Chapter 62: Ghost
The Boyz n the Hood project had caught the eye of Sidney Ganis, president of Columbia Tri-Star.
Columbia Tri-Star was willing to pay $3.5 million for the film's international distribution rights, and in North America, they would take just a 15% commission on box office earnings.
Aaron gladly accepted. A film rooted in the African American community wasn't likely to draw huge numbers overseas anyway. The real focus would be the North American market once it hit theaters.
As May drew to a close, the 43rd Cannes Film Festival wrapped up. David Lynch's Wild at Heart walked away with the Palme d'Or. Aaron also noted that a Chinese-language film, Ju Dou, had won the very first Luis Buñuel Special Award.
Still, none of that mattered much to him now—because Dawnlight Films' Ghost was finally ready to roll cameras. Even while Boyz n the Hood was in pre-production, Aaron's attention was already consumed by Ghost.
Director Edward Zwick, along with stars Kevin Costner and Nicole Kidman, appeared at the film's kickoff press conference held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
"Aaron," Jack Wells informed him quietly, "Kevin just signed on to another project—Oliver Stone's political thriller JFK. Once Ghost wraps, he'll be heading straight to that set."
"It's written and directed by Stone himself, fresh off his Oscar win for Best Director."
Aaron simply nodded. It didn't matter. All that concerned him was finishing Ghost properly.
"Didn't you say earlier that Kevin was preparing for Kevin Reynolds' action-adventure Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves?" Aaron asked, a bit puzzled.
Jack explained, "If Kevin hadn't taken Ghost, the plan was for him to shoot Robin Hood first, then move on to JFK. But Robin Hood is locked in for next summer's release, and the studio couldn't afford to wait for him."
Aaron waved his hand dismissively. "Doesn't matter. For now, keep a close eye on John Singleton's Boyz n the Hood and its pre-production.
Ghost will start shooting in Chicago, then move to New York for location work, and finally wrap in the L.A. soundstages. Things are going to get busier for me."
Jack Wells grinned. "Relax. Nobody knows L.A. better than we do…"
With Jennifer Connelly heading off to report to Disney's The Rocketeer, the Ghost crew made their way to Chicago. Thanks to Dawnlight Films' financial backing, the Boyz n the Hood team also began accelerating preparations.
Chicago, sitting on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, offered a mild climate in June—perfect for filming.
The story of Ghost centered on Kevin Costner's Sam, a bank employee, and Nicole Kidman's Molly, a talented ceramic artist. With the help of their friend Carl, they moved into a beautiful apartment and fell deeply in love. As they prepared for marriage, tragedy struck: after leaving the theater one evening, the couple was attacked by a mugger. Sam was killed in the struggle, his soul lingering as a ghost. Unable to leave Molly behind, he chose to remain by her side.
As a spirit, Sam discovered that the thief had broken into their home. In desperation, he sought out a psychic medium to warn Molly. But in the process, he uncovered a horrifying truth—his own friend Carl was the mastermind behind his death.
At Chicago's InterContinental Hotel on North Michigan Avenue, Aaron had just finished a call with Los Angeles when Nicole Kidman, fresh from the shower, stepped out in a silk camisole, her figure only half-concealed.
"Something happening in L.A.?" she asked.
Aaron shook his head with a smile. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles just hit $130 million at the box office. Golden Harvest in Hong Kong made $11 million in profits, and CAA sent me my $800,000 bonus."
At present, Aaron's personal account held $1.3 million in cash, while Dawnlight Films had $3.5 million in its accounts.
"$130 million?" Nicole's eyes widened. "What about Pretty Woman? How much has it made?"
Aaron pulled her into his arms. "North America: $150 million. Overseas: $250 million."
Nicole kissed him several times on the cheek, smiling playfully. "Judging from that grin, I bet you've got even more good news."
"Mm. Dick Tracy just opened in 2,008 theaters. Its first weekend pulled in $12 million." He smirked. "And the reviews are terrible—lots of negative press. Warren Beatty's scandals really dragged it down."
"So what's the target? A hundred million worldwide? No way it reaches even half of Pretty Woman."
"Half? I'd say not even a third."
Nicole leaned in, wrapping her arms around him. "So, does that mean you'll be heading back to L.A. soon?"
Aaron closed his eyes, savoring her warmth. "Boyz n the Hood isn't moving that quickly. But yes, I'll have to return for a bit. We've been here three weeks already, and in two more we'll be off to New York for exterior shots, then Sony's studio work in L.A."
By late June, Aaron left the Chicago set and flew back to Los Angeles.
John Singleton had found his lead: 22-year-old Cuba Gooding Jr., a fresh face in Hollywood with only a few TV credits.
"How was the audition?" Aaron asked from behind his desk, flipping through the paperwork.
"Fantastic," Singleton said excitedly. "He works great alongside Ice Cube and Laurence Fishburne."
It was the young director's first feature film, and his passion was clear.
"Good. Start building your crew right away. I'll have people to support you. But don't sacrifice quality just to move fast. Run extra rehearsals if you need to—just don't waste film stock or money."
Singleton nodded earnestly. "We'll start in August, about six to eight weeks of shooting."
Aaron had capped the budget at $5 million. Singleton would have to stretch every dollar.
That evening, at a West Hollywood bar, Aaron sat down with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment's Michael Kuhn…