Chapter Summaries

Aaron attended a Hollywood awards-season party, where he met French actress Sophie Marceau and learned she was in the United States promoting a French-American film. They danced and discussed the differences between French and American filmmaking, leaving Aaron interested in her while Sophie expected to return to France after the promotion ended.

• Aaron visited a theater showing Everybody's Fine and Ju Dou, then went to a celebrity party at Chateau Marmont.
• Aaron told Kevin Costner that he had bought The Silence of the Lambs, and Costner said he planned to rest before considering new projects the following year.
• Aaron recognized Sophie Marceau at the party and introduced himself, explaining that he was a film producer.
• Sophie told Aaron she was in the United States promoting Girl from Paris, a romantic comedy opening soon.
• Aaron and Sophie danced and discussed Hollywood's commercial focus and the difficulty of making films outside the mainstream.

Aaron Anderson and Sophie Marceau discussed Hollywood, European cinema, and her limited opportunities in the United States before beginning a brief affair. Sophie returned to France after Halloween, while Aaron went back to work.

• Aaron took Sophie Marceau to a beach bar near Santa Monica Pier and discussed her career and Hollywood's lack of suitable roles for her.
• Sophie told Aaron that Steven Soderbergh was preparing Kafka in France, and they discussed European film funding and production.
• Aaron and Sophie spent the night together at a Santa Monica hotel and talked about her return to France and the possibility of Aaron visiting her there.
• Sophie stayed with Aaron for less than a week, then returned to France after Halloween.
• Aaron resumed his career in Hollywood.

At the Dances with Wolves premiere, Aaron negotiated with TriStar head Mike Medavoy to distribute The Silence of the Lambs. They agreed on a 13% commission and a mid-to-late April release the following year.

• Aaron and Nicole Kidman attended the Dances with Wolves premiere, where they discussed Orion Pictures selling The Silence of the Lambs.
• Aaron met Mike Medavoy backstage and heard how The Silence of the Lambs had been developed and cast.
• Mike offered TriStar distribution at a 15% commission, but Aaron refused to accept those terms.
• Aaron proposed a 13% commission and an opening release in at least 800 theaters, and Mike agreed.
• Aaron and Mike settled on a mid-to-late April release date and shook hands on the deal.

After Dawn Pictures faced an NC–17 rating for Boyz n the Hood and a shortage of cash, Aaron secured a bank loan and arranged a three-company partnership to finance My Own Private Idaho. The film was set to begin shooting by the end of the month, while Aaron considered acquiring Legacy Entertainment’s Landmark Theatres chain.

• Aaron told John Singleton and Quentin Tarantino to re-edit Boyz n the Hood and submit it again for an R rating.
• Aaron sent Jessica Parker to borrow against The Silence of the Lambs distribution contract, then agreed to consider investing in Lori Parker’s My Own Private Idaho if River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves remained attached.
• Dawn Pictures secured a 7 million dollar loan from Salomon Brothers Investment Bank at 8.5 percent annual interest for three years.
• Aaron brought Lori Parker and Gus Van Sant together with Michael Kuhn of PolyGram and Guy Martin of Legacy Entertainment, and the companies agreed to invest 2.4 million dollars in My Own Private Idaho.
• The partners assigned Dawn Pictures production, Legacy Entertainment North American distribution, and PolyGram international distribution, and Gus Van Sant said he wanted to begin filming by month’s end.
• Aaron privately considered acquiring Legacy Entertainment and its Landmark Theatres chain to give Dawn Pictures a North American distribution outlet.

Aaron watched Panasonic acquire MCA Universal for $6.59 billion, then discussed Hollywood’s MPAA and upcoming films with industry friends. The chapter ended with Aaron spotting Warren Beatty at a bar and preparing to confront him.

• Panasonic acquired MCA Universal, and Aaron watched news coverage of the deal and its impact on Hollywood.
• Aaron, Jack Wells, and Quentin Tarantino discussed Boyz n the Hood’s repeated MPAA rejection, and Quentin said he had sold Natural Born Killers to Oliver Stone and planned to direct his own story.
• Aaron met Gus Van Sant, River Phoenix, and Keanu Reeves to discuss preparations for My Own Private Idaho, which was set to film in Portland, Idaho, and Rome.
• Aaron and the actors went to a bar, where Johnny Depp asked Aaron about Edward Scissorhands and Aaron praised his work with Tim Burton.
• River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, and Johnny Depp went to the restroom to use drugs, while Aaron declined and noticed Warren Beatty flirting with a bartender.

