Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 607 German Film Tax Refund

Matsui Sushi in Beverly Hills is a small, secluded sushi restaurant with a modest storefront. Aaron and Britney Spears made a special trip here for dinner.

How many shows are there on the "First Confession of Love" North American tour this time?

Aaron asked.

Britney Spears wiped her mouth. "Oh, it's 36 shows, all concentrated in some major cities in the United States and Canada!"

“That’s good,” Aaron said, but before he could finish, Rupert Murdoch walked in with his new wife, Wendi Deng.

"Hi, Mr. Murdoch, good evening!"

Aaron stood up and raised his hand to Rupert Murdoch.

"Oh, Aaron, what a coincidence, even you're attracted to the food at Matsui Sushi?"

Rupert Murdoch responded with a smile.

Aaron shrugged. Isn't this the kind of Japanese food Britney Spears likes?
Aaron himself didn't like any of this. "Mr. Murdoch, I'm actually with an animal protection association, and I don't like Japan's rampant killing of marine animals."

"Aaron, you're really funny. CBS's 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' this year is truly a breath of fresh air!"

Rupert Murdoch couldn't help but marvel that Dawn had produced a phenomenal program so soon after CBS was acquired.

Aaron blinked. "FNC is now one of the three major news channels in the US cable television network, just like CNN and MSNBC!"

If we're talking about things to envy, CBS should envy FOX's FNC channel, which produces news programs that gain ratings through controversy.

Rupert Murdoch smiled. "By the way, would you like to have a meal together?"

When Rupert Murdoch extended an invitation, Aaron simply shook his head. "We're done here, and we're about to leave."

Rupert Murdoch nodded. "See you later!"

Soon, Aaron left the restaurant with Britney Spears and drove back to his Bel Air estate.

However, Aaron was still thinking about Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng, whom he had attended at their wedding ceremony earlier this year;
However, some time ago, when Aaron was in the UK, some tabloids reported on Wendi Deng's affairs with other men, and the elderly Rupert Murdoch was certainly not someone Wendi Deng liked...

Burbank, Dawn Headquarters.

In Aaron's office, Athena Beckett reports: "Steven Soderbergh, who just finished filming 'Erin Brockovich,' has already started assembling the crew for 'Traffic'."

"The main cast includes Al Pacino, Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Aniston, and Penelope Cruz, among others!"

Aaron nodded. Jennifer Aniston and Penelope Cruz were his own choices, while Al Pacino was chosen to replace Harrison Ford.

Steven Soderbergh originally intended for actor Harrison Ford, but Ford wasn't very interested in the role, so Universal recommended Al Pacino for the part.

As for Antonio Banderas, he's currently Hollywood's hottest Latino actor! "By the way, 'Girl, Interrupted' started showing in theaters last month, and the reviews seem pretty good, right?"

Etherine Beckett nodded. "Yes, it's not bad, but Winona Ryder's performance in the show is not as good as Liv Tyler's."

Winona Ryder, as both the producer and lead actress of "Girl, Interrupted," has high expectations for this film!
Aaron didn't care. "It doesn't matter anyway. Winona Ryder has 'Shakespeare in Love' coming out at the end of the year, right?"

The director is Edward Zwick, and the subject matter is about Shakespeare, so it's full of artistic flair.

The release of "Girl, Interrupted" is not large-scale, so it will definitely rely on word of mouth and time. The same goes for "Shakespeare in Love". These kinds of art films usually have a long screening process!
And this month, Dawn also has "The World of Ripley" to be released.

"By the way, how's the preparation for 'The Bourne Identity' going?"

Aaron asked again.

Ethelyn Beckett thought for a moment, "We've reached an agreement with a German investment company; we'll follow the German film tax rebate system."

"Currently, we are still casting actors. The male lead was originally quite good-looking, Matt Damon, but he already has other projects and is not available."

"An actor?" Aaron tapped the table. "Matt Damon, the male lead in *The Talented Mr. Ripley*, is indeed quite good. His performance in *Good Will Hunting* was excellent."

"Since he's unavailable, let's use Jude Law, who played a supporting role in 'The Talented Mr. Ripley.' He's no less handsome than Matt Damon, both in appearance and other aspects."

"The novels 'The Bourne Identity,' 'The Bourne Supremacy,' and 'The Bourne Ultimatum' are all going to be filmed. The Bourne series is a trilogy of films."

Compared to American actors, foreign actors are paid much more. When Matt Damon became famous, his salary was far beyond what Jude Law could earn!

“Understood,” Etherine Beckett nodded.

Nowadays, the series of works by Dawn Studios all like to use foreign male stars as the main characters because they are more obedient, especially Marvel Studios, such as the Spider-Man series;
The main roles in the upcoming X-Men series, which is currently in full swing, are being selected primarily from foreign actors.

Hollywood's top American male stars, such as Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, and Jim Carrey, all start at a salary of $2000 million per film.

Perhaps we should also add some of the actress's earnings share!
In the evening, in Nicole Kidman's villa in Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Aaron sat on the sofa reading the newspaper.

The article discusses the release of Luc Besson's new film, "Joan of Arc," which has not only been a critical and commercial failure, but also the divorce of Besson and lead actress Milla Jovovich.

"Is this guy trying to replicate the success of 'The Fifth Element'?"

Aaron shook his head. Luc Besson certainly had the ability and wanted to get closer to Hollywood, but the artistic flair and neuroticism inherent in French filmmakers were not commercially appealing.

Nicole Kidman, who had just finished filming "Erin Brockovich" and had been staying in Los Angeles, simply smiled and said, "How much can a French film possibly gross in the US?"

Aaron put down the newspaper, not really concerned about Luc Besson, but was thinking about how the preparations for the Resident Evil video game adaptation by Constantin Film were going.

Milla Jovovich has now divorced Luc Besson and returned to the United States!
(End of this chapter)