Nicholas' interview ended up being delayed by thirty minutes, forcing the crew to push back the filming schedule. However, this was also the first press interview since the start of "Scent of a Woman," so a bit of delay wasn't really a problem. Not only did Al and Hugo, the two leading actors, participate, but Martin, Bo, and the rest of the main crew also accepted brief interviews. This could be considered the first wave of promotion for the film.
Due to the delay caused by the interviews, the scenes being shot at the Pierre Hotel continued until ten o'clock in the evening. Only then did Martin finally call it a wrap with satisfaction.
Hugo followed most of the crew back to the Waldorf Hotel. Al, watching Hugo chatting and laughing with the others, stood aside curiously observing him. Hugo thought there was something wrong with himself and couldn't help asking, "What is it?"
"You're twenty-three this year?" Al didn't answer Hugo's question but instead asked a seemingly unrelated one with uncertainty.
"Twenty-five," Hugo replied. This was one of the things he had accepted most quickly after crossing over. Before the transmigration, he was already that age, and now he still was. This continuity helped him adapt mentally without any issues.
"Young man." Al's remark made Hugo chuckle. But in front of Al, he really was just a kid. "At your age, shouldn't you be out having fun? This is New York, after all—a city that never sleeps.New York at night is rich and colorful. Staying in the hotel means missing out on all that unknown charm."
Only then did Hugo understand Al thought it strange that he would obediently return to the hotel after filming, not acting like a fun-loving young man at all. "Actually, my heart is already in Greenwich Village. It's just that, you know, there are three hundred sixty-five days in a year to enjoy life. But work opportunities don't come around every day."
If Hugo really wanted to have fun, there would be plenty of time after filming "Scent of a Woman." There was no need to rush. Now was work time, and when working, one should be fully invested. Play seriously when it's time to play, work seriously when it's time to work—that's the right approach.
"Besides, hasn't Martin been reminding us to meet at seven in the morning? I don't want to show up sleep-deprived and end up dozing off during the shoot." Hugo said with a laugh, his relaxed tone making Al laugh along with him.
"If you dare fall asleep during filming, I'll be the first one to come after you." Al pretended to be fierce, but it didn't have much of an effect, causing Hugo to burst out laughing again.
The elevator stopped on the twenty-third floor. Hugo, Joseph, and a few others were staying there and filed out. Al, Martin, and the rest were staying upstairs in the luxury suites being used as filming locations, so they remained in the elevator to continue upward. Hugo said good night to everyone, then walked with Joseph down the corridor toward the far end.
At that moment, a door in front of them opened. A man and a woman stepped out of the room. The two didn't seem particularly close just like ordinary friends. But two people walking out of a hotel room together? That, in itself, suggested something fishy. Hugo hadn't intended to scrutinize them it was, after all, their private business. But when he noticed Joseph glance over, he instinctively looked too, thinking Joseph might know them.
The man had a completely unfamiliar face—neatly cropped short hair, looked about forty, and wore a crisp iron-gray suit exuding the air of a successful professional.
Standing next to him, the woman was dressed in a black professional outfit: a white blouse paired with suit pants, topped off with a long black trench coat. The sleek ensemble highlighted her mature, capable aura. Despite wearing a suit, her alluring curves were still visible, particularly the taut buttons at the front of her blouse. As for her face, it wasn't unusually beautiful just ordinary features but her subtle charm made her stand out.
This woman perfectly embodied what it meant for "presence to outshine appearance." Perhaps if you examined her features individually, nothing would seem remarkable. But once she stood there, it was hard not to notice her. Men would easily call her beautiful not out of politeness, but because she really was.
What mattered was Hugo knew this woman. His predecessor probably knew her even better. Tracy Jacobs.
Hugo hadn't expected to encounter a scene like this. Though he was well aware of who Tracy was, the failed audition for "A River Runs Through It" had many causes. But Hugo had been doomed from the start, largely thanks to Tracy. He'd seen her once before,right before that audition at the Four Seasons Hotel on the fifth floor, with Brad. But back then, Hugo hadn't yet realized the past between his predecessor and Tracy, so today counted as the first real meeting between them.
He never thought he'd see Tracy again here at the hotel, walking out of a room with a man. Whatever happened inside, the coincidence was simply too awkward—inevitably stirring up speculation. But this time was different Hugo took a good look at her.