Aaron confronted Warren Beatty over his attacks in the press, then developed the Speed script and discussed Al Pacino’s next role. At a Panasonic reception for its MCA acquisition, Aaron and Nicole Kidman considered how the company would manage the studio.

• Aaron mocked and threatened Warren Beatty, warning him to stop provoking him and to enjoy retirement.
• Aaron told Nicholas Cage he had no intention of breaking the law, then went looking for women at the bar.
• As My Own Private Idaho began filming, Aaron registered his Speed script concept and explained its fast-paced action approach to Ethelind Beckett.
• Aaron planned to send Al Pacino the Scent of a Woman script after Christmas, expecting The Godfather Part III to affect his career prospects.
• Aaron attended Panasonic’s MCA reception with Nicole Kidman and remarked that Panasonic had retained MCA’s senior executives.

At a Hollywood reception, Aaron discussed Dawn Pictures’ plans with studio executives and drew interest from New Line’s leaders. As preparations for war against Iraq continued, Aaron and Nicole Kidman woke to nearby anti-war protesters.

• Aaron met Michael Ovitz, who praised his career and regretted that he had left CAA.
• Aaron told Sidney Ganis that Dawn Pictures might finance a roughly $60 million film itself and wanted Columbia to distribute it for no more than a 10% commission.
• Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne discussed Aaron’s upcoming films and went over to speak with him.
• Aaron woke in West Hollywood to anti-war protesters marching nearby, and Nicole joined him at the window.

Aaron bought the West Hollywood house he had been renting, discussed Quentin Tarantino’s script progress, and visited Jennifer Connelly while she filmed The Rocketeer. At a bar, Aaron interrupted Billy Campbell’s attempt to court Jennifer and made their relationship clear.

• Aaron bought the West Hollywood house he had been renting for seven hundred thousand dollars.
• Aaron praised The Killer with Quentin Tarantino and asked how his script was progressing.
• Jennifer Connelly told Aaron that The Rocketeer had fallen behind schedule and would keep her filming in Griffith Park for several more weeks.
• At a bar, Billy Campbell invited Jennifer to join his party and tried to pull her onto the dance floor.
• Aaron returned, kissed Jennifer, introduced himself to Billy, and watched Billy leave after realizing they were together.

Aaron discussed Jurassic Park and the possibility of Dawn Pictures financing Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, then tried to help John Singleton secure an R rating for Boyz n the Hood. Later, Aaron found Winona Ryder crying near a theater and accompanied her toward Johnny Depp at a bar.

• At Jennifer Connelly’s house, Aaron discussed Jurassic Park’s film adaptation and considered Dawn Pictures financing Spielberg’s Schindler’s List.
• Aaron asked Jennifer whether Billy Campbell had been pursuing her, and she said she had rejected his invitations.
• At Dawn Pictures, Aaron watched John Singleton’s revised Boyz n the Hood and offered to ask Columbia executive Sidney Ganis to press the MPAA for an R rating.
• Aaron noticed that Home Alone had passed $100 million in North American box office and that Edward Scissorhands had opened to strong reviews.
• Near the Fountain Theatre, Aaron found Winona Ryder crying, steadied her, and offered to take her to the bar where Johnny Depp was waiting.

Aaron returned Winona Ryder to Johnny Depp, then celebrated Boyz n the Hood receiving an R rating and planned ways to promote it despite some theaters refusing to screen it. He directed Dawn Pictures to hire marketing staff as Orion Pictures’ financial troubles eased but remained uncertain.

• Aaron brought Winona Ryder to Johnny Depp, who explained that press attention had worsened her emotional distress and thanked Aaron for finding her.
• Aaron declined Johnny Depp’s invitation to drink and left, keeping his distance from the musicians’ private lives.
• John Singleton told Aaron that Boyz n the Hood had secured an R-rated release, but some theaters were refusing to screen it over concerns about violence.
• Aaron asked his team to develop promotional strategies, and they discussed targeting Black and other minority communities and featuring Ice Cube.
• Aaron arranged for the cast to appear on BET and told Ethelind Beckett to recruit marketing staff, including former Orion Pictures employees.
• Aaron considered Orion Pictures’ prospects, noting that Dances with Wolves’ box office success might delay its bankruptcy while The Silence of the Lambs had gone to Dawn Pictures.

