Chapter 97: A Good Opportunity, Don't Miss It
Morning, inside the hotel room.
Aaron woke with Salma Hayek nestled in his arms.
He brushed a strand of dark hair from her face and said casually,
"When you're studying acting, you should work on your accent too. Latin actors rarely get good roles unless they sound neutral."
Salma rested her head against his chest, her voice soft.
"I know… and remember, call me when you have time."
Aaron smiled faintly. "Don't worry. You're far too charming for me to forget. Once Dawnlight has a fitting role, I'll keep you in mind."
Salma grinned, leaned in to whisper something teasingly in his ear—
and Aaron, amused, rolled over and silenced her with a kiss.
Their night together had been... pleasant.
She was passionate, confident, and undeniably attractive — though Aaron didn't attach much meaning to it.
If a suitable part came along, he'd recommend her; if not, it was simply another fleeting connection in Hollywood.
---
A few days later, at Dawnlight Films, Aaron finalized the hiring of a new head of marketing — Brad Grey, 33 years old, sharp, ambitious, and known for his instincts in publicity and strategy.
Aaron leaned back in his chair, outlining the studio's schedule.
"You've seen our slate. Boyz n the Hood hits theaters in March, The Silence of the Lambs in April, and Ghost in June — all in partnership with Sony.
As for My Own Private Idaho, that's a co-production with Heritage Entertainment. It's more of an arthouse release, so the rollout will be smaller."
Brad nodded confidently. "Understood. I'll make sure each one gets the attention it deserves."
---
That afternoon, Evelyn Beckett walked into Aaron's office carrying a stack of reports.
"There's a novel I want the production department to look into," Aaron said suddenly. "It's called Forrest Gump. Didn't sell much when it came out, but I want the film rights."
Evelyn blinked. "Forrest Gump? Never heard of it."
Aaron smiled. "Most people haven't. It was published five years ago, barely sold a few tens of thousands of copies — which means no one's claimed the rights yet."
He paused, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "That's exactly why we shouldn't miss it."
Evelyn jotted down the note. "Understood. I'll get on it."
As she left, Aaron leaned back, tapping his fingers lightly against the desk.
He had recently thought about The Shawshank Redemption — another unassuming story adapted from Stephen King's novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.
That film, he knew, would one day become a masterpiece — timeless, powerful, and deeply human.
If Forrest Gump carried even a fraction of that potential…
then this quiet, overlooked book could be the next great gem for Dawnlight Films.
Aaron smiled faintly to himself.
"Good opportunities don't announce themselves," he thought.
"You just have to be the one who recognizes them first."
A prison film — no explosions, no steamy romance, no flashy action — the kind of story that never drew crowds.
Commercially, The Shawshank Redemption had no real market hook.
Still, Aaron knew how things would play out: it would bomb at the box office, only to rise again years later through home video, becoming one of the most beloved films in cinema history.
He admired it for what it truly was — a meditation on hope, redemption, and the resilience of the human spirit.
A quiet masterpiece that outlived its time.
Unfortunately, Stephen King's works were so popular that nearly all of his adaptation rights were already sold.
---
Culver City – Sony Pictures Studios.
That afternoon, the cast of The Silence of the Lambs gathered for a promotional photoshoot.
Director Jonathan Demme was there, along with Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Scott Glenn, and Ted Levine.
Standing beside Demme, Aaron watched Hopkins from afar and couldn't help but grin.
"Anthony's performance as Hannibal Lecter is going to be legendary," he said. "That mix of elegance, menace, and intelligence — it's iconic.
Buying this project was one of my smartest decisions."
Demme chuckled. "You young producers sure love your monsters and maniacs."
Aaron folded his arms, rubbing his clean-shaven chin. "Come on, Jonathan — The Silence of the Lambs isn't just horror. It's psychological suspense at its finest. A cat-and-mouse game of intellect and fear."
Demme nodded thoughtfully. "Let's hope it finds its audience."
"Oh, it will," Aaron said with quiet confidence, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"When this film comes out, Orion's going to regret letting it go."
Demme smiled wryly. "Regret? Maybe. But you probably don't know — Orion's in worse shape than people think. They're selling off The Addams Family next."
Aaron frowned. "The one with the thirty-million-dollar budget? They're actually letting that go?"
Demme sighed. "It's their most expensive production yet. Dances with Wolves made money, sure, but it's taking too long to recoup. Selling The Silence of the Lambs didn't plug the financial hole, so now they're talking with Paramount to unload The Addams Family too."
Aaron's brows furrowed. "What a waste. That film's almost done, isn't it?"
"About three-quarters through," Demme replied. "Barry Sonnenfeld's directing — his debut. He used to be the Coen brothers' cinematographer, so the tone's sharp and darkly funny.
They originally wanted Tim Burton, but creative differences got in the way."
Aaron whistled softly. "That's a shame. With the right push, it could've been a hit."
Demme shrugged. "Paramount's paying twenty-two million for the North American rights and production control. The international rights are already with Columbia–TriStar, so it's a good deal."
Aaron nodded. "Makes sense. Sony probably wouldn't have matched that price anyway."
Orion had filed for bankruptcy protection the year before.
Selling The Silence of the Lambs and The Addams Family was a desperate move to stay afloat — nothing more.
---
Later that afternoon, as Aaron was on his way to meet Mike Medavoy, head of TriStar Pictures, he ran into producer Gary Foster in the hallway.
"Hey, Aaron! Afternoon!" Gary greeted warmly. He was a CAA client and knew Aaron fairly well.
"Afternoon," Aaron replied with a smile. "Working on something new?"
Gary sighed. "Sort of. It's a romance film. Sony bought the script last May, but after several rewrites, they're still not satisfied."
Aaron chuckled. "Happens all the time. Development hell, we call it.
Sony's got a lot of projects in the pipeline — unless it's a big-name director or star, it's tough to get traction."
Gary nodded. "Exactly. But I was wondering… would you be interested in taking a look at it?"
Aaron raised an eyebrow. A romance?
Dawnlight Films had just spent nearly $20 million on Ghost, another supernatural love story — and that gamble had potential.
If Gary's project was modest in scope, it might fit perfectly into Dawnlight's lineup.
Aaron smiled. "Send it over. Romantic films are low-risk and, if done right, very rewarding. Let me read it first."
Gary's face lit up. "Great! I'll have someone deliver the script to your office this week."
Aaron nodded, already turning the idea over in his mind.
Sometimes, the best opportunities weren't the big-budget spectacles —
but the quiet stories with heart, waiting for someone to believe in them.