Learning the Hard Way

Los Angeles, Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles County Museum of Art—a grand Christmas ball was being held here;

Hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, it drew celebrities from every corner: movie stars, singers, fashion models, entertainment company executives, and more.

Aaron Anderson and Nicole Kidman also appeared at the event together!

The nominations for the 47th Golden Globe Awards, honoring 1989, had just been announced. Independent distributor Miramax had three films receive quite a few nominations:

Giuseppe Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso had been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film;

Steven Soderbergh's Sex, Lies, and Videotape had been nominated for Best Actress – Drama, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Screenplay;

And My Left Foot had also been nominated for Best Actor – Drama and Best Supporting Actress!

"This is the Golden Globe Awards host's Christmas party, meant to warm things up for the Golden Globe dinner in late January next year."

Aaron reminded Nicole Kidman beside him!

After all, the Golden Globe Awards were organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

"Mm, I know that. Is that Meg Ryan?" Nicole Kidman pointed at a blonde woman surrounded by stars.

Aaron looked over. "That's her. When Harry Met Sally... made more than 92 million US Dollars in North America on a budget of just 16 million US Dollars."

"That film was nominated for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actor and Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenplay!"

"See that? That's what you call becoming famous overnight."

Meg Ryan's blonde hair, blue eyes, and sweet smile had captured people's hearts, earning her the title of "Hollywood Sweetheart."

Aaron then looked toward Julia Roberts not far away. She had received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Steel Magnolias;

Thinking of the sensation that would follow when Pretty Woman was released next spring, Aaron could not help feeling sorry for CAA. Richard Lovett's move to ICM had mainly been because of that guy Warren Beatty!

Nicole Kidman said softly, "Aaron, I saw director Peter Weir. I met him before when I was in Australia."

"Then let's go say hello. His Dead Poets Society was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actor – Drama, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. Its box office was even more impressive: 95 million in North America, 140 million overseas, 235 million US Dollars worldwide."

"It was a double triumph in both reviews and box office, along with Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July starring Tom Cruise. They're the hottest Oscar contenders!"

Aaron Anderson wrapped an arm around Nicole's waist. Born on the Fourth of July had only just been released, but its reviews were already outstanding.

"Mr. Peter Weir is Australia's most famous director now!"

The success of Dead Poets Society had made Peter Weir's fame grow exponentially.

Aaron smiled. Foreign directors liked casting actors from their own countries. It was perfectly normal for Peter Weir to favor Nicole Kidman.

Before long, the two found Peter Weir and began chatting with him!

However, Aaron Anderson left the conversation first because he ran into Paula Wagner.

"So, how does it feel after leaving CAA?" Paula Wagner asked.

Independent distributor Miramax had truly made a major splash this year, and Aaron Anderson's contribution could not be overlooked.

"It doesn't feel like much. Dawn Pictures' first film, Phone Booth, is currently being edited."

"I just need to find a North American distributor for it."

Aaron smiled and clinked glasses with Paula Wagner.

"Miramax isn't willing to distribute it for you?"

Aaron shook his head. "I have high expectations for Phone Booth. Miramax's terms can't satisfy me."

"Damn, you really are something," Paula Wagner said, clicking her tongue.

Miramax had distributed Sex, Lies, and Videotape to a 24 million US Dollars box office, with profits exceeding ten million dollars;

Phone Booth had roughly the same budget as Sex, Lies, and Videotape, yet his expectations for it were even higher?

"Are you really that confident?" Paula Wagner truly could not underestimate him.

Aaron Anderson smiled and pointed at his eyes. "These eyes of mine are the Eye of God!"

Paula Wagner laughed as well. "Are you saying you're a Hollywood genius?"

"By the way, I went to the theater a couple of days ago to see Tom's Born on the Fourth of July. Tom's image-shattering performance was pretty good."

"Getting him an Oscar Best Actor nomination shouldn't be a problem when the time comes!"

Aaron changed the subject. Born on the Fourth of July had now received several Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actor – Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Score, going head-to-head with Dead Poets Society;

But unfortunately, the Golden Globe Awards' influence was still far behind that of the Oscars.

"Don't you think Tom has a shot at winning the Oscar for Best Actor?"

Aaron shook his head. "Hard to say. The Golden Globe Awards are different from the Oscars. The Oscars have never liked pretty actors."

"Besides, have you seen Miramax's PR tactics? They're truly shameless!"

The Golden Globe Awards valued star power more, but the Oscars did not care as much about a star's personal achievements. Those Academy voters were all old-school Hollywood figures;

To demonstrate their own importance, acting ability alone was not enough—they also had to be lobbied. Political factors were indispensable.

Of course Paula Wagner had been lobbying as well. She had always believed that Tom Cruise's biggest competitor was Robin Williams from Dead Poets Society!

"You mean Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot?"

My Left Foot was distributed by Miramax and had also been nominated for Best Actor – Drama at the Golden Globe Awards!

For Best Picture – Drama, My Left Foot certainly could not compare with Born on the Fourth of July. Its anti-war core was immensely powerful.

"Yes. I'd dealt with Miramax several times before, and they had Daniel Day-Lewis go to Washington D.C. to attend Congress's latest proposal for the Americans with Disabilities Act."

"How many Oscar voters have connections with Washington? I don't need to spell it out, do I?"

"They also bombarded voters with calls, gave out film videotapes, and pulled out every trick in the book!"

Aaron wore a smile. As an agent, Paula Wagner did not actually have many ways to deal with it;

This required the cooperation of the film company. Born on the Fourth of July was distributed by Universal Pictures, whose capabilities were unquestionable, but they would surely place greater importance on the major prize of Best Picture!

The Oscars liked to spread the awards around. If they gave you both Best Picture and Best Director, it would be difficult for them to give you the acting awards for Best Actor or Actress as well.

"Looks like you've learned quite a lot over the past year or so," Paula Wagner said. Naturally, she hoped Tom Cruise would win. That would only raise his commercial value further.

"In a place like Hollywood, if you don't understand certain things, it's easy to get burned!"

As Aaron spoke, he suddenly saw Warren Beatty enter the hall with a woman, the two chatting happily...