Chapter 147 — The Storm Forms
Aaron felt no temptation whatsoever toward Jeffrey Katzenberg's proposal. Disney's upper management was anything but harmonious right now.
Katzenberg's animation division was thriving, but Michael Eisner's pride project—Euro Disneyland—had already gone massively over budget. And once it opened in the next couple of days, if attendance fell short of expectations… things would get very interesting.
The better Katzenberg performed, the more Eisner resented him.
And now, the man had come back attempting once again to acquire Dawnlight. Aaron could easily guess the real reason: Katzenberg had set his sights on Pixar as well. He had tried earlier to secure a 3D-animation partnership with them—of course he wanted Dawnlight because Pixar was attached to it.
From 2D hand-drawn to stop-motion to modern 3D CGI—Pixar represented the future.
But Disney's ultimate decision-maker wasn't Katzenberg.
Just then, Nicole Kidman came over to Aaron's side.
"I just heard something," she said quietly. "MGM's new owner, Giancarlo Parre, has been indicted by prosecutors in both Europe and the U.S.—securities fraud. Lyon Credit Bank is preparing to reclaim ownership of MGM."
Aaron chuckled and nodded. "As expected. He was just a puppet anyway."
Back at Parre's lavish mansion party, when Aaron overheard CAA recommending new executives for MGM, he had already pieced things together.
Nicole smiled. "Of course. News like this could never slip past you."
She wasn't particularly invested in corporate ownership changes, but being with Aaron had broadened her perspective immensely.
"By the way," she continued, "are you going to Cannes next month?"
Aaron paused, glancing at her. "I haven't decided yet. Why? You're going?"
Nicole nodded. "Yes, I'm going to promote a film."
Aaron slipped an arm around her waist. "Basic Instinct will be doing its Cannes publicity run. With all the controversy surrounding it, the film will dominate the festival. Every journalist will be chasing it."
"And Sharon Stone… she'll undoubtedly be the most watched woman at Cannes this year. She'll get the same spotlight you had last year."
Last year, Ghost had taken Nicole's fame global—her red-carpet presence had been unforgettable.
Sharon Stone's controversy was already exploding across Hollywood. Her infamous leg-crossing scene and other bold performances in Basic Instinct had cemented her as the era's undisputed sex symbol—her notoriety alone guaranteed she would dominate Cannes.
Nicole Kidman smiled. "She and I… we're very different styles."
Most of Nicole's current offers were romantic comedies, but she was actively hunting for strong dramatic scripts to shift her career trajectory.
"We'll see," Aaron said. "I might fly to Cannes for a day or two. Dawnlight does have new films hitting the circuit…"
With summer blockbuster season approaching, every studio was mobilizing its marketing machine in full force.
At Dawnlight Studios, in Aaron's office, director Jonathan Demme arrived with a new concept in hand.
"A story about AIDS. And it involves a same-sex relationship," he explained.
Aaron skimmed the treatment and immediately recognized what this could become.
Demme nodded. "It's about confronting the dignity and humanity of AIDS patients, and exposing the discrimination they face. The idea came from real cases—Jeffrey Bowers of Baker McKenzie, and Clarence Cain of Hyatt Legal Services. Both were wrongfully dismissed once their employers discovered they had AIDS."
Aaron tapped the desk thoughtfully. This wasn't just any script idea.
It was Philadelphia.
A future classic—and Tom Hanks' defining dramatic role.
"Since Magic Johnson's diagnosis last year," Aaron said, "public conversation around AIDS has only grown. Your concept is strong. Dawnlight will finance it. Get your writers polishing the script and start assembling a team."
Demme stood, relieved. "Thank you. Working with you on The Silence of the Lambs was a pleasure. I know you won't micromanage this one."
In late April, Jennifer Connelly returned from Houston, where she'd been shooting Speed, to attend an action-sequence workshop for Speed.
Director Jan de Bont, leading man Keanu Reeves, and antagonist Dennis Hopper were all present.
With explosive set pieces—cars smashing into airplanes, subway collisions, massive fireballs—the film demanded rigorous prep work from the cast.
That night, at Aaron's Bel-Air estate, Jennifer lay draped across his chest, her skin still flushed from heat and sweat.
"Is your part in Houston done?" he asked.
"Mmhmm. Now we just have some interior scenes to finish once we're back at the L.A. soundstages."
Aaron, absently brushing a hand along her curves, grinned. "Most of Speed's heavy action is on Keanu. Your character is the all-American girl—just keep it grounded and real."
"I know," she whispered, running her fingers through his hair. "Thirsty? I'm going to grab a drink."
She slipped out of bed, throwing a loose robe over herself as she padded toward the bar.
---
April 29, 1992
That same evening, the Los Angeles County court delivered its verdict in the Rodney King case. After deliberation, the jury acquitted all four white officers.
Within two hours, South L.A. erupted.
From Compton to South Central, crowds swelled—anger boiling over. Protesters surged into the streets.
Black gang members smashed storefronts, assaulted white motorists, hurled stones and beer bottles at passing cars.
Fires spread from block to block as buildings were torched.
By dusk, Mayor Tom Bradley declared a state of emergency.
The storm had broken.
And it was sweeping outward—from South Central toward Koreatown, toward East Hollywood… toward the heart of the city.
Every sign pointed to one truth:
The Black Riot had fully formed.