Chapter Summaries

Aaron celebrated The English Patient’s box-office success with Cate Blanchett, then agreed to support Giuseppe Tornatore’s 1900 adaptation and buy North American distribution rights for Roberto Benigni’s Life Is Beautiful. The chapter ended with Aaron and Monica Bellucci becoming intimate in his office as she described the fame she had gained from Twister.

• Aaron discussed The English Patient’s strong worldwide box-office performance with Cate Blanchett at a Greenwich Village jazz bar.
• Aaron met Monica Bellucci at the Dawn Building, where she told him Giuseppe Tornatore wanted to adapt 1900: Monologue.
• Aaron agreed that Crescent Moon Pictures would support Tornatore’s project and told Monica to have him begin preparations.
• Monica told Aaron that Roberto Benigni was making Life Is Beautiful, and Aaron ordered Crescent Moon Pictures to acquire its North American distribution rights.
• Monica described the media attention and advertising offers she received in Italy after Twister succeeded, then she and Aaron became intimate in his office.

Aaron reviewed film and sports developments, considered investing in The Man in the Iron Mask, and urged Winona Ryder to avoid Woody Allen’s latest project. He left the chapter focused on protecting Hollywood’s public image while Winona comforted him.

• Aaron and Jennifer Connelly attended Amazon’s IPO meeting and discussed the Rockets’ playoff run and possible new NFL teams in Los Angeles and Houston.
• Aaron read The Man in the Iron Mask script and told Jennifer to have Crescent Moon Pictures invest in it and inform Ethelind Beckett.
• Jennifer left to film in Georgia, while Aaron later spent the night with Winona Ryder in Manhattan.
• Winona told Aaron she had cleared her schedule for Shakespeare in Love and received a romantic comedy project from Woody Allen.
• Aaron urged Winona to reject Woody Allen’s project, criticized his relationship with Soon-Yi Previn and Roman Polanski, and said Dawn Pictures needed to protect Hollywood’s image.

Aaron watched Universal’s Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World earn a strong opening despite mixed reviews, then discussed how to protect the franchise after Steven Spielberg confirmed he would not direct a third film. The chapter left Aaron and Dawn Steel planning to bring Spielberg on as producer and develop a stronger script centered on dinosaurs.

• Winona Ryder told Aaron she would guest-star in Friends Season 4 as one of Rachel Green’s lovers and kiss Jennifer Aniston.
• Sony Pictures Entertainment acquired the rights to Thunderball from Kevin McGrorey, angering MGM as Sony pursued its own James Bond film.
• Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World opened in 3,281 North American theaters and earned 74.6 million US dollars from midnight screenings and its first three-day weekend, while critics gave it mixed reviews.
• Aaron told Dawn Steel that the sequel’s visual effects and action were strong but its plot, theme, and characters were weak.
• Aaron told Dawn Steel to develop the third film’s script with Michael Crichton and experienced screenwriters, while Steven Spielberg would serve as producer instead of director.

Aaron discussed Thailand’s market crisis and Wells Fargo’s troubled acquisition with Charles Johnson, then encouraged Joey Wong’s plans to open a garment factory in Shenzhen. The chapter left Aaron considering acquiring Saks Fifth Avenue and expanding department stores into China.

• Thailand’s government intervened against international speculators by spending reserves, raising lending rates, and restricting baht loans and negative reporting.
• Aaron and Charles Johnson discussed Wells Fargo’s acquisition of First Interstate Bank and the difficulties Wells Fargo faced afterward.
• Aaron reassured Charles that Thailand’s limited reserves would not stop the speculators and said his $2 billion Southeast Asian investment was an opportunity.
• Joey Wong told Aaron she planned to open a garment factory in Shenzhen and was losing interest in acting.
• Aaron encouraged Joey’s business plans and offered to help bring European and American brands to China.
• Aaron asked Joey about Saks Fifth Avenue and said he planned to acquire its upscale department store chain.

Aaron discussed expanding Saks Fifth Avenue with Joey Wong, then met MPAA chairman Jack Valenti to discuss DVD standards and the threat of piracy. The conversation turned to Woody Allen, whom Aaron said had crossed the line.

• Aaron told Joey Wong he wanted to acquire Saks Fifth Avenue and expand it into major cities overseas.
• Joey Wong left Los Angeles for Vancouver after spending a short time with Aaron.
• The MPAA and DVD Consortium promoted DVD standards, copyright protections, and regional coding as DVDs entered the American market.
• Aaron told Jack Valenti that DVDs would soon overtake videotapes and that Chinese manufacturers could have accelerated their spread.
• Aaron told Jack Valenti that he wanted to discuss Woody Allen and said Woody Allen had crossed the line.

