Chapter Summaries

Aaron pursued AMC and Paramount-related business while reviewing Andrew Walker’s screenplay for David Fincher. At a reception, Winona Ryder introduced Gwyneth Paltrow to Aaron, who noticed Jennifer Aniston.

• Aaron waited for Charles Dolan’s decision on Dawn’s offer for AMC as Viacom and QVC competed to buy Paramount Communications.
• After James Jordan’s murder, media speculation about Michael Jordan’s gambling troubles and family intensified, and Aaron anticipated Jordan’s first retirement.
• Aaron praised Andrew Walker’s screenplay “Seven” and told Ethelind Beckett to send it to David Fincher, promising to support the director.
• At a reception, Jennifer Connelly celebrated the box-office success of “Speed” and discussed Quentin Tarantino’s scripts with Aaron.
• Winona Ryder brought Gwyneth Paltrow over to meet Aaron, who spotted Jennifer Aniston at the reception.

Aaron met Jennifer Aniston and asked his assistant to find a New York young-adult sitcom project, then selected Insomnia Cafe and proposed renaming it Friends. He continued waiting for Charles Dolan’s decision about AMC Cable Network while preparing Dawn’s other projects.

• Aaron met Jennifer Aniston at a reception, exchanged phone numbers with her, and promised to consider her for suitable roles.
• Aaron asked Ethelind Beckett to find sitcom projects about young people’s romantic lives in New York.
• Jennifer Connelly told Aaron that Winona Ryder planned to attend the Venice International Film Festival, but Aaron said he could not go because of Dawn’s projects and negotiations over AMC Cable Network.
• Aaron found the Insomnia Cafe concept by David Crane and Marta Kauffman and told Ethelind Beckett that Dawn TV should invest in it and rename it Friends.
• Ethelind Beckett said Charles Dolan had gone to Minnesota to visit James Dolan, and Aaron told her to keep monitoring the situation and stay in contact with CVC Group.

Aaron oversaw Dawn TV’s expansion into cable by acquiring most of AMC, while discussing competition and Hollywood’s growing consolidation with Castle Rock CEO Martin Fischer. The chapter ended with Aaron asking about The Shawshank Redemption, which was still filming and expected to wrap in October.

• Dawn TV greenlit Insomnia Cafe, renamed it Friends, and Aaron gave Jennifer Aniston’s contact information to David Crane and Marta Kauffman.
• CVC sold 80 percent of AMC to Dawn for $100 million, and Aaron told Jovin Adams to air ER, create original programming, and compete for new films.
• Aaron discussed TCM’s upcoming competition with AMC and considered the interests of Ted Turner and TBS in Hollywood.
• At a New York reception, Martin Fischer told Aaron that Turner Broadcasting had offered to acquire Castle Rock after New Line became Castle Rock’s partner.
• Aaron and Martin discussed the strong box-office results of Dawn’s films and Cliffhanger before Aaron asked about The Shawshank Redemption’s production progress.
• Martin said The Shawshank Redemption was moving slowly under its first-time director and should finish filming in October.

Aaron attended a media screening of Philadelphia with Monica Bellucci, discussed upcoming films with director Jonathan Demme, and talked about the Venice Film Festival on the drive home. The chapter ended with Monica noting that Miramax was distributing Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors trilogy in North America.

• Aaron brought Monica Bellucci to Philadelphia’s media screening, praised her Victoria’s Secret lingerie commercial, and promised her a lead role in a horror film being developed by Twilight Pictures.
• The audience and reporters responded positively to Philadelphia, with Tom Hanks’s performance drawing particular praise.
• Aaron told Jonathan Demme that the revised Red Dragon script was ready, and Demme agreed to begin preparations and casting for a production expected to start by year’s end.
• Aaron and Monica passed the reopened Viper Room Club, and Aaron explained that Johnny Depp was one of its owners.
• Monica told Aaron that the Venice Film Festival had awarded four Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement, including one to Roman Polanski; Aaron criticized Polanski as a wanted sex offender.
• Monica added that Miramax appeared to be the North American distributor for Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors trilogy.

Aaron discussed Dawn Pictures’ expansion, Hollywood projects, and industry power plays as MGM/United Artists began a renewed campaign after receiving more capital. The chapter left MGM’s partnership with CAA under scrutiny, with Michael Ovitz gaining influence through packaged projects.

