There It Is

Although Aaron had no objection to signing a few more clients, a screenwriter like Bruce Robin simply could not pique his interest.

So Aaron directly introduced him to newcomer Jack Wells.

Meanwhile, the well-reviewed family drama Rain Man had now surpassed 100 million US dollars at the North American box office, and its momentum showed no signs of slowing!

At the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Aaron attended the reception with Paula Wagner. Though he no longer had to run errands, he still seemed to be Paula Wagner's little follower.

"So, I heard you got hold of a script and already want to develop it?" Paula Wagner asked.

Aaron nodded. "Yeah. Otherwise, when am I ever going to make a name for myself?"

Paula Wagner frowned. "How old are you? You're already thinking about making a name for yourself?"

"And you're an agent. Aren't you putting the cart before the horse?"

"Don't worry," Aaron said with a smile. "Selling film projects is part of an agent's job too, isn't it?"

"Besides, I'll still sign a few stars. Isn't Steven Soderbergh busy coordinating the festival run and release of Sex, Lies, and Videotape right now?"

Paula Wagner looked at Aaron. "You want to transition into producing, don't you?"

"Yeah. Doesn't Ms. Wagner want to?"

As he spoke, Aaron glanced at Tom Cruise, who was surrounded by admirers in the distance. "With Tom around, a lot of projects can move forward smoothly!"

Paula Wagner laughed. "I read that script of yours. Tom would never agree to play a ghost."

"Is that so?" Aaron's lips curled upward. "What if I offered him a salary on the level of 10 million US dollars?"

At present, the highest-paid actor was action star Sylvester Stallone, at 15 million US dollars, in a league of his own.

As for salaries above 10 million US dollars, only Harrison Ford and Arnold Schwarzenegger had reached that figure this year. Clint Eastwood could earn that amount only for certain films.

Paula Wagner clicked her tongue. "You really do have big ambitions!"

Forget 10 million US dollars. Tom Cruise had spent the past few years appearing in supporting roles, and he was still some distance away from that kind of salary.

At the reception, Aaron Anderson was merely an unknown nobody. No one paid attention to him. The real focus was on Rain Man director Barry Levinson, lead actor Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, and the others!

That evening, on his way back to his home in West Hollywood, Aaron happened to spot a poster outside a movie theater.

"A Warner Bros.-distributed Australian thriller, Dead Calm!"

Of course, Aaron was not interested in the movie itself, but in its leading lady: Australian actress Nicole Kidman.

Wasn't this an opportunity? It wasn't easy for foreign newcomers to make it in Hollywood...

Three days later, at a restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, Aaron Anderson met the Australian beauty Nicole Kidman.

She was tall and graceful, with a pretty face and fair skin. She really was a beauty, though her red, curly hair like instant noodles made Aaron somewhat uncomfortable.

"Ms. Kidman, over here," Aaron said, getting to his feet and waving at her.

Nicole Kidman walked over. Seeing a young and handsome man, she hesitantly asked, "Are you Mr. Aaron Anderson, the agent from CAA?"

"Have a seat," Aaron said, handing her a business card. "I'm Aaron Anderson."

Nicole Kidman looked it over. He really was an agent from CAA. Though she privately felt that he was too young, she maintained a smile.

"Mr. Anderson, why did you want to see me?"

"Just call me Aaron," Aaron Anderson said with a wave, summoning the waiter. "No rush. Let's order something first and talk while we eat!"

After a while, once the food had been served, Aaron looked at Nicole Kidman with a smile. "My purpose is simple. I want to sign you and help you break into the Hollywood market."

"Don't rush to refuse. Hollywood is very exclusionary. Since you came over from Australia, you won't get many good opportunities."

"I may be a newcomer, but I have great confidence in myself. If you follow the independent film market, then you should know that I was the one who sold Sex, Lies, and Videotape at last month's Sundance Film Festival!"

Nicole Kidman smiled helplessly. "I arrived just last month. I know that film."

"Actually, when I first came to Hollywood, I didn't have an agent at all. How did you find me?"

Aaron took a bite of steak, wiped his mouth, and smiled. "I happened to see the poster for the thriller Dead Calm, which you starred in."

"You have excellent looks. I believe you have great potential, and you really do need an agent to help you, don't you?"

Nicole Kidman nodded. "For a newcomer signing for the first time, the contract lasts one year, right?"

"Yes, one year. If you aren't satisfied with me after that, you can replace me anytime," Aaron said without much concern. "After all, I'm a newcomer too. I don't have any connections."

Nicole Kidman smiled. "There was an interview with you in the newspaper. You seemed so arrogant that you declared this year the first year of independent film because Sex, Lies, and Videotape was about to be released."

Aaron took a sip of coffee. "That wasn't arrogance. It was confidence in Sex, Lies, and Videotape!"

"You're very unusual," Nicole Kidman said as she continued eating with measured elegance...

Once they had finished eating, Aaron looked at Nicole Kidman. "So, what do you say? Want to sign with me?"

Nicole Kidman blinked. "If I refuse, will you keep pursuing me?"

Aaron shook his head. "I don't have that much time to waste. I'd probably look into other newcomers."

"Or actors from Europe. Signing artists depends on luck for me. Right now, my main business is film!"

"Film? What do you mean?"

"Film distribution representation. I help independent films or foreign films find distributors. That's what I mean!"

"But shouldn't your main business be representing actors?"

Aaron curled his lip. "When do you think you'll be able to earn a salary of 1 million US dollars?"

"Ah, that... I don't know!" Nicole Kidman shook her head.

"If you earn 1 million US dollars, CAA takes 100,000 US dollars from you, and even less reaches me. You'd be doing well to make two films a year," Aaron said, pointing at her.

"If the opportunity is right, I can sell several films a year. If I'm lucky, one deal can be worth several million US dollars. That earns more than signing some newcomers!"

Nicole Kidman understood. "But if that's the case, wouldn't signing with you mean you'd just leave me to fend for myself?"

Aaron pressed a hand to his forehead. "If I can easily sell films, do you think those directors and producers would dare not show me respect?"

"Mm, all right. I'm willing," Nicole Kidman agreed, of course. She truly had no connections at all in Hollywood and could only send out résumés and audition for crews herself.

At the very least, Aaron Anderson was a legitimate CAA agent!