin. Aaron needed to secure a distributor quickly. He wondered whether Phone Booth could make it in time for the Sundance Film Festival.

Letting Quentin Tarantino experience filmmaking would be helpful to him as well. As for Steven Soderbergh's style, he was simply not suited to this type of film right now.

New York, backstage at the premiere of Born on the Fourth of July.

After chatting with director Oliver Stone and lead actor Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner ran into Michael Ovitz, who had come to attend the event!

"I heard Aaron Anderson left CAA and started his own film company to make movies?"

Michael Ovitz frequently traveled between the United States and Japan, so he had heard about it too.

Paula Wagner spread her hands. "That's the situation. It's a low-budget drama, and he even hired a rookie director!"

"A rookie director?" Michael Ovitz merely smiled. "What has Steven Soderbergh been busy with lately?"

After Aaron Anderson left, the clients under his management had been assigned by Paula Wagner, but everyone only cared about Steven Soderbergh.

"He went to Europe some time ago. I heard he's been staying in France!"

"Young people are too impatient. After achieving a little success, they start getting big ideas," Paula Wagner sighed.

"He invested all the money he made from CAA this year into his new movie."

Michael Ovitz froze. "He used his own money to make a movie?"

"Does he think that just finding some rookie and making a film will give him the next Sex, Lies, and Videotape?"

"Who knows?"

"Forget it. Young people like to strike out on their own. He's made Hollywood seem too simple, and filmmaking too simple."

Michael Ovitz only found it a little regrettable, but Aaron Anderson was not important enough for him to dwell on.

"Forget it, let's not talk about him," Michael Ovitz said. He also knew Aaron Anderson had offended Warren Beatty and the others;

Now that Aaron had left CAA, Dustin Hoffman, whom he valued, probably felt more at ease as well.

"Born on the Fourth of July received great word of mouth at its earlier test screenings. Tom's image-breaking performance has drawn plenty of praise;"

"With awards season upon us, we should make proper plans!"

Paula Wagner nodded. "We all hope Tom can win an award."

As December arrived and the year drew to a close, many films aiming for awards season were released;

At the same time, the lawsuit between Gulf+Western and Time Warner reached a verdict. The Supreme Court ruled that Time Inc.'s acquisition of Warner Communications had not violated any laws!

West Hollywood, Aaron's apartment.

Nicole Kidman lay on the bed, her snow-white body draped over Aaron's. "Now that you've left CAA, Ms. Paula Wagner assigned me to a female agent. I probably won't have any resources again."

It was not just Nicole Kidman. Adam Sandler was in the same situation. Quentin Tarantino and Jennifer Connelly had it even worse—basically no one cared about them;

Only Aaron's friend Jack Wells had continued keeping an eye on them. Paula Wagner only truly valued Steven Soderbergh.

Aaron smiled. "CAA has signed a lot of new actors now. It's free-range management. With me here, what are you afraid of?"

"Look at Quentin Tarantino. Once he finishes at the video store, he comes straight to my Aurora Film Company;"

"Jennifer Connelly is focusing on her studies. Next year, she'll go to Italy for a cameo in a film. She probably won't see any progress for the next two or three years!"

Nicole Kidman propped up her head. "You seem to think highly of Quentin Tarantino?"

Aaron nodded. "Mm. He's something of a genius. I'm very optimistic about his future!"

Of course, Aaron had even higher hopes for David Fincher, the rookie director of Phone Booth.

"You invested all your money in movies. Aren't you worried you'll lose everything?"

"Lose everything?" Aaron replied casually. "I may have left CAA, but Pretty Woman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, both set to be released next year, are projects I handled;"

"Especially Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. If it performs well after release, Golden Harvest will have a considerable sum coming in. CAA will still have to pay me my share of the subsequent commission!"

Pretty Woman did not have much to do with him, but if it became a phenomenon, how could Disney possibly refuse to give him some reward?

"Mm." Nicole Kidman smiled and took the initiative to kiss Aaron.

"Nicole, aren't you going to sleep?" Aaron had to meet PolyGram's Michael Kuhn tomorrow.

"What, can't you do it anymore?"

"Heh, woman!" Aaron rolled over and pressed Nicole Kidman beneath him. A storm rose...

It began...