Chapter 284: Soaring Salaries
By late July, the 1994 FIFA World Cup had wrapped up with Brazil lifting the trophy.
At the same time, the sensational O. J. Simpson murder case entered its hearing stage, drawing massive public attention across the United States.
Meanwhile, at the box office, two films continued to dominate:
The Lion King had already surpassed $200 million in North America
Forrest Gump had crossed the $100 million mark
In Burbank, inside Dawnlight's headquarters, Aaron sat in his office reviewing new projects.
"Phantom Productions wants to adapt Sense and Sensibility?"
The company had been founded by acclaimed director Sydney Pollack.
Evelyn Beckett nodded.
"They've chosen Ang Lee as director. The lead actress is Emma Thompson, and Hugh Grant is attached as well."
Ang Lee had gained significant recognition in the indie scene with films like The Wedding Banquet and Eat Drink Man Woman.
Aaron nodded.
"Go ahead and invest. Jane Austen adaptations always carry strong appeal—and Ang Lee's delicate style fits perfectly with that kind of emotional storytelling."
As for Sydney Pollack, he was reportedly preparing a remake of the classic Sabrina.
Aaron shifted topics.
"How many theaters are we opening Rumble in the Bronx in next month?"
"Over 1,500."
"Good," Aaron said.
"Hong Kong martial arts films have a solid niche in North America—especially in the home video market. There's plenty of profit to be made there."
Leaning back in his chair, he continued:
"The film libraries from Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn are already generating steady cash flow."
"The importance of the home entertainment market will only grow from here."
At present, that market was dominated by VHS tapes and LaserDiscs—but China had already introduced VCD players and discs.
It was only a matter of time before Hollywood and global electronics manufacturers pushed forward into new formats.
Aaron's early positioning toward DVD technology would pay off handsomely.
Soon after, Dawnlight's second Jim Carrey comedy hit theaters:
The Mask opened across 2,360 theaters in North America.
Thanks to the success of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Jim Carrey's popularity had surged.
The result:
Opening weekend: $23 million
Production budget: $23 million
A clear success.
As a high-quality comedy, The Mask once again showcased Jim Carrey's extraordinary talent:
Wildly exaggerated physical performance
Rapidly shifting facial expressions
Masterful control of body language
From start to finish, audiences were kept laughing—completely captivated by his energy and comedic brilliance.
And with back-to-back hits like this, one thing was inevitable:
Jim Carrey's salary was about to skyrocket.
During the filming of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Jim Carrey was paid just $350,000. When he shot The Mask, Ace Ventura hadn't even been released yet, so his salary only rose slightly to $450,000.
But once Ace Ventura became a breakout hit, his value skyrocketed—his paycheck for Ace Ventura 2 surged to $7 million.
Alongside Jim Carrey's standout performance, another major surprise in The Mask was its female lead, Cameron Diaz.
With her blonde hair, blue eyes, and striking figure, she made an unforgettable impression. Her effortless charm and screen presence turned heads instantly, making her one of the film's biggest revelations.
That night, at the Chamberlain Hotel in West Hollywood, Aaron clinked champagne glasses with Cameron Diaz.
"So, after The Mask premiered… feels different now, doesn't it?"
Originally just a model, Cameron Diaz had made her film debut with The Mask—and it launched her straight into the spotlight.
"Yeah," she said, barely hiding her excitement. She looked at Aaron, a playful smile on her lips.
"I really have to thank you for giving me this opportunity. There are so many newcomers in Hollywood—who knows how long it would've taken for my turn?"
Aaron smiled faintly.
"You had the advantage to begin with—stunning looks and the kind of presence the role needed. And your performance fit perfectly."
As for acting skills… someone like Cameron Diaz wasn't cast for heavy dramatic depth. Her role was to embody the allure of the classic American blonde—something she did flawlessly.
"We should grab a drink later," she suggested.
Aaron slipped an arm around her waist. "I'll come find you."
Later in the hotel's banquet hall, Aaron ran into action superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger.
His latest collaboration with James Cameron, True Lies, had just premiered mid-month:
Opening weekend: $25.8 million
10-day total: $61 million (North America)
For an action film, it was an impressive performance.
Aaron raised his glass.
"Arnold, you and James added quite a bit of humor into True Lies. It's a refreshing change—it works really well."
The year before, James Cameron had teamed up with effects legend Stan Winston to found Digital Domain.
True Lies was one of its first major showcases.
Beyond its explosive action sequences, the film blended in light satire and witty moments, giving the story a more dynamic and entertaining rhythm.
Schwarzenegger chuckled.
"I've done comedies before. With True Lies, we were deliberately subverting the traditional spy image—so adding humor felt natural."
At its core, though, the film still leaned heavily into classic American individual heroism—celebrating personal strength and charisma. With a massive $115 million budget, its large-scale action set pieces remained the biggest draw.
"By the way," Aaron added, "I heard you and James Cameron are considering Terminator 3?"
Schwarzenegger nodded.
"We've talked about it. James is interested, but Carolco has its own projects right now—and he's also preparing a new film with 20th Century Fox."
Aaron paused thoughtfully.
A new James Cameron project…
Could it be Titanic?
He smiled slightly.
"Anything James Cameron works on is worth looking forward to."
If it really was Titanic, Dawnlight might even have a chance to collaborate with Fox down the line.
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