Aaron pressured Jack Valenti to keep Woody Allen’s films from receiving Oscar nominations for ten years, then discussed Hollywood’s expansion into international markets. In Jacksonville, Aaron met NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue about creating a Los Angeles team, but Tagliabue said he would need league approval and a convincing stadium plan.

• Aaron argued that Hollywood needed to punish Woody Allen, and Jack Valenti agreed to handle the matter with the Academy committee without making it public.
• Aaron urged Jack Valenti to use the MPAA and the WTO to expand Hollywood’s reach in international film markets.
• Aaron took Catherine Zeta-Jones to Jacksonville and told her he planned to discuss a new NFL club in Los Angeles with Paul Tagliabue.
• Aaron met Paul Tagliabue and proposed establishing a team for Los Angeles after the Rams and Raiders had left.
• Paul Tagliabue told Aaron that the league’s members would have to approve a new team and that Aaron needed a persuasive plan addressing the stadium issue.

Aaron discussed the obstacles to establishing an NFL team in Los Angeles with Paul Tagliabue, then considered investing in English football with Catherine Zeta-Jones. He left interested in attending the Champions League final and exploring the possibility of buying a Premier League club.

• Aaron asked Paul Tagliabue for the criteria to form an NFL team, and Tagliabue explained that Los Angeles would face competition from Houston and Cleveland and that the league committee had to evaluate the proposal.
• Paul Tagliabue told Aaron that Michael Ovitz had also pursued an NFL team in Los Angeles, but needed to resolve the stadium issue.
• Aaron concluded that the stadium was the main obstacle and considered building a dedicated NFL stadium himself.
• Catherine Zeta-Jones told Aaron about the Premier League's growing broadcast revenue and Mohamed Al-Fayed's purchase of third-tier Fulham.
• Aaron asked whether he could buy a Premier League club directly, and Catherine Zeta-Jones suggested they attend the upcoming Champions League final and visit the United Kingdom.

Aaron abandoned his immediate hopes of buying a Premier League club and pursued a new NFL team in Los Angeles, seeking a stadium site with help from the Catholic Church. He discussed the project with Archbishop Roger Mahony, then talked business and film sequels with Catherine Zeta-Jones.

• Aaron decided that acquiring a Premier League club was too difficult and chose to pursue establishing an NFL team in Los Angeles instead.
• Los Angeles officials supported Aaron's NFL plans but offered limited help with stadium construction because the city was already considering a downtown arena funded largely by Philip Anschutz's AEG.
• At the opening of the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana museum, Aaron asked Roger Mahony about the Archdiocese's new cathedral, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
• Aaron asked Roger Mahony to help him lobby the City Council for a stadium site, proposing Hollywood Park in Inglewood; Roger agreed to assist.
• Aaron and Catherine Zeta-Jones discussed the Champions League result, Dawn's box-office successes, the upcoming release of Men in Black, and developing a sequel to The Mask of Zorro.

Aaron reassured Catherine Zeta-Jones that he would create a starring vehicle for her, then attended Titanic’s first test screening with Nicole Kidman and Rupert Murdoch. The rough cut received a poor audience response, leaving Titanic in need of major edits before its Christmas release.

• Aaron rejected a sequel to The Mask of Zorro and promised Catherine Zeta-Jones a commercial action film after Chicago.
• Aaron attended Titanic’s first test screening at the Mann Village Theatre with Nicole Kidman and Rupert Murdoch.
• The three-and-a-half-hour rough cut dragged, and some audience members nodded off during the screening.
• Aaron advised Rupert Murdoch that James Cameron should cut drawn-out scenes, improve the pacing, and strengthen the score.
• Rupert Murdoch accepted that Titanic needed changes, while Aaron left to spend the evening with Nicole Kidman.

Aaron discussed Titanic and Australian talent with Nicole Kidman, while Men in Black opened strongly and Batman & Robin was widely panned. At Dawn Pictures, Aaron and Dawn Steel considered whether the backlash against superhero films would hurt their planned Spider-Man adaptation.

• Nicole Kidman asked Aaron why he was unconcerned about Titanic’s high investment, and he explained that Dawn could absorb a failed blockbuster while 20th Century Fox would suffer more.
• Aaron and Nicole Kidman discussed Australian actors and directors, including Cate Blanchett and Baz Luhrmann, and Aaron said Dawn Universal might work more with Australian filmmakers.
• Men in Black opened in 3,030 theaters and earned 51 million US dollars in its first weekend, drawing praise for its concept, humor, action, and leads.
• Batman & Robin earned 42.8 million US dollars in its opening weekend but received overwhelmingly negative reviews for its plot, characters, performances, and tone.
• At Dawn Pictures, Aaron asked Dawn Steel about New Line’s Blade production, and she said filming had begun.
• Dawn Steel worried that Batman & Robin’s reception could undermine confidence in superhero adaptations and affect Dawn’s upcoming Spider-Man project.

