Chapter Summaries

Aaron urged MPAA chairman Jack Valenti to keep pressuring South Korea over its film quota system, warning that its government-backed cultural industry could become a major competitor. At Disney, Michael Eisner moved to replace Miramax’s Weinstein brothers and disparaged Robert Iger as a potential successor, leaving Iger facing a choice between Eisner’s support and leaving the company.

• Aaron met Jack Valenti in Beverly Hills and proposed using WTO trade pressure to push South Korea to reduce its film quota, while warning that its cultural exports could become formidable.
• Michael Eisner condemned Miramax’s production of “Dogma,” rejected its distribution through Disney, and ordered Joe Roth to find replacements for the Weinstein brothers.
• Tom Murphy told Robert Iger that Disney’s board had discussed building Disneyland in Hong Kong and that Iger’s name had come up as a possible successor to Eisner.
• Tom Murphy said Eisner had listed Iger’s shortcomings to the board and declared that Iger could never succeed him, then advised Iger to consider leaving Disney.

Aaron discussed the new NBA collective bargaining agreement, Michael Jordan’s bid for control of the Bulls, and Jennifer Connelly’s awards prospects. In February, Nicole Kidman pitched Dawn Pictures a script based on Erin Brockovich’s lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric.

• Aaron reviewed the new collective bargaining agreement with Jennifer Connelly and dismissed Dennis Rodman as a troublesome free agent.
• Aaron explained that Michael Jordan wanted management control of the Bulls, which Jerry Reinsdorf had not granted.
• Jennifer Connelly told Aaron that Chicago had earned eight Golden Globe nominations and twelve BAFTA nominations, and Aaron predicted she might receive an Oscar nomination.
• Nicole Kidman visited Aaron at Dawn Pictures and asked whether the company would be interested in adapting a script about Erin Brockovich’s lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric.

Aaron discussed Nicole Kidman's upcoming film Erin Brockovich, then attended an Oscars nominees party where he congratulated Cate Blanchett and spoke with Jeffrey Katzenberg about DreamWorks Animation. DreamWorks Animation was preparing two releases for the following year, while Aaron continued to see it as a complement to Pixar.

• Aaron and Nicole Kidman discussed Erin Brockovich, and Nicole said she would spend time with Erin Brockovich to prepare for the role.
• The Senate acquitted Bill Clinton after neither impeachment charge received the required two-thirds support.
• The 71st Academy Award nominations were announced, with Chicago receiving twelve nominations and Saving Private Ryan receiving eleven.
• Aaron congratulated Cate Blanchett at a party after Elizabeth received Best Picture and Best Actress Oscar nominations.
• Aaron and Jeffrey Katzenberg discussed Saving Private Ryan's success and DreamWorks Animation's upcoming releases, The Road to El Dorado and Chicken Run.

Aaron discussed animated sequels and upcoming films with Jeffrey Katzenberg and Quentin Tarantino, then spent the night with Cate Blanchett, who was preparing to film in New Zealand. The next morning, Aaron learned that a welder had died in an accident on the Spider-Man set and ordered the company to keep filming on schedule.

• Aaron told Jeffrey Katzenberg that animated movies could have sequels and later urged Quentin Tarantino to watch the Japanese horror film The Ring.
• Aaron and Cate Blanchett discussed her cameo as the Elf Queen in The Lord of the Rings and her plans to perform in Australian theatre.
• Aaron told Cate Blanchett that MGM was promoting Elizabeth heavily ahead of the Oscars.
• Aaron received a call from Ethelind Beckett reporting that a welder had died after falling on the Spider-Man set.
• Aaron ordered the public relations and legal departments to handle the accident and said it must not delay filming.

Aaron pursued Dawn’s bid for CBS, planning to use cash, political support, and Dawn’s America Online stake to outmaneuver Viacom. He also asked the Los Angeles Times’ chairman to publish impartial coverage of the Spider-Man set accident while promising publicity for Chicago.

• Aaron reviewed CBS Group’s operations with Charles Johnson and discussed a bid for CBS Broadcasting Network, which Johnson valued at no less than $33 billion including debt.
• Aaron said he would seek political support in Washington and told Johnson to negotiate with Westinghouse Electric before its May 1 bidding deadline, using Dawn’s 10% stake in America Online as a bargaining chip.
• Aaron attended a reception hosted by California governor Gray Davis and learned from Otis Chandler that Tribune Company was interested in acquiring Times-Mirror Group.
• Aaron asked Otis Chandler to publish impartial articles about the fatal Spider-Man set accident, and Otis agreed while Aaron offered continued Los Angeles Times publicity for Chicago.
• Chicago won the Producers Guild Award while Saving Private Ryan won the Directors Guild Award, intensifying their Oscar competition.

