Chapter Summaries

Aaron met street performer Britney Spears in Hollywood and offered to sign her to MCA Records. Meanwhile, 12 Monkeys opened to mixed reviews, and MCA signed Britney after meeting with her.

• Aaron heard Britney Spears singing on Universal Plaza and invited her to talk at a café.
• Britney told Aaron about her singing experience, and he offered her a recording contract with MCA Records.
• Aaron told Britney to discuss the offer with her parents and said his staff would contact her within three days.
• 12 Monkeys, starring Bruce Willis, opened in theaters and received both praise and criticism from reviewers.
• MCA Records signed Britney Spears to a long-term contract and planned for her to develop her career in Los Angeles.

Aaron reviewed Dawn's film results and upcoming projects while discussing the NBA with Charles Dolan. The chapter ended with Aaron advising that the league should be run by professionals and funded generously.

• Ethelind Beckett told Aaron that Rush Hour had earned 240 million US dollars worldwide, and Aaron discussed its success and the box office for The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
• Aaron rejected Jonathan Demme's request for an 80 million US dollar budget for True Love, but offered Universal as a distributor if Demme financed it himself.
• Aaron approved preparations for The Mummy, naming Brendan Fraser, Chris O'Donnell, and Matt Damon as suitable male leads and Kate Beckinsale as the female lead.
• Ethelind Beckett told Aaron that Jim Carrey had signed for The Truman Show, and Aaron scheduled filming to begin in the second half of 1997 with Peter Weir directing.
• Panasonic launched its DVD-A100 player, and Aaron planned DVD releases for Dawn films including Rush Hour and The Rock.
• At a charity dinner, Charles Dolan asked Aaron for advice about the NBA, and Aaron said it should be run by professionals and supported with money.

Aaron discussed CVC's plans to acquire ITT's shares in MSG with Charles Dolan, then met Tom Cruise and the Coen Brothers as they promoted their acclaimed films. The chapter ended with Fargo earning strong praise and major box-office success.

• Charles Dolan told Aaron that CVC planned to acquire ITT's shares in MSG as ITT restructured.
• Aaron congratulated Charles Dolan and discussed the Knicks' failed attempt to sign Michael Jordan.
• Aaron praised Tom Cruise's performance in Jerry Maguire, which had earned $36 million at the box office in ten days.
• Aaron spoke with Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, who were promoting Fargo after it grossed $60 million worldwide on a $7 million investment.

Aaron prepared to raise billions for a coming attack on Asian markets, beginning with Thailand, while spending Christmas at home with Nicole Kidman. Nicole discussed her latest film and asked Aaron for a role in his planned Chicago adaptation, leaving him concerned about her ability to handle its demanding dance routines.

• Aaron reviewed the NBA's greatest-player list and considered the Rockets' star-studded roster and the league's tanking teams.
• Aaron told Grinde von Hiebert he needed $300 million to $500 million quickly, then instructed Edgar Owen to raise at least $2 billion using Tianhai Fund shares as collateral.
• Aaron told Edgar to use Deutsche Bank's funds as margin to borrow Thai baht, explaining that a tentative attack on Thailand was approaching as its real-estate prices began to fall.
• Nicole Kidman visited Aaron on Christmas and discussed The Portrait of a Lady and its Golden Globe nomination.
• Nicole asked Aaron for a role in his planned Chicago film, and Aaron warned that its demanding jazz dancing could injure her.

Aaron discussed casting and the romance film Notting Hill with Nicole Kidman before returning to Los Angeles, where he read about JonBenét Ramsey’s murder. At a New Year’s Eve ball, Edward Zwick told him about the shelved Shakespeare in Love project, and Aaron tried to recruit him to direct it, but Zwick said he was committed to The Siege.

• Aaron told Nicole Kidman that she could play the lead in Notting Hill alongside Hugh Grant, and she welcomed the role.
• Aaron returned to Los Angeles after Christmas and read reports about six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey’s murder in Boulder, Colorado.
• At the Bel-Air Hotel’s New Year’s Eve ball, Aaron met Edward Zwick, who told him Universal had shelved the Shakespeare in Love script after Julia Roberts and Daniel Day-Lewis left the project.
• Aaron proposed reviving Shakespeare in Love with Zwick as director, but Zwick said he was already preparing to direct The Siege.

Aaron welcomed 1997 with Jennifer Connelly and learned that Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna had obtained the rights to make Terminator 3. James Cameron had clashed with them over the rights, leaving the project’s future uncertain.