Aaron planned to secure an NFL expansion team for Los Angeles and strengthened the Rockets by drafting Tracy McGrady. As he anticipated profits from the Southeast Asian currency crisis, Christiana Yeri invited him to celebrate.

• Aaron and Jack Wells discussed the Rockets' championship plans and Aaron's effort to establish an NFL team in Los Angeles, including a proposed stadium at Hollywood Park.
• Aaron and Jack agreed to use media support and behind-the-scenes pressure to win community approval for the stadium, with Aaron estimating a $750 million investment.
• Aaron attended the NFL expansion meeting in New York, where Los Angeles and Houston presented their bids for a new team.
• The Spurs drafted Tim Duncan first, and the Rockets used their ninth pick to select Tracy McGrady.
• Aaron anticipated gains from shorting Southeast Asian currencies and markets, and Christiana Yeri suggested they celebrate at a bar.

Aaron Anderson pursued plans for a new Los Angeles NFL stadium while responding to Charlize Theron’s injury by casting Jennifer Connelly in Chicago. He remained confident Los Angeles would win an NFL expansion team vote and described financing options for the stadium.

• Aaron watched the Thai Baht’s collapse and the spreading Asian financial crisis before traveling to Los Angeles to discuss a stadium with Preston Hawke.
• Aaron offered Preston Hawke help with his City Auditor campaign as Hawke prepared to seek Inglewood council support for the stadium land approval.
• The Times-Mirror Group began promoting the stadium’s benefits, while Aaron’s staff reported that Charlize Theron’s knee injury could hinder her role in Chicago.
• Aaron chose Jennifer Connelly to replace Charlize Theron in Chicago, citing her experience, profile, and potential reunion with Catherine Zeta-Jones.
• Aaron told Otis Chandler that he would build a Los Angeles stadium and outlined possible funding through bank naming rights and season-ticket sales.

Sophie Marceau visited Aaron after the premiere of Air Force One, which later opened strongly despite ordinary word of mouth. At Dawn, Aaron agreed to let M. Night Shyamalan direct The Sixth Sense and considered David Fincher’s proposal to adapt Fight Club.

• Sophie Marceau met Aaron at the Four Seasons Hotel after attending the Air Force One premiere, and they discussed the film and other actors.
• Air Force One opened in 2,920 North American theaters and earned $37.1 million in its first three days despite its blunt political message receiving ordinary word of mouth.
• Tom Rothman presented Aaron with M. Night Shyamalan’s script for The Sixth Sense, and Aaron agreed to its $3 million purchase and Shyamalan directing it.
• Aaron told Tom Rothman that David Fincher wanted to adapt Chuck Palahniuk’s novel Fight Club and said he trusted Fincher’s abilities.
• Tom Rothman agreed to begin preparations for The Sixth Sense.

Aaron discussed the Saks Fifth Avenue acquisition and his plans to invest in South Korea with Charles Johnson, then spoke with Jennifer Connelly about her role in Chicago and the success of Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element. The chapter left Aaron reflecting on Besson’s position as France’s leading commercial director.

• Aaron met Charles Johnson at a West Hollywood bar and discussed his Southeast Asian market returns.
• Charles Johnson told Aaron that Saks Fifth Avenue was willing to sell and that acquiring more than 35% of its shares could make Aaron its major shareholder.
• Aaron planned to acquire Saks Fifth Avenue early the next year and told Charles Johnson that South Korea, rather than Hong Kong, offered him an opportunity.
• Jennifer Connelly told Aaron she had read the script for Chicago and expected no problems with the dancing for her role.
• Jennifer Connelly and Aaron discussed The Fifth Element’s international success, North American reception, and Luc Besson’s relationship with Milla Jovovich.

Aaron discussed Asian action stars and upcoming film projects with Ethelind Beckett, including plans for Rush Hour 2 and Jet Li’s Hollywood prospects. He rejected DreamWorks’ Small Soldiers proposal and left Dawn’s cooperation with DreamWorks focused on animation.

• Aaron and Ethelind Beckett discussed John Travolta’s upcoming Chicago and the success of Face/Off, along with Sony’s plans for The Replacement Killers.
• Aaron planned to prepare Rush Hour 2 for release the year after next, with filming at Universal Studios Japan, while Jackie Chan was occupied with Who Am I.
• Aaron asked Ethelind Beckett about Jet Li, and she explained that Twilight Pictures had acquired Black Mask and that Jet Li might appear in Lethal Weapon 4.
• Aaron asked Ethelind Beckett to look into whether Quentin Tarantino had a Chinese kung fu project for Jet Li.
• Aaron told Ethelind Beckett to reject DreamWorks’ Small Soldiers proposal, preferring to keep Dawn’s cooperation with DreamWorks focused on animated films.