Aaron sought Yeshayahu Weinberg’s help lobbying Congress for government approval of Dawn’s bid for CBS, then traveled to New York as the Kosovo conflict threatened to draw NATO into war. He left the story advising Christiana Yeri and Monica Bellucci to bet on the Euro falling.

• Aaron met with Yeshayahu Weinberg and asked him to help secure congressional support for Dawn’s acquisition of CBS; Weinberg agreed to introduce him to officials and congressmen.
• Aaron learned that the Venetian Resort Hotel would open in early May and accepted Sheldon Adelson’s invitation to attend its opening.
• Christiana Yeri told Aaron that Victoria’s Secret Angels Agency was busy and expanding its work with his Saks Fifth Avenue stores.
• Aaron traveled to East Hampton with Christiana Yeri and Monica Bellucci and predicted that NATO would soon go to war in the Balkans.
• Christiana Yeri and Monica Bellucci discussed the falling Euro, and Aaron urged them to bet on it declining further.

Sumner Redstone sought Herbert Allen Jr.'s help financing Viacom's bid for CBS, while Aaron discussed Universal's monster-movie slate and Dawn's quality-first approach with Kate Beckinsale. The chapter left Dawn focused on high-budget commercial films and Aaron reluctant to invest in war movies like “U-571.”

• Sumner Redstone asked Herbert Allen Jr. to help Viacom secure financing for its acquisition of CBS, but Allen said he needed to discuss it with his firm.
• Stanley Kubrick died of heart disease shortly after delivering the edited “Eyes Wide Shut” to Warner Bros.
• Kate Beckinsale told Aaron that “The Mummy Returns” crew was ready to film in Morocco, with Dwayne Johnson joining the returning cast as the Scorpion King.
• Aaron explained that Sony's “The Invisible Man” was unrelated to Universal's classic film and said he was not interested in New Line's “Dracula 2000” project.
• Aaron described how Dawn divided projects among Universal, Dawn Production Studio, Marvel Studios, Crescent Moon Pictures, and Twilight Pictures.
• Aaron rejected a submitted war-film project, “U-571,” saying he rarely invested in war movies because few succeeded at the box office.

Aaron considered the risks of exploiting a small film’s viral success, reviewed new projects and production updates, and worried about free music downloads hurting record sales. He planned to develop an Underworld script for Kate Beckinsale as she prepared to leave for The Mummy Returns.

• Aaron read about Stanley Kubrick’s death and noticed The Blair Witch Project’s viral marketing, but decided Dawn could not risk its reputation for a low-budget windfall.
• Ethelind Beckett presented Robert Zemeckis’s What Lies Beneath, and Aaron suggested Jodie Foster for the female lead before learning she was filming Anna and the King.
• Aaron checked on Erin Brockovich and Spider-Man, and Ethelind Beckett reported that Erin Brockovich was preparing to film and the Spider-Man accident had been settled.
• Aaron and Kate Beckinsale discussed free music downloads and the decline of record sales, and Kate said she was heading to Morocco to film The Mummy Returns.
• Aaron imagined Kate Beckinsale starring in a future Underworld series and planned to have the script written after Dawn missed out on the Resident Evil adaptation rights.

Aaron attended the opening of Saks Fifth Avenue’s first overseas store in Toronto and discussed its planned expansion and IPO. After NATO began airstrikes on Yugoslavia, he returned to Los Angeles, where ‘Chicago’ won Best Picture at the Academy Awards and Catherine Zeta-Jones celebrated her first Oscar.

• Aaron attended the opening of Saks Fifth Avenue’s Toronto store and told Kate Beckinsale he planned to expand the chain internationally before taking it public.
• Aaron and Kate Beckinsale discussed the Academy Awards and the prospects of ‘Chicago’ before Aaron returned to Los Angeles.
• After NATO Secretary General Solana announced airstrikes on Yugoslavia, Aaron and Jack Wells discussed the war, plans to move AMC and Starz! headquarters to Houston, and Stanley Kubrick’s death.
• At the 71st Academy Awards, ‘Chicago’ won Best Picture, ‘Saving Private Ryan’ won Best Director, and Roberto Benigni won Best Actor for ‘Life Is Beautiful.’
• At the Vanity Fair celebration dinner, Aaron congratulated Rob Marshall and celebrated with Catherine Zeta-Jones, who had won Best Supporting Actress for ‘Chicago.’

After the Oscars, Aaron declined Lee Mi-kyung’s request for Dawn Universal to partner with CJ Entertainment, directing her toward Crescent Moon Pictures instead. The chapter ended with The Matrix’s strong opening and critical acclaim, though reviewers criticized its violence and formulaic plot.