Tracy was seven years older than Hugo, and the physical constitution of Western women often magnified such an age gap infinitely. However, Tracy's unique temperament cleverly masked this fact, making her appear completely unaffected by age. Hugo couldn't help but wonder—was his predecessor's relationship with Tracy purely a matter of interest exchange, or was there genuine emotion involved? Hugo recalled the last time they met on the fifth floor of the Four Seasons Hotel, the meaningful glance Tracy had given him…
Tracy also saw Hugo and Joseph, who were fifteen yards away. She wasn't very familiar with Joseph, but she did know Ron Meyer a bit better.
Tracy examined Hugo in front of her carefully. She had to admit that Hugo had recovered well—of course, she knew Hugo had used drugs. But now, he showed no sign of decadence. On the contrary, he looked full of energy. Hugo had always been a handsome young man, but now he was like a pine or cypress—tall and upright, gentle like jade—making it hard for people to look away.
Still, Tracy's gaze only lingered on Hugo for a moment before she retracted it, as if nothing had happened. The man next to her asked something in a low voice. Tracy chuckled softly, nodded, and replied, "But that's all in the past now." Female voices have a higher frequency, so her words were clearer, while the man's low and deep voice was muffled and impossible to make out.
Joseph looked at Hugo worriedly, as if afraid he would react excessively. But Hugo's reaction was unexpected. He curled his lips slightly in disdain and then turned back to Joseph, continuing their previous conversation. "I think Nicholas didn't seem to have much malice today…"
Joseph paused, then quickly reacted, keeping up with Hugo's pace and continuing forward.
At the same time, Tracy and the man also walked forward at a steady pace, seemingly heading to take the elevator. The two were chatting and laughing—not loudly, nor intimately, but the pleasant tone between them was evident.
The two groups gradually drew closer until they walked side-by-side in passing. Tracy glanced at Hugo out of the corner of her eye, only to find he remained indifferent, showing no reaction. But she also immediately withdrew her attention, her steps never slowing. The two parties passed by each other no conversation, no pause, not even an exchange of glances as if they were total strangers.
Hugo once again recalled the complex look Tracy had given him the last time they met, but today it was different. Tracy looked at him like he was a complete stranger, even with a hint of contempt. Hugo couldn't help but sigh. He still didn't know what had really happened between his predecessor and Tracy, so he couldn't make a judgment. But based on the information he had now, it seemed like Tracy had abandoned his predecessor perhaps because he had flopped in three consecutive films. Either the predecessor gave up on himself, or Tracy thought he had no future and ended things unpleasantly.
With a probing curiosity, Hugo looked back and found that Tracy, as expected, didn't turn around, walking steadily until she disappeared at the end of the corridor.
This action of Hugo's made Joseph shake his head slightly. Hugo's next question only deepened Joseph's thoughts.
"So, who was that man just now?" Hugo's question made Joseph give him a deep look, which Hugo found puzzling. "What, is that a question I can't ask?"
"No." Joseph opened the room door and, after making sure it was closed, finally said, "That man is a mid-level executive currently in charge of production at Universal Pictures."
"Universal Pictures?" Hugo thought for a moment. "Isn't that the production company for our film?" With that thought, Hugo immediately grew alert. The failed audition for A River Runs Through It was still fresh in his memory. "Don't tell me…"
Joseph immediately shook his head. "You think Tracy is that powerful enough to control all of Hollywood?" Tracy was indeed an outstanding producer, with an extraordinary network of connections, but she wasn't at the top level and didn't have the power to call all the shots. "She probably has a good project on hand and wants to negotiate with Universal Pictures."
Hugo thought carefully and realized he was overthinking. Forget producers—even the CEO of a top-tier film company didn't have the power to completely ban an actor. On the contrary, if an actor had enough strength, even film companies and producers would set aside past grudges to work together.
"Just wonder what they're using for negotiation." Hugo casually dropped the remark, leaving Joseph dumbfounded, as he wandered off to the bathroom to wash up.
...
Hi For access to additional chapters of
Director in Hollywood (30 chpaters)
Made In Hollywood (50 Chapters)
Pokemon:Bounty Hunter(30 Chapters)
Douluo Dalu: Reincarnated as Yan(30 Chapters)
Hollywood:From Razzie to Legend(30 Chapters)
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu