Chapter Summaries

Aaron discussed Michael Eisner's hospitalization and considered the future of Jeffrey Katzenberg, then approved Dawn Pictures' collaboration with PolyGram on Dead Man Walking. After receiving an invitation to the Sun Valley Conference, he met Jennifer Aniston and expressed confidence in Friends.

• Aaron and Tom Rothman discussed how Michael Eisner's hospitalization affected Disney and speculated that Jeffrey Katzenberg's days there were numbered.
• Aaron declined to pursue Jeffrey Katzenberg for Pixar, believing Katzenberg would not serve under anyone again.
• Dawn Steel brought Aaron PolyGram's Dead Man Walking proposal, and Aaron agreed that Dawn would collaborate and handle North American distribution.
• Aaron received an invitation from Herbert Allen Jr. to attend the Sun Valley Conference and decided it was worth attending.
• Aaron met Jennifer Aniston after Friends filming, praised her suitability for romantic comedies, and assured her he was confident in Friends.

Aaron attended the Sun Valley Conference as Hollywood’s leaders discussed Dawn Pictures Group and Victoria’s Secret. Meanwhile, Michael Eisner stripped Jeffrey Katzenberg of his authority, then falsely suggested he might keep Katzenberg at Disney while using him to plan a restructuring.

• Aaron and Christiana Yeri arrived in Sun Valley, where Herbert Allen Jr. welcomed Aaron to the conference.
• Charles Johnson asked Aaron whether Dawn Pictures Group planned to go public, and Aaron said the company was in no rush; Johnson also credited the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show with boosting sales.
• After leaving the hospital, Michael Eisner reassigned Jeffrey Katzenberg’s film, television, and animation duties to Joe Roth, Rich Frank, and Roy Disney, who would report directly to him.
• Jeffrey Katzenberg confronted Michael Eisner over the changes, then said he would leave Disney; Eisner urged him to stay and offered to discuss restructuring the company.
• Michael Eisner privately told Peter Schneider to monitor Katzenberg and Pocahontas, while admitting to himself that his offer to keep Katzenberg and involve him in restructuring was a lie.

At Sun Valley, Aaron discussed Dawn's expansion into television and learned that Time Warner might sell its 21.9% stake in TBS. He left considering a possible approach to TBS, but knew he would need Ted Turner's support and would have to contend with other powerful shareholders.

• Aaron told Charlie Munger that Dawn planned to pursue a global television strategy and revealed that Tianhai Fund had bought 10,000 Berkshire Hathaway shares.
• Aaron and Christiana Yeri agreed to return to Los Angeles the next day.
• Aaron met Time Warner chairman Gerald Levin, who confirmed that Time Warner might sell its TBS stake and suggested Dawn could gradually acquire shares.
• Aaron considered TBS's networks and film assets, recognizing that he would need to win over Ted Turner and account for TCI and John Malone's influence.

Aaron discussed Dawn Pictures’ investments and releases as The Mask became a hit and Cameron Diaz rose to fame. He also spoke with Arnold Schwarzenegger about True Lies and James Cameron’s future projects, including a possible Titanic collaboration.

• Aaron agreed that Dawn could invest in Mirage Enterprises’ adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, directed by Ang Lee and starring Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant.
• Aaron learned that Rumble in the Bronx had secured more than 1,500 theaters for its North American opening.
• The Mask opened in 2,360 theaters and earned $23 million over its first weekend, boosting Jim Carrey’s profile and making Cameron Diaz an instant sensation.
• Aaron met Cameron Diaz at the Chamberlain Hotel, where she thanked him for giving her the role in The Mask and kissed him.
• Aaron discussed True Lies’ comedic elements and box-office success with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said James Cameron was preparing a new film for 20th Century Fox.
• Aaron speculated that Cameron’s new project might be Titanic and considered cooperating with 20th Century Fox.