• Aaron and Edward Zwick agreed to delay Shakespeare in Love until Zwick finished filming The Siege.
• As 1997 began, Jennifer Connelly told Aaron that investments by Tianhai Fund in technology companies were rising.
• Jennifer Connelly told Aaron that Martin Brest had pitched Meet Joe Black with a 90-million-dollar budget, which Aaron had rejected.
• Jennifer Connelly revealed that Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna had obtained the rights to Terminator 3 from the bank and Gale Anne Hurd.
• Jennifer Connelly said James Cameron had fought with Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna, and Aaron decided to wait and see when they would develop the film.

Aaron watched Asian markets as he prepared to short the Thai Baht, then discussed Hollywood projects with James Cameron and Winona Ryder before watching the Rockets play the Bulls with Jack Wells. He left the game wondering whether the Bulls had become too strong after acquiring Dennis Rodman.

• Aaron had Edgar Owen sign forward contracts to borrow Thai Baht after Deutsche Bank loaned him 350 million US dollars.
• Aaron offered James Cameron Universal’s help after learning Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna had acquired The Terminator rights.
• Aaron told Winona Ryder that Universal had a Shakespeare in Love script suited to her and discussed the upcoming Star Wars trilogy rereleases.
• Aaron watched the Houston Rockets face the Chicago Bulls with Jack Wells, who discussed the Houston Comets and the WNBA.
• Aaron said Dennis Rodman’s addition might have been a mistake as he watched Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman play.

Aaron discussed Hollywood’s role in promoting American values with President Clinton, then returned to Los Angeles for the Golden Globes and Dawn’s celebration. At the party, he discussed awards, the competing meteor-disaster projects Armageddon and Collision Course, and Universal’s upcoming Jim Carrey film.

• Aaron watched Air Force One with the Clintons and discussed Hollywood’s influence and his plans to invest in Asia’s financial markets with Clinton.
• Aaron returned to Los Angeles without attending Clinton’s second inauguration as the 54th Golden Globe Awards recognized The English Patient, Evita, Jerry Maguire, and The People vs. Larry Flynt.
• Aaron attended Dawn’s celebration party, where Brad Grey said The English Patient was well positioned for the Oscar race and discussed the controversy surrounding The People vs. Larry Flynt.
• Brad Grey told Aaron that Michael Bay was developing the $140 million disaster film Armageddon, while DreamWorks and Paramount were developing a similar project called Collision Course.
• Aaron asked about The Cable Guy, and Brad Grey said its test screenings were strong and Universal was confident in the film.

Aaron discussed awards season, Evita, and Jennifer Aniston’s growing fame before turning his attention to Asian markets and flying to Hong Kong. There, Joey Wong reported that Xinke VCD was leading the market, and Aaron cautioned her about the arrival of DVD technology.

• Aaron and Jennifer Aniston discussed The English Patient’s Oscar prospects and Madonna Ciccone’s performance in Evita.
• Aaron declined Jennifer Aniston’s invitation to attend the Super Bowl and said he planned to travel to Asia to focus on its financial markets.
• Aaron praised Jennifer Aniston’s rising popularity as Rachel Green in Friends and joked with her about their relationship.
• Three days after the Golden Globe Awards, Aaron flew to Hong Kong and sensed unease in the city.
• Joey Wong told Aaron that Xinke VCD sales were leading the market, and Aaron warned her that DVDs had already launched in Japan and were being promoted in the United States.

Aaron discussed Hollywood’s interest in Stephen Chow and prepared for an Asian financial attack, using a brief Thai Baht short sale to test the market before saving funds for a larger move. He planned to target South Korea while other speculators focused on Hong Kong, then celebrated Chinese New Year with Kristy Yang, who told him Media Asia Films had offered her a role.

• Joey Wong told Aaron that The God of Cookery had performed strongly in theaters and that 20th Century Fox wanted Stephen Chow to direct an American version.
• Edgar Owen reported that Aaron had borrowed 10 billion Thai Baht and was arranging another 20 billion US dollars, while Aaron told him to follow the Quantum Fund and later focus their funds on South Korea.
• After the Quantum Fund began shorting the Thai Baht, Aaron had his group sell about 5 billion Thai Baht, then ordered Edgar Owen to stop and preserve their funds for a later attack.
• Aaron celebrated Chinese New Year with Kristy Yang and encouraged her to treat acting as a hobby.
• Kristy Yang told Aaron that Media Asia Films had offered her a movie role, and Aaron told her to accept it.