Aaron Anderson followed the Golden Globe nominations and watched Will Smith perform before discussing The Godfather Part III’s disappointing reception with Jack Wells. The chapter left Aaron preparing to meet Al Pacino the following night.

• Aaron Anderson reviewed the Golden Globe nominations, noting Dances with Wolves and Kathy Bates’s nominations and the competition Boyz n the Hood would face from Warner Bros.’ New York gang film.
• Aaron Anderson and Jennifer Connelly watched DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince perform, and Jennifer told him Will Smith faced financial trouble while preparing for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
• Aaron Anderson and Jennifer Connelly watched The Godfather Part III’s premiere, and Aaron criticized the film’s story and Sofia Coppola’s performance.
• The Godfather Part III opened to $6.38 million and mixed reviews, and Aaron told Jack Wells that it was still a decent film despite falling short of its predecessors.
• Jack Wells reminded Aaron Anderson that he had arranged a meeting with Al Pacino for the following night, and Aaron agreed to attend.

Aaron nearly hit Salma Hayek when she ran into the road, then met Al Pacino at the Beverly Hills Hotel to discuss adapting Scent of a Woman. After learning Aaron’s Lotus had been damaged, Salma offered him a ride home to Burbank.

• Aaron swerved to avoid Salma Hayek, confronted her, and had her drive him to the Beverly Hills Hotel.
• Salma followed Aaron into the hotel and watched him give Al Pacino the Scent of a Woman screenplay.
• Aaron and Al Pacino discussed adapting the film, with Aaron planning to emphasize the relationship between the blind officer and the shy student.
• Jack Wells told Aaron his car was damaged, and Salma offered to drive him home.
• Aaron agreed to ride with Salma to Burbank after she remarked on the cost of his suit and Lotus.

Aaron met aspiring actress Salma Hayek and later spent time with Jennifer Connelly before attending a New Year’s Eve ball with Nicole Kidman. Nicole told him she had a chance to audition for a Tom Cruise film, and Aaron encouraged her to try.

• Salma Hayek gave Aaron Anderson her business card, and he promised to contact her if a suitable role came up.
• Aaron visited Jennifer Connelly, discussed Europe’s film markets with her, and spent the evening with her.
• At a New Year’s Eve ball, Nicole Kidman told Aaron that she could audition for Ron Howard’s romantic Western adventure starring Tom Cruise.
• Nicole worried about the role and her chances, but Aaron encouraged her to audition, and she agreed.

Aaron oversaw publicity preparations at the renovated Angel Theater and heard Quentin Tarantino pitch a crime film called Reservoir Dogs. Later, he met Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix, whose marijuana use reminded him of his resistance to drugs.

• Aaron and Jack Wells discussed the Gulf War protests before visiting the renovated Angel Theater.
• Aaron told Jack to prepare gifts for critics and arrange expressive audience members for Boyz n the Hood's preview screening.
• Quentin Tarantino pitched his unfinished crime script, and Aaron approved a $100,000 advance so he could complete Reservoir Dogs.
• Aaron met Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix, who said My Own Private Idaho would continue filming in Italy and Idaho.
• Aaron left the bar after noticing River Phoenix's marijuana and washed his face while Keanu and River wondered why he disliked the drug.

Aaron discussed the Golden Globe winners and Nicole Kidman's career prospects before attending PolyGram's party celebrating its new Los Angeles office. He learned that PolyGram was moving into independent film production in the United States and wondered whether the company could break through in Hollywood.

• Aaron watched the Golden Globe Awards with Nicole Kidman and noted that Dances with Wolves and Kathy Bates's win could benefit Ghost.
• Nicole Kidman told Aaron she had failed to reach the final auditions for Far and Away because of her height, and Aaron reassured her that Ghost would bring her more roles.
• Aaron rejected Poison as too controversial and commercially unappealing for Dawn Pictures, which was already working with new directors.
• Dances with Wolves continued winning critics' and guild awards as the Oscars approached.
• At PolyGram's party, Michael Kuhn introduced Paul Webster to Aaron Anderson and explained that PolyGram was establishing a Los Angeles office to develop American films.
• Aaron learned that Paul Webster was preparing Bob Roberts and wondered whether PolyGram intended to make a breakthrough in Hollywood.

Aaron met Salma Hayek again, and the two grew closer after he spoke frankly about the difficulties of making it in Hollywood. They spent the night together, and Aaron encouraged her dream of playing Mexican painter Frida Kahlo in a biographical film.