Aaron encountered Sylvester Stallone at a Hollywood reception, discussed labor negotiations affecting the NBA, and celebrated Interview with the Vampire’s box-office success. David Geffen proposed joining Aaron, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Steven Spielberg to build a new entertainment conglomerate, leaving Aaron stunned.

• Aaron noticed Sylvester Stallone at the reception after speaking with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
• Cameron Diaz told Aaron about the Houston Rockets’ championship parade while they were together at his Bel Air villa.
• Aaron told Jack Wellstone that NBA owners and players would likely compromise to prevent a shutdown, then asked about construction of Dawn Center Arena.
• Disney considered acquiring NBC Television Network as Warner Bros. and Paramount launched their television networks.
• Aaron celebrated Interview with the Vampire passing $100 million at the North American box office with David Geffen and the film’s cast and crew.
• David Geffen proposed that he, Aaron, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Steven Spielberg form a major entertainment company, and Aaron reacted with disbelief.

At a Hollywood gathering, Aaron Anderson dismissed David Geffen’s idea and discussed a BBC television partnership with agent Nancy Josephson. He left with Monica Bellucci, who planned to visit Italy, while Aaron asked her to buy him a vacation villa at Lake Como.

• Aaron toasted Tom Cruise and spoke with Gwyneth Paltrow, who asked about Winona Ryder and suggested she wanted to rekindle their intimate relationship.
• Aaron reunited with Monica Bellucci and discussed her upcoming films, including In the Mouth of Madness and Garage Horror.
• Nancy Josephson told Aaron that BBC wanted an American television partner for a new Pride and Prejudice series, and Aaron expressed interest in the project.
• Aaron proposed broader cooperation between AMC and BBC, including jointly produced documentaries, comedies, and dramas, and Nancy agreed to speak with BBC.
• Monica told Aaron she planned to visit Italy, and Aaron asked her to buy him a vacation villa at Lake Como.

Aaron Anderson discussed Dawn Pictures’ projects and partnership plans during a London trip, where he attended a press conference for Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility. He pushed to develop Notting Hill and proposed turning Mr. Bean into a film, leaving Graham Broadstreet ready to approach Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson.

• Michael Eisner invited Michael Ovitz to join Disney as a partner, while explaining that co-chairmen were unprecedented in the film business; Ovitz said he would consider it, and Eisner described his worsening conflict with Jeffrey Katzenberg.
• Jeffrey Katzenberg prepared an exit by persuading Steven Spielberg to establish a film company with him, while Dawn Television and the BBC acquired Nancy Josephson’s Pride and Prejudice script for a new adaptation.
• My Best Friend's Wedding earned $250 million worldwide, and Aaron flew to London for Dawn Pictures’ Sense and Sensibility press conference at the Savoy Hotel.
• Aaron asked Graham Broadstreet about Ang Lee’s selection to direct Sense and Sensibility and praised the possibility of working with him again; Graham explained the fit between Lee’s style and the story.
• Aaron urged Graham to invite Richard Curtis to adapt Notting Hill and asked whether Mr. Bean could become a film; Graham agreed to discuss the project with Curtis and Rowan Atkinson.

Aaron visited London, reunited with Catherine Zeta-Jones, and discussed Dawn's film and television projects while celebrating the success of Forrest Gump. Meanwhile, Rumble in the Bronx opened strongly in North America, marking Jackie Chan's commercial breakthrough with American audiences.

• Aaron met Catherine Zeta-Jones in London, and they went to Annabel's Private Club together.
• Aaron told Catherine he planned to visit Buckingham Dawn's UK headquarters and meet with BBC's international operations head about their Pride and Prejudice adaptation.
• Aaron and Catherine celebrated Forrest Gump's box-office success and later discussed seeing Princess Diana with a possible boyfriend.
• Rumble in the Bronx opened in 1,700 North American theaters and earned $9.85 million over its first three days.
• Reviews praised Rumble in the Bronx's action and style, and its success helped Jackie Chan break into the North American film market.

Aaron secured cooperation with the BBC and advanced Dawn’s film projects while spending time with Sophie Marceau and Catherine Zeta-Jones in London. He planned to leave the United Kingdom soon for a vacation in Ibiza with Joey Wong.

