Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 569 The Big Winner

The first Saks Fifth Avenue boutique department store in downtown Toronto opened its international branch, and Aaron made a special trip to attend the opening ceremony!
Kate Beckinsale, who was preparing to return to the UK, also traveled to Toronto with Aaron.

"Are you planning to take Saxo Fifth Avenue public?"

In a suite at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, Kate Beckinsale took off Aaron's coat and asked him something.

"That's right. I estimate it will be by the end of the year. Saks Fifth Avenue will be expanding its stores significantly this year, with stores opening in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Vancouver in Canada."

"In addition, there's Asia, including Tokyo and Osaka in Japan, Seoul in South Korea, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, and Singapore in China!"

As Aaron spoke, he leaned back on the sofa. As for Europe, he hadn't figured out how to enter the market yet because of the intense competition.

Aaron's plan is to increase the number of Saks Fifth Avenue boutique stores to more than 80 within three to five years.

"The Academy Awards ceremony is about to take place, aren't you going back to Los Angeles?"

Kate Beckinsale sat on the man's lap and kissed him.

Aaron smiled and stroked the other's waist. "I have confidence in 'Chicago.' The North American box office for 'Chicago' has already exceeded $1.2 million, which is what I'm more concerned about!"

Moreover, David Fincher's "Fight Club" will be released next month. Brad Pitt goes without saying, and the other male lead, Edward Nord, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in "American History X".

"There's a lot of buzz about 'Saving Private Ryan' too, isn't there?"

Kate Beckinsale smiled.

Aaron reached inside the woman's blouse, feeling her softness. "Saving Private Ryan got a lot of bad reviews, while Chicago got almost universally positive ones."

"Also, Saving Private Ryan is a bit too commercialized, while Chicago is the Academy's favorite musical!"

“Really?” Kate Beckinsale straddled Aaron, her breathing quickening, and couldn’t help but kiss the man’s lips.

“Hmm,” Aaron quickly took off the woman’s top…

Aaron returned to Los Angeles, and on the evening of March 23, 1999, on the eve of the Oscars, then NATO Secretary General Solana announced that NATO would launch a large-scale air campaign against Yugoslavia.
Subsequently, NATO, led by the United States, launched the first phase of airstrikes against Yugoslavia's defense facilities.

"More than 60% of the public supports NATO's airstrikes on Serbia, how domineering!"

At the First State World Center in Los Angeles, Aaron stood by the window, looking down at the small number of anti-war protesters in the nearby square, and shook his head.

Jack Wells, puffing on his cigar, said, "Those military-industrial complexes have won again."

A celebration for American defense industry giants like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and General Dynamics!

Aaron said expressionlessly, "Don't worry, it's good that more people die. When more American soldiers' corpses appear, the people will know the cruelty of war."

These military-industrial complexes are fundamental to the United States, and Aaron has no way to get involved in them. Even if he acquires shares in these companies on the stock market, it won't make a difference.
Control remains with those few shareholders; after all, shares traded on the market don't have voting rights. Jack Wells chuckled. "Alright, let's not talk about that. Are you really planning to move the headquarters of AMC and Starz to Houston?"

Aaron nodded. "The tax breaks offered by George W. Bush are quite good; moving there wouldn't be a problem."

"From now on, cable television and broadcasting services will be based in Houston, while Los Angeles will continue to focus on film production and studio operations!"

Hollywood has Universal Studios, so naturally the film production base should be located here to better attract tourists;

When Dawn acquires CBS Television Group, the AMC building in Los Angeles will become the CBS branch in Los Angeles.

"Hey, is the new Catholic cathedral in Los Angeles, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, about to start construction?"

Aaron saw a construction site in the distance, the new site of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, bustling with activity.

"Yes, they're demolishing the original buildings, aren't they? Archbishop Roger Mahoney of the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles must have raised enough funds."

"You know, the believers in Los Angeles aren't exactly short of money!"

Jack Wells shrugged, got up, glanced out the window, and suddenly said, "Stanley Kubrick's death doesn't seem to have had as big a reaction in Hollywood as I'd imagined."

"Well, he died of a heart attack. He was 71 years old, which is considered normal. How much of an impact could it have?"

Who controls the media? The elite, of course. Who would expose their own scandals?

As the 71st Academy Awards ceremony was held in Los Angeles, Dawn's "Chicago" lived up to expectations and won Best Picture;
Saving Private Ryan won the Best Director award!
The Italian film "Life Is Beautiful" received a total of seven nominations, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor, and ultimately won the Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor awards.

During the awards ceremony, Roberto Benigni, who won Best Actor, was so excited that he stepped onto a row of chairs and rushed to the stage to accept his award, becoming one of the most memorable moments of this year's Oscars.

Aaron also made a special appearance at the Vanity Fair celebration dinner held at the Sunset Tower Hotel in Hollywood after the awards ceremony!
“Congratulations. The success of Chicago is inseparable from you,” Aaron said, clinking glasses with Rob Marshall, the director of Chicago.

"Thank you," Rob Marshall said. Although he didn't win the Oscar for Best Director, "Chicago" did win the most important award—Best Picture.

"Chicago" won six awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Editing, and Best Costume Design!
Catherine Zeta-Jones, dressed in a sexy red evening gown, was overjoyed to finally win her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Chicago".

"So, is there going to be a victory celebration banquet later?"

Aaron and Catherine Zeta-Jones hugged.

“Yes, I’m going to the wrap party the film crew is hosting at the Four Seasons Hotel later,” Catherine Zeta-Jones said with a big smile.

"Yes, tonight is definitely worth celebrating!"

As he spoke, Aaron glanced at Steven Spielberg not far away, guessing that the other man wasn't feeling too good, after all, "Saving Private Ryan" was really good;
It's hard to satisfy a Best Director, but unfortunately, he came across "Chicago." If you make a good musical, awards are not a problem at all.

(End of this chapter)