Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 23 Warren Beatty
In the busy summer season, several major Hollywood film studios are showing off their talents and competing with each other.

But, the big news in Hollywood right now is that Japanese electronics giant Sony is acquiring Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group;
And a three-way brawl between Time Inc., Warner Communications and Paramount's parent company Gulf & Western Industries!

Time Inc., which owns Time Cable, Time Magazine, HBO Pay TV and other assets, and Warner Communications Group, which owns Warner Bros. Entertainment, Warner Cable, Warner Music and Warner Publishing, have been negotiating for nearly two years;

When Time Inc. and Warner Communications announced that they were about to complete their merger, Gulf & Western Industries (Paramount's parent company) suddenly launched a hostile takeover of Time Inc.!
HBO, owned by Time, was the first company in the United States to transmit television signals via satellite and is famous for its high-quality dramas.

Aaron is no stranger to HBO. This profit model of completely abandoning the advertising business and charging subscribers is definitely an innovation.

At CAA headquarters, Aaron was talking on the phone with Nicole Kidman in his office. They would go to the set of "Wild at Heart" in New York together to meet with the film's director David Lynch!

"Keep a good attitude, it's not a big problem. The investors of Wild at Heart are mainly from Europe, including France's Canal+ TV station;"

"I've dealt with them before when I was in Cannes and we have a pretty good relationship. I can just talk to David Lynch when the time comes."

Aaron had previously recommended the television rights of "Sex, Lies and Videotape" and "Cinema Paradiso" to Canal+.

“Also, the main investor in Wild at Heart is PolyGram of the UK, which has just recently entered the film industry;”

“I am more attractive to them!”

Because Michael Kuhn, who is in charge of PolyGram's film business, has contacted me and entrusted me to help find a cooperative North American distributor for "Wild at Heart".

Everyone knows that American films are exclusive and it is difficult for foreign film companies to distribute their films in the United States. PolyGram has a strong international record distribution market, but it is still a newcomer in the film industry.
Therefore, PolyGram's works must be mainly low-cost independent films, which require the cooperation of distributors in North America.

Aaron's film "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" won the Cannes Palme d'Or, and this title is his biggest support now;

By August, if "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" performs well again, Aaron's name will be even more famous.

On the other side, Michael Ovitz had just finished a long-distance call with the Japanese side, and soon, his assistant Susan Miller brought Warren Beatty into the office.

"Good afternoon, Michael!"

"Good afternoon, Warren, take a seat," Michael Ovitz said, inviting him to sit down. "Susan, bring in two cups of coffee."

Warren Beatty sat down on the sofa, "I want to talk about Al's involvement in the Dick Tracy project;"

"Why would he turn down this blockbuster movie to be in a stupid romance?"

Michael Ovitz clicked his eyes and said, "We should respect his choice. Al is mainly preparing for the upcoming "The Godfather Part III";"

"'Dick Tracy' has you, Dustin Hoffman, and Madonna Ciccone in it, so the attention is already high enough!"

"I heard that a young agent from CAA played a significant role in this."

"Warren, this is all business..."

In the afternoon, Aaron just arrived at the CAA lobby and was about to leave the company.

"Are you Aaron Anderson?"

Warren Beatty walked towards the young man in front of him under the guidance of his assistant. Aaron turned around and was very displeased with the other person's eyes and tone. "Yes, it's me. What's the matter?"

"Young man, Hollywood is not as simple as it seems. You must have awe," Warren Beatty looked at Aaron and reminded him.

52-year-old Warren Beatty won the Oscar for Best Director in the early s, but has not produced many works in recent years;
Just two years ago, he directed and starred in a terrible movie "The Lost Tomb" together with Dustin Hoffman and French actress Isabelle Adjani!
Aaron smiled. Warren Beatty had been involved in countless scandals, mostly romantic affairs. A few years ago, the threesome scandal with Isabelle Adjani was also exposed.

"Awe? And then?"

To Aaron, Warren Beatty is just an outdated old star. If you were as good as Clint Eastwood, Aaron would indeed have some concerns!

"I heard you think Dick Tracy is a bad movie?"

Aaron sighed, "Is it because Al Pacino took on 'Pretty Woman'?"

"That was the idea of Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, and the director is also optimistic about Mr. Pacino;"

"One is the lead actor, the other is the third male role, and Mr. Pacino will choose it himself!"

"Boy, Hollywood looks at resources. You will be unable to make any progress like this. Do you believe that you will not be able to sign a single star in the future?" Warren Beatty said with a smile.

Aaron noticed that there seemed to be a lot of people around watching the show, and the CAA executives didn’t show up to help out.

"It depends on the resources, but also on the ability. Hollywood today is not what it used to be," Aaron stretched.

"I can't sign a celebrity?"

"Haha," Aaron laughed and moved closer to the other person. "It's been almost ten years, and director Warren Beatty, who directed and starred in a terrible movie, is going to ban me?"

Warren Beatty's face turned pale, and he was determined to make him pay.

"Didn't you just ask me what I thought of Dick Tracy?"

As he spoke, Aaron took a few steps back, looked at the crowd around him, and said loudly: "Everyone, please bear witness here that I am optimistic about "Pretty Woman" to be released next year;"

"Mr. Warren Beatty's 'Dick Tracy' will compete with this film at the box office, but I respect the old timers;"

"If the box office of 'Dick Tracy' released next year can reach half of 'Pretty Woman', even if I lose, I will leave CAA and no longer be involved in the entertainment agency business;"

"If I win, forget it. If I win, you have no right to talk to me!"

Aaron's earth-shattering act shocked everyone present. A new agent and a veteran Hollywood star were going to fight like this?
"Pretty Woman" and "Dick Tracy" were both produced by CAA for Disney, but one was favored by Jeffrey Katzenberg and the other by Michael Eisner;

But the investment in "Pretty Woman" was only a little bit, while "Dick Tracy" was a star-studded blockbuster.
Michael Ovitz upstairs saw this and did not stop it, because it would greatly promote both films;

Michael Ovitz doesn't care what the outcome of the two people who made the bet will be. One is a newcomer, and the other is an outdated veteran star. It doesn't matter to CAA!

(End of this chapter)