Chapter 143 – A Controversial Film
Produced by Carolco and distributed by TriStar Pictures, Basic Instinct exploded into theaters nationwide.
True to form for a director who hailed from "Europe's capital of erotic cinema," Amsterdam, Paul Verhoeven delivered exactly what audiences expected.
Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone's performances sparked both fascination and outrage.
There was no doubt about it—
Basic Instinct was the most controversial movie of the year.
---
Century City, Los Angeles — An Italian Restaurant
Aaron sat across from CAA's Michael Ovitz, discussing Dawnlight's latest project: Indecent Proposal.
"Redford doesn't want the promotion to lean too heavily on sexual themes," Ovitz said calmly.
"He wants to emphasize the moral angle—marriage, dignity, ethics."
Aaron chuckled softly.
"The goal of marketing is to get people into theaters. You don't do that by being shy about sex."
He took a sip of wine before continuing.
"Indecent Proposal is built around an immoral transaction.
It's a story about temptation and human weakness—and we've put $15 million into marketing."
"Redford made eight million dollars on this film. The least he can do is help sell it."
---
For comparison, Mel Gibson had earned just $10 million for Lethal Weapon 3—released the same year.
Redford's fee alone nearly matched that.
And the only reason he'd been paid so generously?
The film was a packaged CAA project.
---
Ovitz smiled faintly.
"You do realize Michael Douglas got $12 million for Basic Instinct, right?"
Aaron shrugged.
"If Carolco had wanted Redford instead, they'd have offered him $15 million, easy."
"Not many A-listers would even touch a movie like that."
Douglas had dared.
Redford wouldn't.
A role like that wasn't just risky—it could permanently define your career.
Dawnlight had purchased the packaged project outright by offering:
$25 million production budget, and
15% of box office and home video revenue to CAA.
A steep price—but worth it.
Aaron casually changed the subject.
"By the way—Paramount's developing John Grisham's The Firm, right?"
Ovitz nodded.
"Tom Cruise is the lead.
I also brought Sydney Pollack on board as director."
Then he grinned.
"You interested in Grisham too?"
Aaron laughed faintly.
"Who isn't?"
His books sold millions.
Every studio scrambled for adaptation rights even before publication.
Without a publishing arm of his own, Aaron could only pick up overlooked gems like Forrest Gump.
The Firm had been Grisham's second novel, released just last year—
Yet Paramount had acquired the film rights two years earlier.
Aaron leaned forward.
"And this year's release—The Pelican Brief. Who got that?"
Ovitz replied without hesitation.
"Warner Brothers.
They locked it down before the book even hit shelves."
Grisham wasn't just a novelist—he was a lawyer.
Which explained why every story featured:
attorneys
political conspiracies
courtroom intrigue
Fast-paced legal thrillers with explosive endings.
Aaron smirked.
"Cruise just wrapped A Few Good Men playing a lawyer."
"And now he's going straight into The Firm—as another lawyer."
Typecasting at its finest.
Ovitz raised his wineglass.
"Pollack's attached. Cruise trusts him completely."
The Next Day — West Hollywood, a Private Club on Sunset Boulevard
Aaron met with Italian model Monica Bellucci and director Giuseppe Tornatore.
After exchanging greetings, Aaron smiled warmly.
"Any new projects in development?"
"Dawnlight is in a position to support something meaningful—if you're ready."
Aaron took a sip of wine.
Because Giuseppe Tornatore had been deeply involved in the production of Scent of a Woman, Aaron also felt he owed the Italian director a favor.
"For the moment," Tornatore said, shaking his head, "I don't have any solid plans yet."
Hollywood-style filmmaking still felt foreign to him.
Italian films rarely dominated the global market, but Italy's economy itself had remained strong—rising steadily since the 1950s.
"Are you heading back to Italy?" Aaron asked.
Tornatore nodded.
"Yes. Scent of a Woman will be submitted to the Venice Film Festival and released toward the end of the year. We're aiming for the Oscars."
By bringing Monica Bellucci along, Aaron was also helping her make contact with a respected Italian director—something that could only benefit her career.
After Tornatore left, Aaron turned toward Monica.
"So? What's your impression of America so far?"
She had already been in the U.S. for some time.
"There are parties everywhere," Monica replied with a faint laugh.
"And women here… they're full of energy. It's not as laid-back as Europe."
She was now a brand ambassador for L'Oréal, and her trip to the U.S. also included photo shoots for American editions of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.
"Europe definitely has better social welfare," Aaron said with a smile.
"It's not surprising. Italy's still a major economy."
---
That night, Aaron brought Monica back to his mansion in the Bel-Air neighborhood.
Later, in the bedroom—
Monica lay breathless across his chest.
Aaron brushed his fingers through her long hair.
"So… how long are you planning to stay in America?"
"I'm not sure," she said quietly.
"Maybe I'll start sending out audition tapes. I want to see if any Hollywood productions will give me a chance."
Aaron narrowed his eyes slightly.
"That won't be easy. If something comes your way, it'll probably be like your role in Bram Stoker's Dracula—"
"Small roles. Disposable ones. Casting you more for your body than your acting."
Monica merely smiled.
"I know that already."
"I started late. I'm still new to this industry."
"And as an Italian actress… breaking into Hollywood is difficult."
She kissed him softly.
"But I'm willing to pay whatever price I have to."
Her lips moved lower.
The rest didn't need words.