Aaron read about Oscar and Berlin Film Festival news before taking Kristy Yang to Japan for a hot-spring trip. While they were away, a heavily armed bank robbery in North Hollywood ended in a bloody shootout, and Aaron reacted with concern about gun violence in the United States.

• Aaron and Kristy Yang discussed Hong Kong’s rampant movie piracy as they returned to their residence.
• Aaron read that The English Patient led the Oscar nominations and that The People vs. Larry Flynt had won the Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear and earned praise from its judges.
• Kristy Yang asked Aaron to take her to Japan during spring break, and he agreed before carrying her to the bedroom.
• Little Larry Eugene Phillips and Emil Dekbar Matasalinu robbed a North Hollywood Americas Bank, prompting a shootout involving hundreds of Los Angeles Police Department officers that left both robbers dead and fourteen people injured.
• Aaron learned of the North Hollywood shootout while soaking in a Japanese hot spring and worried about gun violence in the United States.

Aaron returned from Japan to Hong Kong after arranging an acquisition of the company behind Pokémon Red and Green. He met Jack Wells, who had come to Hong Kong while protecting an HSBC shareholder, as heightened British military patrols underscored the city's tense atmosphere.

• Aaron told Norika Fujiwara he was having people acquire Monster Games, which had released Pokémon Red and Green.
• Jack Wells called Aaron from Japan and said he was coming to Hong Kong while protecting someone traveling from Taipei.
• After arriving at Kai Tak International Airport, Jack Wells saw British military police treating Chinese travelers harshly and criticized the British presence.
• Aaron met Jack Wells at a Tsim Sha Tsui East nightclub and discussed Hong Kong's tense situation, Aaron's investments, and rumors about his finances.
• Jack Wells revealed that the person Angel International was protecting was an HSBC Bank shareholder who had likely come to Hong Kong over the situation.

Aaron and Joey Wong discussed Hong Kong’s worsening film industry and piracy as Media Asia Films faced an acquisition offer and trouble on a film set. At a political and business ball, Aaron confronted Governor Chris Patten about Hong Kong’s crime problem before an elderly woman was introduced as Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary.

• Aaron and Joey Wong watched Hong Kong artists march against piracy and discussed the film industry’s decline.
• Joey Wong told Aaron that Emperor Group wanted to acquire Media Asia Films, but she planned to reject the offer; she also said gang members were harassing the Young and Dangerous 4 set.
• Aaron attended a ball with Kristy Yang, discussed Lai Sun Development’s plan to acquire the Regal Hongkong Hotel, and considered buying Lai Sun Development after Hong Kong’s property market fell.
• Aaron confronted Chris Patten about Hong Kong’s poor public security and the harassment of his film company’s sets.
• An elderly woman interrupted Aaron and Chris Patten, and Chris Patten identified her as Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary.

Aaron pressured Chris Patten to destroy the Hong Kong triad Lian Gong Le after it targeted his film company, while threatening the outgoing governor and insulting Fang Ansheng. The next day, Aaron discussed his plans to enter Hong Kong’s real estate market with Jack Wells and Hubert Bowers, who warned that British influence would make it difficult.

• Aaron insulted Fang Ansheng and threatened Chris Patten until the governor agreed to act against Lian Gong Le.
• Chris Patten told Fang Ansheng that Aaron’s wealth, media influence, and political connections made him difficult to challenge, then ordered her to take down Lian Gong Le quickly.
• Aaron left the ballroom with Kristy Yang and mocked Chris Patten as a governor.
• Aaron met Jack Wells and Hubert Bowers at the U.S. Consulate General and explained that he wanted to enter Hong Kong’s real estate market when its bubble burst.
• Hubert Bowers warned Aaron that British influence and entrenched capital made Hong Kong difficult to penetrate, while Aaron suggested Bowers could seek a higher position.

Aaron returned to the United States and addressed rumors about his finances while discussing Dawn Pictures’ upcoming disaster film Armageddon. He approved Bruce Willis as a stronger lead candidate than Kevin Costner, whose latest films worried him.

• In Macau, Aaron told Jack Wells that he was heading back to the United States, while Jack discussed the killing of Lian Gong Le’s fugitive leader and warned that Aaron’s loan against his shares had prompted rumors.
• Aaron returned to the United States and gave an interview to CNBC before watching coverage of the Phoenix Light incident at Dawn Pictures headquarters.
• Christiana Yeri told Aaron that DreamWorks and Paramount’s Collision Course was preparing to film ahead of Armageddon, and Aaron asked about the lead role for Armageddon.
• Christiana Yeri said Michael Bay wanted Kevin Costner, but Costner was still working on The Postman and might not be available soon.
• Christiana Yeri named Bruce Willis as another candidate, and Aaron agreed that Willis would suit Armageddon better given Costner’s recent and expected box-office failures.

