Chapter 27 – A Pile of Trash
"Congratulations, another deal closed!"
In the hotel bedroom, Nicole Kidman rested against Aaron's chest.
"Ah, it's still just small-time work. How much can an agent really achieve?"
Cradling Nicole, Aaron's mind was partly elsewhere. After all, an agent's real power comes from the backing of film companies.
"It's already impressive. Right now, you're dealing with movie deals, not managing actors!"
Nicole kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"CAA still wants me to sign more actors, cast a wider net," Aaron said.
At that moment, the bedside phone rang.
"This is Aaron Anderson."
"Mr. Anderson, this is Jennifer Connelly. We met before… I wanted to ask you something."
Aaron listened and then replied, "Bring the script tomorrow. I'll review it and give you my advice."
"Thank you!"
After hanging up, Aaron reflected on how summer was almost over. Jennifer Connelly was considering dropping out of Stanford?
"New client again?" Nicole asked.
"I'm not sure. She's the actress we auditioned with last time—Jennifer Connelly. I tried to sign her, but her mother managed her career. Seems like she has her own ideas now."
Aaron shook his head. He had no specific roles lined up for her yet.
"Ah, her! I know her," Nicole smiled. "That girl has an incredible figure."
Aaron nodded. "Yeah, she's impressive."
"You like her? She's a D-cup, feels better than mine," Nicole teased, leaning close to his ear.
Aaron blinked. "Now's the time to focus on business. Love affairs are a distraction."
Nicole only smiled, pressing a kiss to him.
---
In Midtown Manhattan, at the New York St. Regis Hotel near Fifth Avenue and East 55th Street, Jennifer Connelly met with Aaron Anderson.
Aaron placed the script on the table and sipped his coffee. "Is this the script you received?"
Jennifer nodded. "What do you think?"
"Want the truth?"
"Yes."
Aaron shrugged. "It's a pile of trash. Orion probably just wanted an excuse to feature two sexy women. A typical 1940s-style story template. The only selling points are the looks and figures of the two female leads."
The story, titled Critical Passion, revolved around an old man arriving in a small town and encountering two beautiful women. It combined murder, desire, and sexuality—a low-budget B-movie. Compared to Wild at Heart, it was laughably weak.
"That bad?"
Jennifer, required to push boundaries on-screen, could only rely on her sex appeal.
Aaron studied her for a moment. "You're thinking of dropping out to take this role?"
"Yes. My mother supports it."
"You don't think taking your clothes off in a movie will make an impact, do you?"
"Well, right now, this is the only type of role I can get," Jennifer admitted.
Aaron shook his head. "This kind of script brings controversy but no real benefits. Your current problem is acting. Your audition for Pretty Woman was poor. You just transferred from Yale to Stanford's drama program—you should be honing your skills at school. These flashy, sexy roles are only for exposure. Any attractive woman could do them. They won't improve your craft—they'll just deplete your current popularity."
Jennifer's face fell. "I understand, Mr. Anderson."
"Just call me Aaron," he said, waving her off. "Also, when selecting scripts, check the content first. Your mother doesn't understand; you need a professional guiding you."
Jennifer looked at him. "If I sign with you, what's your plan?"
Aaron thought for a moment. "For now, there's no immediate plan. You need to study acting properly. Practice helps, but a structured approach is far more effective. I'll also try to secure some roles for you along the way."
Aaron spread his hands as he spoke. "I'm still new at this too. I don't know many people yet, so I need time to build connections and develop."
"The actors I'm handling are mostly newcomers. One is a foreign actress who just joined David Lynch's Wild at Heart, and the other is a comedy performer on Saturday Night Live."
"The other two are directors. You know Steven Soderbergh, right? The youngest Palme d'Or winner—but he doesn't really have any new projects at the moment."
Jennifer Connelly nodded. "I know Steven Soderbergh—he's amazing. And I even applied for David Lynch's Wild at Heart, but I didn't get it."
Aaron smiled. "Well, you're in a tricky age zone. As a former child star, you've grown older—but as an adult, you still look very young. That makes it hard to land roles."
Jennifer still carried a bit of baby fat, giving her a fresh, youthful appearance—perfect for teen romantic comedies. Big, provocative films like Critical Passion weren't just a career transition—they were controversial.
"I understand," she said. "My acting is still immature. I need to learn properly."
After all, she had been accepted to Yale and Stanford, so intelligence wasn't in question. Aaron's point was clear: her acting skills weren't enough yet. For now, she could only play the pretty, sexy roles—the ones that relied more on looks and figure than talent.
"Here's what we'll do: we can sign a contract, but you continue your studies. Even if you get scripts, only take them with my approval. Don't blindly follow your mother's advice."
Jennifer nodded. "Alright, I'll sign with you."
"Good. By the way, when does school start?"
"Late August."
Aaron thought for a moment. "Next month, late August. MiraMax has scheduled Sex, Lies, and Videotape for early next month. A week before its release, there will be a premiere in Los Angeles—you can go back and attend that."
After all, Sex, Lies, and Videotape was a Palme d'Or-winning film. MiraMax believed in it enough to organize a special premiere.
"Sounds great. I'm curious to see how the film turns out," Jennifer said.