• Sophie Marceau told Aaron about filming Braveheart and her upcoming promotional work for Clear and Present Danger, and they spent time together at the Dorchester Hotel.
• Aaron met with the head of the BBC’s international division and reached several cooperation agreements.
• Graham Broadstreet reported that Richard Curtis had agreed to develop Notting Hill and later adapt Mr. Bean into a film.
• Aaron bought a detached villa in Hyde Park as his future London residence.
• Catherine Zeta-Jones discussed Dawn’s Jane Austen adaptations, Forrest Gump, and the plagiarism accusations surrounding The Lion King with Aaron.
• Aaron planned to leave the United Kingdom for Ibiza with Joey Wong.

Aaron enjoyed a vacation in Ibiza with Joey Wong as she planned to return to Hong Kong for a film, while Dawn began a major construction project in New York. In Los Angeles, Michael Ovitz prepared to help negotiate Panasonic’s sale of MCA Universal, hoping the deal would make him an entertainment tycoon.

• Aaron discussed Joey Wong’s return to Hong Kong and the North American success of Rumble in the Bronx before heading out to eat and visit a bar.
• Construction began in New York on the 60-story Dawn Building, with a budget exceeding $400 million.
• Waterworld’s production suffered hurricane damage, cost overruns, and a falling-out that led Kevin Reynolds to leave during post-production as Kevin Costner took over directing.
• After Panasonic rejected MCA’s proposals, Sidney Sheinberg publicly criticized the company, and MCA’s leaders recognized Panasonic intended to sell it.
• Michael Ovitz told Ronald Meyer that Panasonic wanted to sell MCA and that Herbert Allen Jr. had invited them to Osaka to discuss the deal with Masaharu Matsushita and Yoichi Morishita.
• Ovitz favored Seagram as a buyer because Edgar Bronfman Jr. could raise more than $10 billion in cash and had promised Ovitz a chance to manage MCA Universal.

After returning from Ibiza, Aaron dealt with NBA labor negotiations, inspected the Dawn Building construction site, and discussed Dawn’s film plans. At a New York reception, he proposed that Ted Turner consider merging Turner Broadcasting with Dawn, and Turner appeared tempted.

• Aaron told Joey Wong that he planned to visit Hong Kong and check on Dawn Japan Film Company, then returned to New York while Joey flew back to Hong Kong.
• After the MLB strike prompted concern over labor disputes, Aaron and Jack Wells discussed the NBA’s temporary agreement and the Houston Rockets’ championship.
• Aaron and Jack Wells visited the Dawn Building construction site in Times Square and noted Rudy Giuliani’s cleanup of the area.
• At a reception, Aaron discussed Jim Carrey’s films with Christiana Yeri and said Dawn should begin preparing Ace Ventura 2.
• Aaron suggested that Ted Turner take Turner Broadcasting’s relationship with Dawn further by merging their companies, and Turner considered the prospect.

Aaron returned to Hong Kong and discussed a Hollywood action comedy for Jackie Chan with Golden Harvest, while reflecting on Hong Kong cinema’s shrinking markets and the region’s property boom. The chapter ended with News Corporation acquiring a majority stake in Hong Kong Satellite Television Company.

• In New York, Aaron and Christiana Yeri discussed the success of Forrest Gump and the coming release of Pulp Fiction before spending the night together.
• Aaron met Raymond Chow and proposed a Hollywood action comedy for Jackie Chan, with Jackie’s team handling the action scenes and a Hollywood director listening to their input.
• Aaron returned to Hong Kong, where he and Joey Wong discussed soaring property prices and Dawn’s plans to develop a new Jackie Chan film after Thunderbolt.
• Joey Wong noted that Western films were entering Asian markets and that Hong Kong cinema was losing Taipei as a major market and funding source.
• News Corporation acquired a majority of the shares in Hong Kong Satellite Television Company.