Aaron advanced plans for an Inglewood stadium while negotiating with local interests, then spent a weekend on his yacht with Charlize Theron. Charlize left to audition for Disney’s African-set remake of The Rocketeer, with Aaron offering to help if she faced trouble.

• Aaron warned R. D. Hubbard and Edward Vincent that Inglewood could lose business when the Lakers and Kings moved, and Jack Wells described efforts to win support for a new stadium.
• Aaron and Jack Wells hunted deer, then Aaron discussed clearing transients and developing nearby properties to profit from rising land prices.
• Aaron noted that Face/Off had earned $70 million and Air Force One had passed $140 million at the North American box office.
• Charlize Theron told Aaron that her leg injury was manageable and thanked him for helping her career as they spent the weekend together on his yacht.
• Charlize told Aaron she was leaving to audition for Disney’s remake of The Rocketeer, and Aaron offered his support if she encountered problems.

Aaron shifted his financial focus from Southeast Asia to South Korea, then vacationed in Italy with Monica Bellucci while discussing films and the Venice Film Festival. Meanwhile, Jack Wells rejected Bob McNair’s effort to draw Aaron into Houston’s NFL expansion bid, believing Aaron would pursue a Los Angeles team unless its stadium plan failed.

• Aaron told Edgar Owen to focus on South Korea after profiting $600 million from the Southeast Asian crisis.
• Aaron traveled to Italy with Christiana Yeri and Monica Bellucci while Mr. Bean's Big Disaster gained success overseas and Life Is Beautiful finished filming.
• Monica Bellucci discussed Life Is Beautiful and the Venice Film Festival with Aaron at his villa on Lake Como.
• Bob McNair urged Jack Wells to bring Aaron into a new Houston NFL team, offering local support and minority investment.
• Jack Wells told Bob McNair that Aaron wanted a team in his hometown of Los Angeles and later reasoned that Houston would only have a chance if Los Angeles’s stadium plan failed.

Aaron returned his attention to Hollywood, where he discussed UTA's financing innovations with Tom Rothman before agreeing to support Peter Jackson's preparations to adapt The Lord of the Rings as a trilogy. Later, Aaron reviewed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and decided to wait for its reputation to grow before bringing it to the United States.

• At the Lake Como villa, Aaron decided to return to the United States with Christiana Yeri, while Monica Bellucci stayed in Italy.
• Aaron and Tom Rothman discussed UTA's independent-film financing methods and the rising costs of Hollywood blockbusters.
• Peter Jackson pitched adapting The Lord of the Rings, and Aaron proposed making it a trilogy and offered Dawn's financial support for preliminary work.
• Aaron read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and planned to wait for its word of mouth to spread before promoting it in the United States.

Aaron watched Mr. Bean's Big Disaster with Jennifer Aniston and discussed its prospects in North America as her Friends fame and film workload grew. He urged Jennifer to rest and pursue dramatic roles to avoid being typecast, and she agreed before falling asleep.

• Aaron noted the new U.S. television ratings system and the government's economic measures amid the Asian Financial Crisis.
• Aaron and Jennifer watched Mr. Bean's Big Disaster and discussed its overseas success, mixed reviews, and likely North American box office.
• Jennifer described her busy schedule filming Friends and several movies as her popularity and fashion influence increased.
• Aaron told Jennifer that Friends had made her famous but could typecast her, and advised her to focus on dramas and rest more.
• Jennifer agreed to Aaron's advice and fell asleep in his arms.

Aaron welcomed a reduction in long-term capital gains taxes, considered Dawn’s position in television, and discussed Cate Blanchett’s growing career and plans to settle in Los Angeles. He offered Philip Anschutz help with opposition to a new Lakers arena as his own arena plans in Inglewood advanced.

• Aaron learned from Lloyd Bentsen Jr. that Congress had passed the Taxpayer Relief Act and was pleased that the long-term capital gains tax rate would fall.
• Aaron watched news of Paramount’s acquisition of most of Spelling Entertainment’s assets and reflected on Dawn’s limited television distribution network.
• Cate Blanchett told Aaron she would soon film Elizabeth in the United Kingdom, and Aaron urged her to make Los Angeles her home.
• Philip Anschutz told Aaron that the Hilton family opposed the new Lakers arena, and Aaron offered to introduce him to Otis Chandler.
• Aaron told Philip Anschutz that he was also planning to build a large arena in Inglewood.