Recaps

Aaron rose from a new CAA agent to a successful dealmaker by selling independent films and building a roster of emerging talent. He pushed Pretty Woman toward production, pursued roles for Nicole Kidman, and ended the stretch bargaining over Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as his conflict with Warren Beatty sharpened.

• Aaron Anderson joined Paula Wagner’s team at CAA, found Sex, Lies, and Videotape at Sundance, and negotiated a $1.2 million North American theatrical deal with Harvey Weinstein for Steven Soderbergh’s film.
• Aaron became an official CAA agent, acquired the rights to Ghost, signed Nicole Kidman, and later added Quentin Tarantino, Adam Sandler, and Jennifer Connelly to his roster.
• Aaron helped launch Pretty Woman with Disney, secured Al Pacino for its male lead after Julia Roberts was cast opposite him, and arranged for Nicole to audition for the female lead, which went to Roberts.
• Aaron negotiated international rights for Sex, Lies, and Videotape and Cinema Paradiso at Cannes, where Soderbergh’s film won the Palme d’Or and Miramax paid $3.2 million for Cinema Paradiso’s North American rights.
• Aaron introduced Nicole to Jane Campion and protected her from Harvey Weinstein’s advances, then pursued opportunities for her in Wild at Heart and Days of Thunder while helping her develop as an actress.
• Aaron persuaded Al Pacino to choose Pretty Woman over Dick Tracy, provoking Warren Beatty, who confronted Aaron at CAA and received Aaron’s challenge to compare the films’ box-office results.
• Aaron sought a North American distributor for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, rejected Orion’s $2.4 million offer, and demanded at least $7 million from Samuel Goldwyn Jr. after receiving a $3 million offer.

Aaron left CAA to build Dawn Pictures, producing Phone Booth and securing distribution while pursuing Ghost with Nicole Kidman and Kevin Costner. The arc left Aaron expanding his ambitions as Orion Pictures faced financial trouble.

• Aaron negotiated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ North American distribution deal with New Line and advised Jennifer Connelly to reject Boiling Point and continue studying.
• Aaron helped Giuseppe Tornatore secure funding for Everybody’s Fine and brought Jennifer Connelly to audition for The Godfather Part III, where Francis Ford Coppola favored Winona Ryder.
• Aaron developed Phone Booth, hired David Fincher to direct, formed Dawn Pictures, and left CAA to produce the film.
• Aaron secured European distribution for Phone Booth, filmed it with Nicolas Cage, and negotiated its North American release with 20th Century Fox.
• Aaron arranged a scandal that damaged Warren Beatty’s reputation, then traveled to Milan with Jennifer Connelly as she began filming Everybody’s Fine.
• Aaron and Nicole Kidman attended award events, where Sex, Lies, and Videotape won major Independent Spirit Awards and Harvey Weinstein proposed closer cooperation.
• Aaron secured Edward Zwick’s involvement in Ghost and cast Kevin Costner and Nicole Kidman as its leads.
• Aaron staffed Dawn Pictures and discussed expanding into television and other businesses as Orion Pictures struggled financially.

Aaron financed Ghost, launched Boyz n the Hood, and resisted offers to fold Dawn Pictures into larger companies while expanding his plans for the Blues Brothers Theater. The stretch ended with Nicole Kidman losing the Billy Bathgate role after refusing pressure to undress at her audition, and Aaron comforting her afterward.

• Aaron Anderson secured distribution deals for Ghost and Boyz n the Hood, then used Fox’s payment and a loan offer to fund Ghost while keeping Dawn Pictures independent.
• Aaron backed John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood, negotiated Columbia’s international distribution deal, and added money when the production fell behind schedule.
• Jack Wells and John Levin killed Loel after he threatened John Singleton’s crew, then framed the Crips for the deaths.
• Aaron rejected Disney’s proposal to bring Dawn Pictures under its wing and agreed with Jack to buy and renovate the Blues Brothers Theater.
• Ghost finished filming, while Aaron asked Ethelind Beckett to pursue the remake rights to Scent of a Woman.
• Warren Beatty blamed Aaron for his declining prospects as TriStar and CAA resisted casting him in Bugsy.
• Nicole Kidman refused to undress during her Billy Bathgate audition and left without the role, then told Aaron what had happened over dinner.

Aaron built Dawn Pictures’ position in Hollywood through major film deals, financing, and releases while managing personal relationships and industry rivalries. The arc ended with Boyz n the Hood succeeding at the box office as Warren Beatty continued criticizing it and Aaron.

• Aaron invested $2.7 million in leveraged oil futures and sold at $42 per barrel, making $14.8 million after taxes and commissions.
• Aaron acquired The Silence of the Lambs for Dawn Pictures and negotiated a TriStar distribution deal with a 13% commission and an opening in at least 800 theaters.
• Aaron helped secure financing and distribution for Gus Van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho, then considered acquiring Legacy Entertainment and its Landmark Theatres chain.
• Aaron developed ties with Jennifer Connelly, Sophie Marceau, Nicole Kidman, and Salma Hayek while advancing film projects including Scent of a Woman and Sleepless in Seattle.
• Aaron backed Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and helped John Singleton secure an R rating and marketing support for Boyz n the Hood.
• Boyz n the Hood opened amid canceled screenings and protests over Rodney King’s beating, then earned $10.2 million in its opening weekend and $22.5 million over ten days.
• Aaron worked with Sidney Ganis on publicity for Ghost and watched the Academy Awards with Jennifer Connelly as his films and projects gained momentum.
• John Singleton showed Jack Wells an audience survey and Warren Beatty’s criticism of Boyz n the Hood, and Jack said most reactions were positive.