Aaron discussed Hong Kong’s family-controlled industries with Michael Kadoorie, then backed Joey Wong’s expansion into China’s VCD market. He planned to travel to Japan and later join Joey in Beijing to discuss importing foreign films.

• Aaron and Joey Wong discussed Hong Kong filmmakers’ dissatisfaction with Taipei’s rules on performers’ pay and Hollywood’s growing competition.
• Aaron met Michael Kadoorie at the Peninsula Hotel and discussed Hong Kong’s prospects and the major families controlling its industries.
• Aaron and Joey Wong talked about the year’s films, including Dawn Pictures’ Pulp Fiction and several acclaimed Chinese-language releases.
• Joey Wong told Aaron that Wanyan dominated China’s VCD market and that she had acquired audio and video companies and storefronts to sell discs and players.
• Aaron gave Joey Wong a $2 million check to invest in her VCD business, and they agreed he would visit her in Beijing after his trip to Japan.

Aaron Anderson secured a major loan in Japan and expressed Dawn’s interest in acquiring MCA, prompting Panasonic’s advisers to consider Dawn a serious bidder alongside Seagram. He decided to return to the United States to organize an acquisition team and prepare for negotiations.

• Pulp Fiction opened in North America to strong box-office results and sharply divided reviews.
• Aaron met with Sakura Bank’s head and secured a 15 billion yen loan for Dawn International Japan Pictures.
• Aaron told Mike Medavoy that he would pay attention to MCA after learning Panasonic planned to sell it.
• Aaron met Panasonic president Yoichi Morishita with Michael Ovitz and Herbert Allen Jr. and formally declared Dawn’s interest in buying MCA.
• Michael Ovitz and Herbert Allen Jr. discussed Dawn’s ability to bid for MCA, while Aaron told Joey Wong he would return to the United States to assemble an acquisition team.

Aaron prepared Dawn Pictures to bid for MCA, competing with Seagram as Panasonic demanded at least $6.5 billion. He left negotiations with MCA executives doubtful of their influence, while Michael Ovitz and Edgar Bronfman Jr. discussed how Seagram could raise funds and monitor Dawn.

• Aaron told Dawn executives that he planned to hire Blackstone Group to acquire MCA and assigned Jessica Parker to seek financing and assess its value.
• Aaron met Lew Wasserman and Sidney Sheinberg, who said Panasonic would not accept less than $6.5 billion and that price would decide the sale.
• Aaron criticized Wasserman and Sheinberg after they left, believing they had lost Panasonic's trust and might soon be replaced.
• Michael Ovitz told Edgar Bronfman Jr. that Dawn had strong financial backing, while Bronfman said he needed family approval to sell DuPont stock and fund Seagram's bid.
• Ovitz advised Bronfman to watch Aaron and Dawn, expecting their financing process to take time while Seagram could raise cash by selling stock.

Aaron pursued Dawn Pictures’ bid to acquire MCA while Seagram emerged as a major rival, and he assigned Blackstone to assess the company and prepare an offer. He also gave Michael Bay a new project, discussed upcoming business and political developments, and asked Jack Wells to investigate the Bronfman family.

• Aaron told Jennifer Connelly that he was considering acquiring MCA and identified Seagram, led by Edgar Bronfman Jr., as a competitor.
• Aaron met Peter Peterson, who warned that Dawn might need to give up substantial equity to finance the acquisition, and agreed to assess MCA’s assets and prepare an offer.
• Christiana Yeri reported on Dawn’s film productions, and Aaron assigned Michael Bay the action-adventure project The Rock.
• Aaron spoke with Jack Wells about the Rockets’ upcoming season and the likely gubernatorial victories of George W. Bush and Pete Wilson.
• Aaron asked Jack Wells to investigate the Bronfman family, which owned Seagram, Dawn’s biggest competitor for MCA.

Aaron attended DreamWorks SKG’s launch reception, where he discussed the new company and Dawn’s possible collaboration with its founders. On the drive afterward, he noticed The Shawshank Redemption had been released and told Nicole Kidman about its production history.

