Recaps

Aaron built Dawn Pictures through acquisitions, major film investments, and new industry partnerships while pursuing projects and talent in Hollywood and Europe. The arc left him in London during Bram Stoker’s Dracula production, where he met Catherine Zeta-Jones.

• Aaron confronted Jack Wells after learning his people had studied Warren Beatty’s villa before it was burglarized, and Jack admitted his involvement.
• Aaron and Jennifer Connelly tried to acquire Pixar from Steve Jobs, while Aaron also negotiated to buy Legacy Entertainment from Guy Martin.
• Aaron completed Dawn’s acquisitions of Pixar and Legacy Entertainment, retained Ed Catmull and John Lasseter at Pixar, and arranged for Dawn to support animated films.
• Ghost and The Silence of the Lambs became major hits, bringing Dawn substantial revenue, while Aaron funded projects including Schindler’s List, Indecent Proposal, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
• Aaron threatened Harvey Weinstein after accusing him of mistreating women, then ordered Jack Wells to monitor Miramax and the Weinstein brothers.
• Aaron met Sophie Marceau in Venice and encouraged her to pursue Hollywood opportunities, while Dawn competed for international film rights and released My Own Private Idaho.
• Aaron backed Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula and traveled to London as production began, while Spielberg arranged a concentration camp set for Schindler’s List.
• During a London Christmas party, Aaron met Catherine Zeta-Jones, told her Dawn had invested in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and followed her to a bar.

Aaron expanded Dawn Pictures through new projects, labels, investments, and distribution deals while navigating production setbacks and Hollywood power plays. The arc ended with Dawn’s films drawing mixed box-office and critical responses as Aaron prepared for a weekend at sea with Winona Ryder.

• Aaron chose Columbia TriStar for Indecent Proposal’s international distribution, encouraged David Fincher to bring future projects to Dawn, and helped Quentin Tarantino take Reservoir Dogs to Sundance.
• When Robert Redford’s health halted Indecent Proposal, Aaron agreed to a weeklong pause while preparing Al Pacino as a possible replacement and putting Scent of a Woman’s schedule on hold.
• Aaron secured a $150 million revolving credit line for Dawn, developed projects including Speed and Reality Bites, and launched labels for foreign arthouse films and genre movies.
• Aaron invested in Electric Cinemas and The Piano, pursued Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Mask of Zorro, and arranged for Tianhai Fund to acquire a 4.83% stake in America Online.
• Aaron supported Clinton’s campaign and warned Jack Wells to protect their Los Angeles theaters amid fears of unrest, while Jack and John Levin attacked Tupac and Sean, leaving Sean dead and Tupac critically injured.
• Aaron rejected Jeffrey Katzenberg’s offer to acquire Dawn Pictures, backed Jonathan Demme’s AIDS-discrimination film, and watched riots erupt after the Rodney King verdict before helping inspect damaged theaters.
• Dawn released Indecent Proposal to strong attention and mixed reviews, while Reservoir Dogs drew support despite low earnings and Reality Bites wrapped with Winona Ryder telling Aaron she had split from Depp and was suffering from insomnia.
• Aaron reviewed Schindler's List, approved pursuing Interview with the Vampire, praised Reality Bites to Winona Ryder, and agreed to take her out to sea.

Aaron expanded Dawn Pictures through major film deals while profiting from the pound’s collapse and building relationships across the film industry. The arc ended with Dawn preparing an Oscar campaign for Scent of a Woman as Aaron kept searching for a professional sports team to buy.

• Aaron recruited Amy Pascal for Dawn, acquired North American rights to The Crying Game, and advanced plans for Philadelphia and The Mask of Zorro.
• Aaron arranged financing for The Mask of Zorro and pursued Interview with the Vampire, Forrest Gump, and Spider-Man, while The Crying Game earned critical praise.
• Aaron instructed Tianhai Fund to short the pound during the European currency crisis, then closed the position for a net profit of $70 million.
• Aaron oversaw Dawn’s acquisition of 21st Century Film Corporation and its five-year Spider-Man license, while Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot.
• Aaron traveled through Europe, developed ties with Sophie Marceau and Christiana Yeri, and beat Gérard Depardieu unconscious after hearing him pressure a woman for sex in exchange for a role.
• Aaron attended Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s London premiere with Winona Ryder, and the film opened in North America with $30.52 million over its first weekend.
• Aaron failed to interest Jerry Buss or Donald Sterling in selling their NBA teams and asked Jack Wells to watch for available NBA and NFL teams.
• Scent of a Woman opened in limited release to strong reviews, and Dawn prepared to campaign for it during Oscar season.

Aaron expanded Dawn’s film slate and industry partnerships while pursuing Victoria’s Secret and developing its fashion-show plans. The arc ended with Victoria’s Secret acquired by Franklin Templeton and Quentin Tarantino preparing to film Pulp Fiction.

• Aaron pursued a Victoria’s Secret acquisition with Charles Johnson, but Les Wexner rejected their offer before Franklin Templeton later acquired the company for $1.15 billion, giving Aaron an approximately 5.2 percent stake.
• Aaron traveled through Japan, China, and Hong Kong with Norika Fujiwara, then partnered with Raymond Chow and Golden Harvest on Hollywood projects featuring Jackie Chan and acquired North American rights to two Jet Li films.
• Aaron advanced Dawn’s film slate by approving Legends of the Fall, pursuing Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask, developing Interview with the Vampire and Red Dragon, and approving Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction.
• Schindler’s List earned widespread praise and twelve Oscar nominations, then won seven awards as Aaron donated $3 million and the film’s original print to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
• Aaron attended Clinton’s inauguration with Christiana Yeri, explored security and studio expansion plans with Jack Wells, and proposed privately funding a new Lakers arena, though Jerry Buss refused to sell the team.
• Dawn agreed with Michael Crichton to develop ER for television, while Aaron and Golden Harvest agreed to revise and co-produce Rumble in the Bronx.
• Aaron and Charles Johnson planned to separate Victoria’s Secret from Limited Brands, build the fashion show’s reputation, and later pursue a television broadcast.
• Aaron and Dawn Steel finalized key Pulp Fiction casting with Quentin Tarantino, including John Travolta as Vincent and Uma Thurman as Mia, and Aaron told Tarantino to begin filming.