Crown Of Dreams

# Chapter 4: A Whole New World of Possibilities

*August 17, 1992 - Disney Animation Studios, Burbank*

*7:15 AM*

Jake arrived early, passing MTV's camera crew setting up in the lobby. Entertainment Tonight had called twice during his drive over. The trades were buzzing about Crown Studios' miraculous resurrection, and somewhere in Miramax's offices, he knew Harvey was watching his carefully constructed house of cards start to wobble.

"There's our golden boy!" Linda Larkin's voice carried across the studio lot. Jake's system-enhanced memory kicked in – in his original timeline, she'd become a Disney legend as Jasmine. Now she was just a promising young voice actress, about to have her breakthrough moment.

"Linda!" He flashed that Most-Handsome-Man-Ever smile. "Ready to make history?"

She laughed, but there was a hint of nervous energy beneath it. "After reading about your session yesterday? I should be asking you that. The whole voice acting community's talking about your Prince Ali recording."

*If you only knew*, Jake thought, holding the door for her. In thirty years, "A Whole New World" would be a Broadway standard, but today? Today it was just notes on a page, waiting for their magic.

"Morning, everyone!" Eric Goldberg's voice crackled through the booth speakers. "The marketing team's breathing down our necks for the romantic sequences. Linda, Jake – let's start with the magic carpet ride."

Jake caught his father's eye through the control room glass. The older man was beaming, Variety's latest headline spread across his lap: "CROWN STUDIOS RISES: Disney Deal Signals New Hollywood Power Player."

"Let's take it from Jasmine's balcony," Ron Clements called out. "And Jake... whatever fairy dust you've been sprinkling, keep it coming."

The next few hours were pure Hollywood alchemy. Jake didn't just nail his lines – he transformed them. Every reading was layered with subtle emotions he remembered from thirty years of watching this scene become iconic:

- A hint of vulnerability when Aladdin offers his hand

- The perfect mix of charm and genuine awe during their first flight

- Those little character beats between lines that would make animators' jobs easier

"The way you're playing off Linda's energy," Musker marveled during a break. "It's like you've been performing together for years."

Linda nodded enthusiastically. "It's incredible! When you delivered that 'Do you trust me?' line, I actually got goosebumps."

Jake smiled, remembering how this song would dominate radio for the next year. "Just wait until we hit the duet. Speaking of which..." He turned to the control room. "I had some thoughts about the carpet ride sequence..."

The next hour was a masterclass in future-enhanced storytelling. Jake suggested subtle tweaks that would elevate the scene:

- Adding moments where the carpet showed personality during quiet beats

- Incorporating landmarks from different cultures to make the flight more global

- Weaving in visual callbacks to earlier scenes

"These suggestions," Katzenberg muttered, scribbling furiously. "They're not just good for the scene – they're marketable. That shot of them flying past the Sphinx? International audiences will eat it up."

By lunch, they'd recorded enough magic to fill three Disney classics. Jake's performance wasn't just good – it was transformative. Every line reading felt destined for animation history, every character choice seemed to unlock new possibilities.

"The chemistry between you two," Howard Ashman noted during a water break. "It's exactly what we need for 'A Whole New World.' Ready to make some music history?"

Jake nodded, thinking of the Academy Award this song would win. In his previous timeline, it had been a classic. This time? He was going to make it legendary.

The afternoon session was pure movie magic. Jake and Linda's voices soared through the iconic duet, their harmony perfect, their timing impeccable. His system's World-Class Emotion Control let him layer each line with exactly the right mix of wonder and romance.

"Cut!" Ashman's voice was thick with emotion. "That's... that's exactly what we've been looking for. The way you're building the emotion through the song, Jake – it's like you can see the whole journey."

*If you only knew*, Jake thought, catching his reflection in the booth glass. In the control room, he could see Disney's marketing team already planning the soundtrack push. His father was on the phone, probably fielding more calls about Crown Studios' sudden rise.

They wrapped at sunset, the last notes of movie history still hanging in the air. Tomorrow would bring more sessions, more strategic suggestions, more carefully planted seeds for Aladdin's global domination. But tonight...

"Drinks at Musso & Frank?" Linda suggested as they packed up. "The trades all want interviews. Might as well give them something to write about."

Jake grinned, remembering how these next few months would play out. "Actually, I have a better idea. How do you feel about doing a surprise performance at Disney World's Christmas parade? Trust me – it'll break Entertainment Tonight."

Her eyes lit up, and somewhere in the distance, Jake could almost hear the sound of box office records getting ready to shatter.

His Nokia chirped – Variety wanted an exclusive about Crown Studios' next moves. Soon, every producer in town would be watching, wondering how this former laughingstock had become Disney's newest golden boy.

Let them wonder. November's premiere was coming, and Jake Morris was about to show Hollywood what real magic looked like.