• Aaron encountered Salma Hayek at Chateau Marmont, and she invited him to a bar to apologize for her car trouble.
• Salma told Aaron that she had faced harassment in Hollywood and explained her acting background in Mexico.
• Aaron and Salma danced, kissed, and went to The Marquis Hotel West Hollywood together.
• The next morning, Salma told Aaron she dreamed of portraying Frida Kahlo, and he said the project could be made with a good script and funding.

Aaron expanded Dawn Pictures’ plans by hiring Brad Grey, ordering the company to acquire Forrest Gump’s film rights, and considering a romance script from Gary Foster. While discussing The Silence of the Lambs with Jonathan Demme, he learned that Orion Pictures was negotiating to sell The Addams Family to Paramount.

• Aaron hired Brad Grey to lead Dawn Pictures’ marketing and coordinate upcoming releases.
• Aaron told Ethelind Beckett to have the production department buy the film adaptation rights to Forrest Gump.
• Aaron discussed The Silence of the Lambs with Jonathan Demme, who told him Orion Pictures was negotiating to sell The Addams Family’s North American distribution and production rights to Paramount.
• Aaron met producer Gary Foster, who offered him a romance script that TriStar Pictures had struggled to develop.
• Aaron asked Gary Foster to send the script to Dawn Pictures for him to review.

Aaron considered animation’s profitability and arranged for Dawn Pictures to develop Sleepless in Seattle, while discussing its production plans with Nicole Kidman. The chapter left the film’s director and male lead undecided as Aaron turned down Nicole’s suggestion that he act in it.

• Aaron read that The Little Mermaid had sold nine million videotapes and concluded Dawn should focus on 3D animation rather than compete with Disney in hand-drawn animation.
• Ethelind Beckett brought Aaron the Sleepless in Seattle screenplay, and he told her to have Brad negotiate to buy it from TriStar while leaving distribution to TriStar.
• Aaron asked about Hook’s delayed production and learned that Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts were causing problems on set.
• Aaron discussed the Berlin Film Festival, the Gulf War, and CNN’s live coverage with Nicole Kidman.
• Aaron told Nicole that Dawn planned to develop Sleepless in Seattle, spend $20 million on it, and seek a new screenwriter and director; he said the male lead had not yet been chosen.
• Nicole suggested Aaron try acting, but he rejected the idea.

Nora Ephron agreed to adapt “Sleepless in Seattle,” with a chance to direct it as her debut. Aaron watched “Boyz n the Hood” succeed amid the Rodney King protests and looked ahead to “The Silence of the Lambs” as his next major release.

• Nora Ephron offered to adapt “Sleepless in Seattle” in five to seven weeks, and Aaron said she could direct it if her plan impressed them.
• “Boyz n the Hood” opened in 829 theaters after more than twenty theaters canceled screenings, and Aaron suspected its competitor “New Jack City” was behind the last-minute disruption.
• Aaron connected the film’s release to the protests over Rodney King’s beating and told Jack Wells to guard Angel Theater against trouble.
• “Boyz n the Hood” earned $10.2 million in its opening weekend and $22.5 million over ten days, while “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze” debuted with $20.3 million.
• Aaron and Jennifer Connelly watched the Academy Awards together, and Aaron said he expected “The Silence of the Lambs” to exceed $100 million in North America.

After the Oscars boosted Kevin Costner and Dances with Wolves, Columbia Pictures sought to strengthen its partnership with Aaron and promote Ghost. Meanwhile, Boyz n the Hood continued succeeding at the box office despite criticism, and Jack Wells and John Singleton discussed Warren Beatty’s attack on the film.

• Sidney Ganis praised Kevin Costner’s Oscar success and Boyz n the Hood’s $25 million gross, then considered increasing Ghost’s marketing and pursuing a closer partnership with Aaron.
• Aaron agreed with Sidney Ganis to have the Ghost cast support publicity and arrange Kevin Costner’s schedule.
• Aaron and Jennifer Connelly discussed Dances with Wolves, Home Alone, and the role she had turned down in Some Kind of Wonderful before kissing.
• John Singleton showed Jack Wells an audience survey and an article in which Warren Beatty criticized Boyz n the Hood.
• Jack Wells reassured John Singleton that most reactions to Boyz n the Hood were positive and complained that Warren Beatty kept attacking Aaron.