Aaron expanded Dawn’s investments through Dawn Capital, acquired Bloomsbury Publishing, and followed the success of Dawn’s The English Patient at the Academy Awards. He left the Vanity Fair party with Sophie Marceau after discussing other films and Hollywood prospects.

• Aaron established Dawn Capital to invest in Dolby and IMAX, then acquired Bloomsbury Publishing and asked Ethelind Beckett to prepare a list of its upcoming novels.
• Ethelind Beckett reported that Jim Carrey’s The Cable Guy opened to $31.4 million over its first weekend, and Aaron told her to have Peter Weir begin preparing The Truman Show.
• The English Patient won nine awards at the 69th Academy Awards, and Aaron attended the Vanity Fair celebration party with Sophie Marceau.
• Aaron and Sophie discussed The English Patient’s box office, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Luc Besson’s upcoming The Fifth Element.
• Aaron kissed Sophie’s cheek and left the party with her.

Aaron handled Dawn's plans to acquire CVC's stake in AMC Cable Network and helped Liv Tyler turn down a decorative role in Armageddon. He chose Charlize Theron to audition for the part, and Liv recognized her from That Thing You Do!.

• Sophie Marceau told Aaron that acting was easier than many other professions after he said she would work with Nicolas Cage on City of Angels.
• Ethelind Beckett told Aaron that CVC planned to sell its 20 percent stake in AMC Cable Network, and Aaron instructed her to have Jovin Adams negotiate the purchase.
• Liv Tyler told Aaron that Universal offered her Bruce Willis's daughter's role in Armageddon, but she wanted to pursue an arthouse film instead.
• Aaron told Liv he would recommend her for a suitable Crescent Moon Pictures role and instructed Ethelind Beckett to arrange an Armageddon audition for Charlize Theron.
• Liv told Aaron that Charlize had appeared as a supporting actress in Tom Hanks's That Thing You Do! and that Hanks had praised her acting.

Aaron selected Cate Blanchett for the female lead in Peter Weir’s The Truman Show and discussed the competition facing Universal’s monster and disaster films. The chapter ended with Aaron and Kate Beckinsale talking about her upcoming role in The Mummy and the risks of filming in Africa.

• Aaron found J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone listed in Bloomsbury Publishing Company’s upcoming books and planned to wait for its UK release before publishing it in the United States.
• Aaron gave Ethelind Beckett Cate Blanchett’s résumé and chose her for the female lead in The Truman Show.
• Ethelind Beckett told Aaron that Sony was preparing a $130 million Godzilla adaptation directed by Roland Emmerich, and Aaron noted Universal’s King Kong and Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World.
• Travelers Group acquired Salomon Brothers for $9 billion, while Viacom began selling some of its Blockbuster shares as DVDs threatened videotape rentals.
• Aaron and Kate Beckinsale discussed the $80 million budget for The Mummy, Kate’s preparations for filming in Africa, and the upcoming disaster films Volcano and Dante’s Peak.

At a Hollywood party, Aaron discussed the Star Wars prequels and their effects challenges with George Lucas, then reassured Peter Chernin about Titanic despite Fox’s doubts. The chapter ended with Aaron standing by James Cameron’s film as Fox sought his help promoting it.

• Aaron and Kate Beckinsale attended a Hollywood party at the Wilshire Hotel.
• Aaron praised Star Wars’s cultural influence and merchandise success while speaking with George Lucas about the prequels and their visual effects.
• Peter Chernin asked Aaron to take a greater role in promoting Titanic in North America.
• Aaron defended James Cameron and told Peter not to let the media’s pessimism undermine his confidence in Titanic.

Aaron discussed Jurassic Park 2’s promotion and box-office prospects, then focused on investments in South Korea and the coming Asian financial crisis. After meeting Cate Blanchett about The Truman Show, he took her to Greenwich Village, where they planned to visit a bar.

• Aaron reassured Kate Beckinsale that Jurassic Park 2 had enough promotion and reflected on its test screenings and the success of the first film.
• Aaron discussed the NBA standings and Cate Blanchett’s role in The Truman Show with her in his office.
• Aaron instructed Edgar Owen to prepare Tianhai Fund to target South Korea, especially Samsung Group, after international hedge funds attacked Southeast Asian currencies.
• Aaron took Cate Blanchett to Greenwich Village for coffee, and they left to look for a bar.