Chapter 310
"Looks like you think very highly of that director?"
After leaving the bar, Sophie Marceau linked arms with Aaron as they talked about Frank Darabont.
Another newcomer who had clearly caught Aaron's attention.
Aaron smiled and squeezed her hand lightly.
"When you get the chance, watch The Shawshank Redemption."
"You'll realize it's an exceptionally rare kind of masterpiece."
In the future, Frank Darabont would go on to achieve major success with several other adaptations of Stephen King's novels.
He would even create the hugely popular TV phenomenon The Walking Dead.
Sophie nodded before leaning over to kiss Aaron lightly.
"Your instincts are never wrong."
Not long afterward, the two arrived at Aaron's apartment near the Hudson River, close to the High Line Park area.
"Mmm…"
Inside the bedroom, Aaron Anderson lay over Sophie Marceau, savoring the softness and warmth of her alluring body.
Sophie wrapped her arms tightly around him, her breathing uneven as she whispered passionately:
"I received a script recently."
"It's a project from the Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni."
"It's adapted from his own earlier short story collection, Bowling on the Tiber River."
"A literary film made up of several interconnected stories."
"Mhm." Aaron lifted his head slightly. "You're thinking about returning to Europe to film again?"
Sophie traced her fingers along Aaron's back and sighed softly.
"It's an erotic arthouse film."
"My agent doesn't want me to take it."
"He says my career in Hollywood is finally gaining momentum."
"If I star in a movie like that now, it could damage my image in Hollywood."
"They'd start labeling me as just another sex symbol actress."
Before coming to Hollywood, Sophie Marceau had already appeared in several bold, provocative films in France.
But after following Aaron's advice and gradually reshaping her image to align more with mainstream Hollywood expectations, her career trajectory had changed dramatically.
Over the past few years, films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Fanfan, and Clear and Present Danger had helped establish Sophie Marceau as one of the most recognizable European actresses working in Hollywood.
That was exactly why the script she recently received from Michelangelo Antonioni for Beyond the Clouds had left her feeling deeply conflicted.
Aaron rolled over onto his back and let out a slow breath.
"Your agent's right."
"You're no longer short on scripts now. There's really no need to take a risk like that."
"And besides, next year your epic war film Braveheart with Mel Gibson will be released."
"When that happens, your fame and status will rise to another level entirely."
At the moment, Mel Gibson was unquestionably one of Hollywood's biggest superstars, on the same tier as names like Kevin Costner.
Even this year's western action-comedy Maverick, starring Mel Gibson alongside Jodie Foster, had earned over $100 million domestically and another $80 million overseas, bringing its global total to roughly $180 million.
"So you think that too?"
Sophie nestled against Aaron's chest, her soft curves pressed warmly against him.
"Have my films become too commercial lately?"
Aaron chuckled.
"Come on. Four Weddings and a Funeral was critically acclaimed too."
"Well… alright then."
Since even Aaron Anderson thought so, Sophie finally abandoned the idea of returning to Europe for the project.
Aaron smiled faintly and gently caressed her chest.
"To be honest, I'm selfish too."
"You're my woman. Watching you go film those erotic art movies feels like a waste."
"And with several interconnected stories, it's not even really a true leading role, is it?"
Sophie shot him an amused glare, half laughing and half exasperated.
"Movies are art, you know."
"You're a Hollywood , yet you still think like this?"
Aaron shrugged casually.
"The reputation of a sex symbol actress isn't exactly a good one."
"Just look at Sharon Stone."
"From Basic Instinct to Sliver and all those erotic thrillers…"
"And now with The Specialist alongside Sylvester Stallone, even their intimate scenes are getting heavily criticized."
Once actresses became too associated with erotic films, Hollywood tended to permanently typecast them.
At this point, the first thing people thought of when hearing Sharon Stone's name was "sex symbol."
Most scripts sent to her now existed largely to showcase her body.
Sophie laughed softly.
"You're just greedy."
"But honestly… you do have a point."
"Back then, the scripts Hollywood gave European actresses were all tiny supporting roles."
"Now we're finally getting mainstream leading roles."
As she spoke, Sophie suddenly noticed the change in Aaron beneath her.
A teasing smile appeared on her lips before she disappeared beneath the blanket.
"Mmm…"
Aaron let out a muffled groan as his fingers slid gently through Sophie Marceau's chestnut-colored hair…
---
After Halloween, Aaron Anderson traveled to Washington, D.C., where he paid a visit to President Bill Clinton at the White House.
Afterward, he met with Stephen Norris, one of the key figures behind The Carlyle Group.
Headquartered in Washington, Carlyle possessed enormous political influence, with a network filled with former government officials and political elites.
As one of the world's major private equity firms, Carlyle's managed assets had already surpassed $30 billion.
Aaron had actually been introduced to Stephen Norris through current White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta.
And unsurprisingly, Carlyle was extremely interested in Dawnlight.
The two sides hit it off immediately.
Inside a suite at the JW Marriott Washington, DC, Aaron sat across from Leon Panetta.
"My decision to acquire MCA wasn't impulsive," Aaron said calmly.
"This is the perfect moment for Dawnlight to expand."
Panetta nodded.
"Wasn't your original plan to pursue Turner Broadcasting System?"
Leon Panetta had only recently replaced Mack McLarty as White House Chief of Staff earlier that year.
Since Panetta himself came from Monterey, California, he and Aaron had naturally developed a close relationship.
"TBS has become too expensive," Aaron explained.
"There are too many major shareholders involved—Ted Turner himself, Time Warner, Liberty Media…"
"Too difficult to control."
"If Dawnlight really merged with TBS, I might actually lose controlling power."
Hollywood remained Dawnlight's foundation.
Film was still the company's core business.
Compared to TBS, acquiring MCA Inc. and Universal Pictures was clearly the better move for now.
As for broadcast television networks—
Those could wait.
"President Clinton definitely supports Dawnlight acquiring MCA," Panetta said with a faint smile.
"You understand the symbolic significance of an American company buying Universal back from Japanese ownership."
"And besides… Lew Wasserman is getting old."
"He's fallen behind the times."
Lew Wasserman still maintained connections across politics and business.
But after MCA changed ownership, his influence had already weakened considerably.
And since Hollywood remained one of America's most important tools for cultural and ideological influence abroad, its importance could hardly be overstated.
Naturally, the White House wanted to maintain its close relationship with Aaron Anderson.
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