• Aaron consoled Jennifer Connelly after she lost the Best Actress Oscar, and they praised Cate Blanchett’s performance in Elizabeth.
• Lee Mi-kyung asked Aaron to partner with CJ Entertainment on South Korean films, but Aaron referred her to Crescent Moon Pictures.
• Aaron told Dawn Steel that South Korea’s filmmakers had stopped the government from reducing the domestic film quota through protests and shaved-head demonstrations.
• Aaron suggested Crescent Moon Pictures consider CJ Entertainment as an investor for projects struggling to find funding, while explaining that DreamWorks focused on commercial films.
• The Matrix opened with $27.6 million in three days and earned broad critical praise for its visuals, action, ideas, and direction, alongside some criticism of its violence and formulaic plotting.

Aaron discussed The Matrix’s box-office success and Dawn’s bid for CBS before talking with Jennifer Connelly about the effects of the Kosovo war on Europe’s markets and the risks of tech stocks. At his Malibu estate, he reunited with Catherine Zeta-Jones and discussed her career and the growing presence of British actors in Hollywood.

• Aaron and Tom Rothman discussed The Matrix’s strong opening and Westinghouse Electric’s continuing negotiations over Dawn’s offer for CBS.
• Aaron explained to Jennifer Connelly that the NATO airstrikes on Yugoslavia could weaken the Euro and burden Europe’s economy, and advised her to sell her internet stocks before year’s end.
• Jennifer went to shower, and Catherine Zeta-Jones joined Aaron at the Malibu estate.
• Aaron asked Catherine about her acting prospects, and she said her agent was reviewing scripts and that she planned to film commercials in the United Kingdom.
• Aaron told Catherine that British actors, including James McAvoy, were poised for greater success in Hollywood.

Aaron weighed the value of Dawn’s proposed acquisition of CBS Television Group against Westinghouse Electric’s demands, while learning about the success of Drew Barrymore’s first film as a producer. The chapter ended with Aaron considering whether Drew could direct Charlie’s Angels.

• Aaron explained why Dawn favored international actors, noting their lower salaries and the cost advantages of casting James McAvoy in Spider-Man sequels.
• Aaron met Michael H. Jordan to discuss acquiring CBS Television Group, but they disagreed over the amount of Dawn stock Westinghouse wanted.
• At a Manhattan party, Aaron ran into Liv Tyler, and they left together after spotting The Matrix directors Larry Wachowski and Andy Wachowski.
• Aaron asked Liv about Girl, Interrupted’s editing, and she told him that Drew Barrymore’s Never Been Kissed had opened with 12 million US dollars.
• Aaron considered giving Drew Barrymore the chance to make Charlie’s Angels, whose film rights Dawn owned.

Aaron discussed casting Liv Tyler in Dawn Universal’s planned adaptation of "Charlie’s Angels" and asked Dawn Steel to begin preparations. He also received an invitation to a Shanghai business forum and visited Sophie Marceau, who discussed her upcoming film with Mel Gibson.

• Aaron encouraged Liv Tyler to take a role in "Charlie’s Angels," and she eagerly agreed.
• Aaron received Time Warner’s invitation to the Fortune Global Forum Shanghai Conference in September.
• Aaron told Dawn Steel to develop "Charlie’s Angels," naming Drew Barrymore and Liv Tyler as Angels and requesting an Asian actress for the third role.
• Aaron visited Sophie Marceau at her new villa in Great Neck and urged her to choose French film projects carefully.
• Sophie Marceau told Aaron she had accepted a Paramount romance film, "What Women Want," starring Mel Gibson.

Aaron discussed Sophie Marceau’s upcoming film while Fight Club opened to weak box office returns and divided critics. As Dawn’s negotiations to acquire CBS Television Group remained unresolved, Aaron worried that Fight Club would lose money theatrically but might recover through home video.

• Aaron spoke with Sophie Marceau about Mel Gibson’s filming schedule and the planned production of What Women Want, then kissed her at her villa.
• David Fincher’s Fight Club premiered and earned $11 million in its opening weekend, drawing sharply mixed reviews.
• Tom Rothman and Charles Johnson discussed Westinghouse Electric’s ongoing negotiations over Dawn’s offer to acquire CBS Television Group.
• Aaron learned that Fight Club’s box office had fallen to $6.5 million in its second week and considered whether later VHS and DVD sales could recoup its $65 million budget.
• Aaron anticipated a busy summer slate that included Dawn’s The Sixth Sense, Entrapment, and Toy Story 2, alongside films from other studios.

Aaron expected Dawn to acquire CBS and transform the company into a major media power. Westinghouse Electric and Dawn announced a deal that would give Dawn CBS’s radio and television networks in exchange for shares.