• Jeffrey Katzenberg, David Geffen, and Steven Spielberg announced the formation of DreamWorks SKG Entertainment.
• Aaron attended DreamWorks SKG’s reception with Nicole Kidman, who told him that Batman Forever had finished filming and entered post-production.
• Aaron told Nicole Kidman that Dawn intended to acquire MCA Universal and was waiting to make Panasonic an offer.
• Aaron congratulated David Geffen and offered DreamWorks the possibility of working with Dawn, while David said the new company still needed investors and preparation.
• Aaron and Nicole left the reception, and Aaron noticed a poster for The Shawshank Redemption and recounted how Frank Darabont had rejected Rob Reiner’s offer for his script.

Frank Darabont and Niki Marvin struggled to attract moviegoers to The Shawshank Redemption, while Aaron praised the film but remained confident Forrest Gump would prevail at the Oscars. After DreamWorks SKG was founded, Aaron dismissed it as a threat to Dawn and predicted Pixar’s Toy Story would arrive first.

• Frank Darabont and Niki Marvin tried to draw moviegoers to The Shawshank Redemption as its limited release brought poor attendance.
• Aaron told Nicole Kidman that The Shawshank Redemption was a well-made story about hope, freedom, and redemption, but he remained confident in Forrest Gump’s Oscar prospects.
• Nicole Kidman showed Aaron news that Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg, and David Geffen had founded DreamWorks SKG and built businesses across film, animation, television, music, and interactive media.
• Aaron dismissed DreamWorks as a threat to Dawn and said Pixar’s Toy Story would be released before DreamWorks could launch an animated feature.
• Nicole Kidman asked Aaron to spend more time with her and anticipated reporters would soon ask him about DreamWorks SKG.

Jack Wells learned that Seagram and Edgar Bronfman Jr. posed a formidable obstacle to Dawn’s planned acquisition of MCA, while Aaron Anderson secured financing from Franklin Templeton Investments. The chapter left Aaron preparing to make an offer next spring and celebrating Jim Carrey’s rising success at The Mask’s party.

• Anthony Pellicano told Jack Wells that the Bronfman family had powerful political and financial connections, and that Seagram’s Edgar Bronfman Jr. wanted to enter entertainment.
• Jack Wells compared Seagram’s resources with Dawn’s reliance on banks and praised Aaron Anderson’s achievements.
• Aaron Anderson told Charles Johnson that he planned to acquire MCA and accepted Franklin Templeton Investments’ offer of $500 million in loans and $500 million in exchange for Dawn preferred shares.
• Aaron Anderson estimated that Dawn would make its offer for MCA the following spring, after Toy Story’s release and Panasonic’s asset valuation discussions.
• Aaron Anderson attended The Mask’s celebration party, where he and Tom Rothman discussed Jim Carrey’s box-office success and prospects for becoming a Hollywood superstar.

Aaron celebrated Cameron Diaz’s rising success after The Mask, monitored Dawn TV and Dawn Pictures’ projects and Hollywood box-office news, and took Catherine Zeta-Jones to Palm Springs for her birthday. He dismissed PolyGram’s chances of acquiring MCA and remained focused on the possibility of owning Universal Pictures.

• Aaron and Cameron Diaz celebrated The Mask’s success together, and Cameron told him she had accepted another script.
• Ethelind Beckett reported that Rumble in the Bronx had earned $32 million in North America, securing development of Rush Hour, and Aaron planned releases for Jackie Chan’s older films.
• Aaron and Ethelind discussed the cost overruns on Waterworld and Cutthroat Island, the box-office success of True Lies, The Lion King, and Forrest Gump, and James Cameron’s apparent work on Titanic.
• Aaron picked up Catherine Zeta-Jones from the airport and took her to Palm Springs to celebrate her birthday.
• Catherine asked Aaron about PolyGram’s reported interest in MCA, and Aaron said Philips lacked the nerve to acquire the company.