• Aaron reassured Monica Bellucci that he would find her Hollywood roles to build her acting experience, and she returned to Italy soon for a crime-comedy script.
• Aaron visited the topped-out Dawn Pictures headquarters with Ethelind Beckett and discussed the production base, upcoming television projects, and the releases of Farewell My Concubine and Rumble in the Bronx.
• Aaron told David Geffen that Interview with the Vampire was progressing slowly under Neil Jordan and speculated that Edgar Bronfman Jr. might pursue MCA Universal.
• Aaron and David Geffen discussed Michael Ovitz’s ambitions and his growing influence through CAA’s strategic partnership with MGM.
• Crédit Lyonnais injected another round of capital into MGM/United Artists, which began a renewed campaign after having been slated for breakup and sale.

Aaron reunited with Winona Ryder in West Hollywood, then returned to Houston, where Christiana Yeri joined him and he committed $100 million to building a new arena for the Houston Rockets. Ray Patterson said Hakeem Olajuwon's condition was excellent.

• Aaron met Winona Ryder at a party for The Age of Innocence and spent the night with her at her villa.
• Winona Ryder told Aaron she would soon leave to rehearse for Little Women and invited him to visit her in Los Angeles.
• Christiana Yeri arrived in Houston with three experienced Brazilian models and discussed recruiting models for Victoria's Secret.
• Ray Patterson visited Aaron to discuss a new Rockets arena, and Aaron pledged $100 million toward its construction.
• Aaron asked about Hakeem Olajuwon's condition, and Ray Patterson said it couldn't be better.

Aaron discussed Michael Jordan’s retirement, the Houston Rockets’ plans, and the cost of naming their new arena. The chapter ended with Aaron inviting Jack Wells to a yacht party in East Hampton.

• Aaron reflected on the NBA’s Canadian expansion plans and told Christiana Yeri they were heading to New York.
• Speed and The Piano posted strong worldwide box-office totals before Michael Jordan announced his retirement in early October.
• Jordan’s retirement shook the public and markets, and Aaron told Jack Wells he expected Jordan to return after playing baseball.
• Aaron considered acquiring Scottie Pippen or Dennis Rodman for the Rockets, then rejected American Airlines’ arena-naming offer and named the new venue Dawn Center.
• Aaron told Jack Wells construction of the Houston arena should begin as soon as possible, then invited him to a yacht party with models.

Aaron Anderson offered Kate Beckinsale a role in Legends of the Fall, and she accepted the opportunity to remain in Hollywood for rehearsals. After they began a relationship, he arranged for her to live in his former West Hollywood apartment.

• Aaron Anderson gave Kate Beckinsale the Legends of the Fall script and explained the film's plans for Brad Pitt and its locations in Montana and Alberta.
• Kate Beckinsale told Aaron Anderson she had dropped out of Oxford to pursue acting, and she thanked him for choosing her for the film.
• Aaron Anderson and Kate Beckinsale went to dinner, then returned to his hotel suite and began a sexual relationship.
• Joey Wong called Aaron Anderson about returning to Hong Kong, and he asked her to buy properties for him as investments.
• Aaron Anderson told Kate Beckinsale to stay in the United States to prepare for filming, then offered her his former West Hollywood apartment.

At Dawn’s celebration for The Piano, Aaron reunited with Nicole Kidman and discussed upcoming films and Hollywood acquisitions. He then met model Cameron Diaz, who asked for his support in securing the female lead in The Mask, and encouraged her to perform well at her final audition.

• Aaron met Nicole Kidman at the celebration, and they kissed privately before discussing The Pelican Brief, Philadelphia, and Turner Broadcasting’s acquisitions.
• Aaron and Nicole returned to the ballroom, where she congratulated Jane Campion on The Piano’s success.
• Aaron discussed the North American release of Farewell My Concubine with Nicole Kidman.
• Aaron met Cameron Diaz, who told him she had reached the final audition for the female lead in The Mask.
• Cameron Diaz pressed Aaron for the opportunity, and he told her to perform well at the final audition.

Aaron spent a weekend with Nicole Kidman, discussed Village Roadshow's plans to expand internationally, and cast Cameron Diaz in The Mask. At the Viper Room, River Phoenix suddenly became ill after drinking and Joaquin Phoenix tried to get him to a hospital.

• Aaron woke beside Nicole Kidman, watched news about the fighting in Mogadishu, and took her to Big Bear Lake for a weekend getaway.
• Nicole Kidman told Aaron that Village Roadshow wanted to enter international markets, and Aaron said Dawn planned to expand into Australia after Japan.
• Aaron held the final audition for The Mask and cast Cameron Diaz, who invited him to the Viper Room that night.
• Aaron and Cameron Diaz danced at the Viper Room, where River Phoenix performed and Aaron spotted Leonardo DiCaprio.
• River Phoenix drank a drink someone handed him, became pale and unsteady, then vomited as Joaquin Phoenix supported him toward the hospital.

Aaron helped River Phoenix’s companions get an ambulance through the crowd, then learned the next day that River had died. As the news spread, Aaron’s other projects advanced, with Jennifer Aniston joining Friends and Cameron Diaz preparing to star in The Mask.

