Chapter 42 – Learn or Lose Out
Los Angeles, Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles County Museum of Art—a grand Christmas gala was underway.
Hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the event drew a glittering crowd of celebrities, singers, fashion models, and executives from major entertainment companies.
Aaron Anderson arrived on the scene with Nicole Kidman.
The recently announced nominees for the 47th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1989) had given the independent studio Miramax three notable entries:
Giuseppe Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.
Steven Soderbergh's Sex, Lies, and Videotape received nominations for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Screenplay.
And My Left Foot earned nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
"This Christmas gala is hosted by the Golden Globes organizers, basically a warm-up for the January awards ceremony," Aaron explained to Nicole.
After all, the Golden Globes were run by the Foreign Press Association.
"Ah, that's Meg Ryan, right?" Nicole pointed toward a blonde beauty surrounded by attention.
Aaron glanced over. "Exactly. When Harry Met Sally… grossed over $92 million in North America on a $16 million budget. The film snagged Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture (Musical/Comedy), Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenplay."
"See that? That's what overnight fame looks like."
Meg Ryan's blonde hair, blue eyes, and sweet smile had cemented her as Hollywood's "sweetheart."
Aaron then spotted Julia Roberts, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Steel Magnolias. Thinking ahead to the spring release of Pretty Woman, he quietly lamented CAA's loss of Richard Lovett to ICM—a move he attributed to Warren Beatty.
Nicole whispered, "Aaron, I see Peter Weir over there—I met him back in Australia."
"Go say hello. He directed Dead Poets Society, nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. Box office? $95 million in North America, $140 million overseas, $235 million worldwide. Critical and commercial success, right up there with Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July."
Aaron wrapped an arm around Nicole's waist. Born on the Fourth of July had just been released, but the reviews were stellar.
"Peter Weir is currently Australia's most famous director," Aaron added.
The success of Dead Poets Society had skyrocketed Weir's reputation, and it wasn't unusual for foreign directors to favor actors from their home countries. Nicole had naturally caught his eye.
Soon, the two approached Peter Weir and began conversing. But Aaron excused himself early upon spotting Paula Wagner.
"So, how does it feel leaving CAA?" she asked.
Miramax had been highly visible this year, and Aaron's contributions were undeniable.
"Nothing special. Dawnlight Productions' first film, Phone Booth, is in the editing phase. I just need to secure a North American distributor." Aaron clinked glasses with Wagner, smiling.
"Isn't Miramax willing to distribute it?"
Aaron shook his head. "I have high expectations for Phone Booth. Miramax's terms just don't meet them."
"Wow, you really are something," Wagner said, genuinely impressed.
Miramax had distributed Sex, Lies, and Videotape, grossing $24 million with profits exceeding $10 million. And Aaron expected Phone Booth, with a similar budget, to surpass that?
"Confidence, huh?" Wagner shook her head with a smile.
Aaron grinned and tapped his eyes. "These eyes? God's own vision."
Paula Wagner laughed. "You're saying you're a Hollywood genius?"
"By the way, I saw Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July the other day. His transformative performance? Excellent. I think we can aim for an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for him—no problem."
Aaron shifted the topic. Born on the Fourth of July had just received multiple Golden Globe nominations: Best Drama, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Score—going head-to-head with Dead Poets Society.
Unfortunately, the influence of the Golden Globes still fell short of the Oscars.
"Don't you think Tom has a shot at Best Actor at the Oscars?"
Aaron shook his head. "Hard to say. The Golden Globes and the Oscars are completely different. The Academy has never really favored conventionally handsome actors."
"Besides, have you seen Miramax's PR tactics? Shameless doesn't even begin to describe it."
The Golden Globes weighed star power heavily, but the Oscars cared less about celebrity and more about the old-school Hollywood insiders on the voting committee. To sway them, good acting alone wasn't enough—politics were essential.
Paula Wagner, of course, had her own PR strategies. She knew that Tom Cruise's biggest rival for the award would likely be Robin Williams from Dead Poets Society.
"You mean Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot, right?"
Indeed, My Left Foot, distributed by Miramax, was also nominated for Best Actor in a Drama. While it wasn't in the running for Best Picture against Born on the Fourth of July, its anti-war themes carried substantial weight.
"Yeah," Aaron continued. "I've dealt with Miramax several times. They had Daniel Day-Lewis attend congressional hearings in Washington D.C. for the new round of the Disability Rights Act. Do you think any Academy voters don't have connections in D.C.? Of course they do."
"And then there's the barrage of phone calls to voters, sending screeners, and so on. They pull out all the stops."
Aaron smiled. As an agent, Paula Wagner had limited ways to counter such tactics. This was ultimately a matter for the studio. Universal Pictures, which distributed Born on the Fourth of July, certainly had the capacity—but their priority was securing Best Picture.
The Academy loved to spread the awards around: if you got Best Picture and Best Director, it was rare to also win Best Actor or Actress in the same year.
"Looks like you've learned quite a bit over the past year," Paula Wagner said. Naturally, she wanted Tom Cruise to win, which would boost his commercial value even further.
"In Hollywood, if you don't understand these things, you're bound to lose out," Aaron added.
Just then, his eyes caught Warren Beatty entering the hall with a woman, laughing and chatting as they made their way inside…