Chapter 85: The Hollywood Reshuffle
Less than a month after MGM changed hands, the entertainment world was shaken again — this time by two massive corporate deals on opposite sides of the Pacific.
In New York and Tokyo, MCA Inc. and Panasonic jointly announced that their merger was complete.
Japan's Panasonic Corporation had officially acquired MCA/Universal for a staggering $6.59 billion.
Inside his West Hollywood apartment, Aaron Anderson sat on the couch, a glass of whiskey in hand, watching the financial news scroll across the screen. The sheer scale of the deal was dizzying:
Universal Pictures,
Universal Studios and Resorts (including Universal Studios Hollywood and a 50% stake in the newly opened Orlando park),
MCA Television,
MCA Home Video,
MCA Records,
Putnam Publishing,
40% of Cineplex Odeon Theaters,
and 50% of USA Network.
It was an empire.
Aaron took a slow sip. One by one, the old Hollywood giants were falling into foreign hands —
20th Century Fox, Columbia, MGM, Universal…
Add to that Time Warner's merger, and soon Paramount would be next.
Hollywood was undergoing another complete reshuffle.
The next day, The Wall Street Journal and The Hollywood Reporter ran front-page stories detailing Panasonic's takeover of MCA.
But the real shockwave wasn't just the deal — it was who orchestrated it.
As the lead advisory firm behind the acquisition, CAA had just pulled off another historic coup. Panasonic paid an astronomical $135 million in consulting fees, out of which $60 million went directly to CAA.
Once again, Michael Ovitz had proven his power.
After engineering Sony's purchase of Columbia TriStar the previous year, he had now brokered another billion-dollar Japanese acquisition.
For the second consecutive year, Premiere Magazine ranked Michael Ovitz as the most powerful man in Hollywood.
---
That evening, at a dimly lit bar in West Hollywood, Aaron sat drinking with Jack Wells and Quentin Tarantino.
"So," Aaron asked, swirling his drink, "you resubmitted Boyz n the Hood, right?"
Quentin nodded. "Yeah, and it got kicked back again. John's re-cutting it."
Jack snorted. "The MPAA's a joke. Some films are packed with sex and violence and still get an R rating. Total hypocrisy."
Aaron gave a wry smirk.
"Yeah, they're just a bunch of nitpickers playing favorites. Everyone knows the so-called 'ratings board' dances to the tune of the Big Seven studios."
He gestured toward the window, where the neon glow of Sunset Boulevard flickered.
"Look at this city. Los Angeles is already rotten to the core — sleazy souvenir shops, junkies, drifters, prostitutes on every corner…
Fights, assaults, robberies, murders — they happen every damn minute."
He took another drink, then turned to Quentin.
"By the way, you sold your Natural Born Killers script to Oliver Stone, right?"
Quentin grinned. "Yeah, that's right. That's why I called you guys out for drinks. I'm working on my own story now — hoping to shoot it next year."
Aaron leaned forward. "Good. Once it's ready, show me the script. I want to take a look."
For all his eccentricities, Tarantino was undeniably gifted. The man's instincts for character and chaos were pure box office potential.
---
While Dawnlight Pictures scrambled to re-edit Boyz n the Hood to meet the MPAA's R rating, the studio was also gearing up for My Own Private Idaho.
Aaron personally met with Gus Van Sant, along with leads River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves, at the studio's office.
"After Thanksgiving," Gus said, "we'll officially start shooting in Portland. We've also got locations set in Idaho and Rome.
It'll be a quick shoot — ten weeks tops."
Aaron nodded approvingly. "Sounds efficient. And you two—" he looked at River and Keanu, "—seem to be in the zone already."
The two actors bumped fists, laughing.
"We're pros, man," River said. "Didn't expect we'd be working together this soon."
Aaron smirked. Looking at their glazed eyes and restless energy, he had a suspicion: the Idaho set was going to be a haze of smoke and pills.
"Well," he said, glancing at his watch, "it's getting late. How about a drink to celebrate before you head out?"
Gus Van Sant waved them off with a good-natured smile. "You young guys go ahead. I've got to meet with Lori Parker about production details."
River and Keanu exchanged grins. "Sure thing. You're the boss, Aaron."
Aaron chuckled. For them, it wasn't just about drinks — it was about getting closer to the man bankrolling their careers.
---
And outside, as Los Angeles pulsed with neon and ambition, Aaron Anderson raised his glass, aware that while everyone else was playing catch-up, he was quietly positioning himself for Hollywood's next great power shift.
Not long after, Aaron and his group arrived at a lively bar in West Hollywood.
On the way, a brightly lit movie poster caught their eye — Home Alone.
The family comedy from 20th Century Fox, released earlier that month, had exploded into a box office phenomenon.
It opened to $17 million, and within just ten days had grossed $48 million.
The film's 10-year-old star, Macaulay Culkin, had become an overnight sensation.
---
Inside the bar, laughter and music filled the air as glasses clinked and bottles were passed around.
"Cheers!" someone shouted, and the table erupted into a noisy round of toasts.
Before long, Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp joined them, and the atmosphere grew even livelier.
Cage had been riding a strange wave of prestige and frustration.
His latest film, Wild at Heart, had won the Palme d'Or at Cannes earlier in the year — yet its U.S. box office barely reached $17 million, far short of Aaron's own Phone Booth.
Between drinks, Johnny leaned over and asked, "Hey Aaron, you saw Edward Scissorhands, right? You mentioned it before — what do you think?"
Aaron chuckled. "Yeah, I saw it. Honestly? I think it's going to become a defining film — both for Tim Burton and for you."
He swirled his drink thoughtfully. "That gothic melancholy, the fairy-tale darkness — it's classic Burton. And you fit perfectly into that world."
Johnny nodded in agreement. "That's exactly how it felt. Working with Tim was effortless — we get each other. His ideas, his vision… I don't even need long explanations. He trusts me to follow my instincts."
Aaron smiled faintly. "Then that's what makes great cinema — when two people speak the same language without words."
"Alright," said Nicolas Cage, raising his glass. "Enough talk — let's drink!"
---
An hour later, Keanu Reeves grinned mischievously and leaned in. "Anyone up for something… a little stronger?"
Aaron waved him off with a weary smirk. "Not tonight. One of my films just got bounced back by the MPAA again — I'm in no mood for extra stimulation. You guys go have fun."
Within minutes, River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, and Johnny Depp disappeared toward the restroom — their laughter fading behind the door.
Nicolas Cage shook his head and chuckled. "Don't sweat it, Aaron. The MPAA's given hell to everyone at some point. You're not alone."
Aaron was about to respond when he caught sight of someone across the bar — a familiar figure chatting up a cocktail waitress.
Warren Beatty.
The same arrogant bastard who'd been publicly badmouthing him to journalists for months.
Aaron's lips curled into a cold smile.
Well, well… what are the odds?
If he didn't go over there to "say hello," he'd regret it.
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