• Aaron found River Phoenix unconscious outside the Viper Room and ordered his bodyguards to clear the crowd while Joaquin Phoenix explained what had happened.
• At the hotel, Aaron and Cameron Diaz discussed River Phoenix’s apparent overdose, and Aaron encouraged Cameron to focus on acting when The Mask began filming.
• Aaron learned that River Phoenix had died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and River’s family publicly thanked Aaron for helping the ambulance reach him.
• Johnny Depp learned of River’s death, closed the Viper Room for a week, and fans gathered outside the club to mourn.
• Farewell My Concubine earned over $5 million in North America, while The Joy Luck Club earned over $30 million there.
• Jennifer Aniston joined Friends, and Cameron Diaz celebrated landing the female lead in The Mask.

Aaron discussed Dawn Pictures’ plans to acquire film libraries and compete for classic-film rights, then reviewed a low-budget horror script and talked with Christiana Yeri about Hollywood salaries. The chapter ended with Aaron comparing the earnings of leading actors and actresses, including Macaulay Culkin and Jodie Foster.

• Aaron and Dawn’s executives discussed competing with TCM for classic-film rights and acquiring Orion Pictures or Samuel Goldwyn Films to expand Dawn’s library.
• Jessica Parker said Dawn could finance acquisitions despite its recent spending, and Aaron considered how film libraries could support television and home-entertainment revenues.
• Aaron reviewed Garage Horror, a low-budget horror film prepared for Monica Bellucci and Twilight Pictures.
• Christiana Yeri told Aaron about the upcoming Victoria’s Secret lingerie show, and they discussed Macaulay Culkin’s 8-million-dollar salary.
• Aaron compared the salaries of Hollywood stars, noting that Jodie Foster earned 8 million dollars for Maverick while Nicole Kidman earned 4.5 million dollars for The Pelican Brief.

Aaron offered Samuel Goldwyn Jr. $120 million for Samuel Goldwyn Films’ rights library, while Samuel Goldwyn Jr. said he would discuss the offer with the shareholders. Aaron then visited Salma Hayek, where they discussed the film El Mariachi and the Oscar race before becoming intimate.

• Aaron offered Samuel Goldwyn Jr. $120 million for Samuel Goldwyn Films’ rights library while assuring him the Samuel Goldwyn brand would remain his.
• Samuel Goldwyn Jr. said the offer was too low and that he needed to consult the other shareholders.
• Aaron drove to Salma Hayek’s home and found her watching El Mariachi, which she described as a Spanish-language independent film by Robert Rodriguez.
• Aaron praised El Mariachi and said its director’s work could suit Salma Hayek, who then told him that The Lover might compete with Farewell My Concubine for the foreign-language Oscar.
• Aaron and Salma Hayek kissed, entered the bathroom together, and embraced as he complimented her beauty.

Aaron discussed supporting George W. Bush’s campaign for Texas governor in exchange for business opportunities, while Jack Wells reported a downturn in the NBA after Michael Jordan’s retirement. At a Hollywood party, Aaron predicted Sumner Redstone would prevail in the contest for Paramount and said Dawn could work with whoever took control.

• Salma Hayek praised Aaron for Dawn Pictures Group’s success and teased him about his Hollywood scandals.
• Jack Wells met George W. Bush, who sought Aaron’s support for his planned run for Texas governor.
• Aaron agreed to fund Bush and considered buying enough Texas Rangers shares to gain control of the team.
• Jack Wells told Aaron that Michael Jordan’s retirement had already hurt NBA attendance, ratings, advertising, and sponsorships.
• At a cocktail party, Aaron told Tom Rothman that Sumner Redstone was determined to acquire Paramount and that Dawn could work with either bidder.

Aaron agreed to consider buying the Bad Boys script and told Ethelind Beckett to acquire the adaptation rights to Men in Black. He then visited Kate Beckinsale, who shared news about her agent and teased him about Elizabeth Hurley.

• Aaron met David Lynch, asked about David Fincher's Se7en script, and heard that Disney was hesitant to make Bad Boys with newcomer Michael Bay directing.
• Aaron agreed to review the Bad Boys script and instructed Ethelind Beckett to discuss buying it and to purchase the Men in Black adaptation rights.
• Aaron thought about the prospects for action and effects-heavy movies, then drove to Kate Beckinsale's apartment.
• Kate told Aaron that Nancy Josephson at ICM had signed her and that she planned to take Dawn's Legends of the Fall seriously.
• Kate said she had met Elizabeth Hurley and asked Aaron whether he had slept with her.