• Aaron discussed Zhang Yimou’s withdrawal from the Cannes Film Festival with Sophie Marceau and criticized the festival’s response to a scene in Not One Less.
• Aaron told Sophie Marceau that he expected Dawn’s acquisition of CBS to give the company a powerful publicity channel and make him influential in American media.
• Sumner Redstone learned that Westinghouse Electric had rejected Viacom’s merger proposal and instructed Philippe Dauman to meet with Sherry Lansing and strengthen Paramount’s cooperation with DreamWorks.
• Aaron Anderson and Michael H. Jordan announced that Dawn would acquire Westinghouse Electric’s CBS Radio and Television Network Group for 10% of America Online’s shares and 10% of Dawn’s shares.
• Dawn and Westinghouse Electric shares rose after the announcement, and the completed deal was expected to create a media group worth over 70 billion US dollars.

At a reception celebrating Dawn’s acquisition of CBS, Aaron reflected on his growing media empire and discussed America Online and CBS’s integration with powerful industry figures. He left determined to expand beyond Hollywood and build an even broader media conglomerate.

• Sophie Marceau helped Aaron prepare for Dawn’s CBS acquisition reception, and Aaron admitted he felt less excited than he expected.
• Aaron spoke with Gerald Levin about America Online’s possible acquisition of Time Warner and revealed that Dawn had traded its ten-percent stake for CBS.
• Michael H. Jordan relayed Richard Mellon Scaife’s advice that Aaron should integrate Dawn and CBS gradually before making changes to the news division.
• Aaron said he would not let CBS News be hollowed out and considered further expansion into cable and satellite television businesses.
• Jack Wells congratulated Aaron on achieving his dream, and Aaron said Hollywood was only one part of a larger media conglomerate.

Aaron attended the Venetian Resort Hotel opening in Las Vegas, discussed the casino business with Sheldon Adelson, and relaxed with Sophie Marceau. After a U.S. bombing destroyed the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, Aaron spoke with John Podesta about the incident and agreed to travel to Washington for support on publicity.

• Aaron visited the Venetian Resort Hotel opening with Sophie Marceau and told Sheldon Adelson that the Sands Group should expand to compete with Kirk Kerkorian.
• Aaron and Sophie stayed at the Venetian, where Aaron said Dawn would take time to integrate CBS and planned to begin with its television content.
• A U.S. B-2 bomber struck the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, killing three Chinese journalists and injuring more than twenty diplomatic personnel.
• Aaron questioned John Podesta about whether the bombing was meant to draw China into the war, and Podesta asked him to come to Washington as anti-war sentiment rose.
• Aaron agreed to go to Washington, then prepared to leave Las Vegas as Sophie headed to Paris for the Cannes International Film Festival.

After returning to Los Angeles, Aaron reviewed Dawn’s film, television, and music successes and made plans for new projects. He celebrated Britney Spears’s debut album before noticing Chinese American residents protesting NATO’s killings in Yugoslavia.

• Aaron and Dawn Steel discussed The Sixth Sense’s strong box office, Fight Club’s poor performance, and Never Been Kissed’s success.
• Aaron selected Kelly Hu for Charlie’s Angels and told Dawn Steel to pursue cooperation with German investors for the film.
• Aaron instructed Everett Fleck to begin producing Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and approved CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, while learning The Sopranos had earned a second-season order.
• Aaron celebrated Britney Spears selling over two million copies of My First Confession of Love as she discussed her next album and a North American tour.
• Aaron saw Chinese American residents marching in protest and told Britney Spears that NATO soldiers had killed more people in Yugoslavia before offering to take her elsewhere to celebrate.

Aaron supported Britney Spears as her music career took off, while Universal Pictures planned future sequels and sought a Las Vegas casino film. The chapter left Dawn Steel looking for a suitable casino story as the studio prepared projects for the coming years.

• Aaron watched Britney Spears perform, praised her talent, and promised to build a professional team to guide her career.
• Aaron and Britney Spears spent the night together, and he predicted she could become America’s next pop queen.
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace opened in North America with a $105 million first weekend, despite largely negative reviews.
• Aaron told Dawn Steel to proceed with Jurassic Park 3, emphasizing the dinosaurs and the return of Sam Neill and Laura Dern.
• Dawn Steel said Men in Black 2 faced scheduling problems with Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, so Aaron scheduled it for release the year after next.
• Aaron asked Dawn Steel to find a script about Las Vegas casinos, and she assured him she would find a suitable story.

Aaron met Charlize Theron after speaking with Dawn Steel, discussed her work and the success of Titanic, then went with her to her villa. The chapter ended with Aaron and Charlize kissing after she told him she had acquired American citizenship while retaining her South African citizenship.

• Aaron met Charlize Theron at a bar and asked about her role in The Cider House Rules and her experience filming Spider-Man.
• Aaron and Charlize left the bar after seeing Leonardo DiCaprio arrive, and Aaron discussed The Beach, American Psycho, and Leonardo’s career with her in the car.
• Aaron reflected on Titanic’s record-breaking box office and how its earnings were divided among the studios and filmmakers.
• At Charlize Theron’s villa, she told Aaron she had acquired American citizenship while keeping her South African citizenship, and they kissed.