Aaron spent the morning with Kate Beckinsale, then advanced Dawn Pictures’ plans for “Bad Boys” and attended a party celebrating Viacom’s acquisition of Paramount. The chapter ended with Aaron and Jerry Buss discussing the NBA’s recent changes and the Lakers’ ongoing payments to Magic Johnson.

• Aaron woke up to Kate Beckinsale making breakfast, and the two shared an intimate morning before discussing her adjustment to life in the United States and his rumored affairs.
• Dawn Pictures acquired the adaptation rights to “Men in Black,” and Aaron told Ethelind Beckett to accept Disney’s $3 million price for the “Bad Boys” script and recommend Will Smith and Salma Hayek for roles.
• Joe Roth resigned as chairman of 20th Century Fox and prepared to join Disney, while Viacom offered $10.7 billion for Paramount Communications and Barry Diller withdrew his competing bid.
• Sumner Redstone held a party at the Bel-Air Hotel to celebrate Viacom’s acquisition, and Aaron attended with Monica Bellucci, who was promoting “Philadelphia.”
• Aaron ran into Jerry Buss at the party, and they discussed Redstone’s ownership of the Knicks, the sale of the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers’ struggles, and Magic Johnson’s contract.

Aaron discussed Dawn’s film-library strategy with Hollywood figures, then talked with Monica Bellucci about her role in Garage Horror. Sumner Redstone praised Aaron’s success and asked whether Dawn could be acquired, but Sherry Lansing said Aaron had no intention of selling.

• Aaron met Sumner Redstone and Michael Ovitz at the gathering, and explained that Dawn was acquiring Samuel Goldwyn Films for its cable network and distribution needs.
• Aaron and Monica Bellucci discussed the successful Philadelphia test screening and preparations to film Garage Horror in the Dawn Building’s underground garage.
• Sumner Redstone delivered a speech about wanting to be number one after Viacom’s acquisitions left the company heavily indebted.
• Sumner Redstone asked Sherry Lansing whether Paramount could acquire Dawn, and she replied that Aaron would not sell the company.

Aaron expanded his plans for Victoria’s Secret and oversaw several Dawn film productions while discussing George W. Bush’s Texas campaign and the Houston arena project. The chapter ended with Jim Carrey set to make three films the following year as preparations advanced for Bad Boys.

• Aaron agreed to support George W. Bush’s campaign and approved the Houston Dawn Center’s construction budget and schedule.
• Aaron attended Victoria’s Secret’s fashion show with Christiana Yeri and planned an annual event, AMC TV broadcasts, and Victoria’s Secret Angels.
• Aaron met Sophie Marceau, who described filming Clear and Present Danger and said she wanted more story-driven artistic roles.
• After Thanksgiving, filming began on The Mask with Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz, while Legends of the Fall began rehearsals with Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, and Kate Beckinsale.
• Aaron urged Ethelind Beckett to move Bad Boys forward, then learned Jim Carrey had also signed on for Dumb and Dumber.

Aaron and Sophie Marceau discussed films and spent the evening together before meeting Gwyneth Paltrow at a bar. Gwyneth pulled Aaron onto the dance floor and invited him to spend the night with her.

• Aaron and Sophie Marceau had dinner by the Hudson River and discussed Mrs. Doubtfire, Robin Williams, and Pixar's Toy Story.
• Aaron and Sophie went to a Greenwich Street bar, where they discussed Sophie's Christmas trip to France and a possible Mediterranean getaway.
• Harvey Weinstein praised Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle to Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gwyneth Paltrow, and the other cast members, predicting awards success.
• Gwyneth Paltrow left the group and encountered Aaron in the hallway after he had washed his face.
• Gwyneth pulled Aaron onto the dance floor, kissed him, and told him she wanted to try being with him; Aaron agreed to give her a taste of dessert.

Aaron attended a premiere for Philadelphia, discussed casting and deadlines for The Silence of the Lambs Prequel: Red Dragon, and agreed to buy Samuel Goldwyn Films’ library. The deal would give Dawn rights to more than a thousand films, while Samuel Goldwyn Jr. kept the company’s brand.

• Aaron told Sophie Marceau he had met Miramax staff, then discussed Three Colors: Blue and Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional with her.
• At Philadelphia’s premiere banquet, Aaron and Jonathan Demme discussed casting Red Dragon, with Ralph Fiennes as the serial killer and Nicolas Cage as the FBI agent.
• Aaron approved the proposed casting and told Jonathan Demme to assemble the crew so Red Dragon could be released in 1995.
• Brad Grey told Aaron that Samuel Goldwyn Films would sell its library for $140 million while Samuel Goldwyn Jr. retained the brand.
• Aaron accepted the price, and Brad Grey said he would complete the transaction as soon as possible.