As the year drew to a close, everywhere in the world felt the spirit of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, with even the air seemingly infused with festive cheer. At this time, countless celebrations made the year-end the busiest period for performers—though mostly for singers, who were inundated with invitations to shows, parties, and concerts across the globe. Actors, on the other hand, had fewer obligations—mostly radio appearances or program spots and often enjoyed the bustling stage as spectators, while parties and galas became a rare opportunity for them to unwind.
Following the taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Hugo received seven program invitations for the last three days of 1992. He and Joseph ultimately attended four, with discussions largely revolving around his Golden Globe nomination, the upcoming Oscars, and his musical talent. However, since Hugo's role as a "singer" was currently more of a casual sideline, the year-end buzz had little direct impact on him. How the Oprah Winfrey Show broadcast would influence things, however, remained to be seen.
After the busy tapings, Hugo finally had a chance to relax, waiting for the moment 1992 would give way to 1993.
On December 31st, the last day of the year, at ten in the morning, Hugo followed Joseph to the International Creative Management Company.
Every year, ICM hosted a special year-end luncheon, gathering all agents in the firm. Partners attended to recognize and reward their agents, hand out bonuses, and conduct simple raffles. The event was meant to celebrate achievements from the past year, boost morale, and encourage continued effort in the new year.
Agents often brought along some of their artists—not only to add prestige to the company and signal strength to competitors but also to showcase the success of their roster. Those whose artists performed best over the year naturally attracted the recognition of the partners, which could significantly impact their future careers.
Typically, agents invited their most prominent artists to raise their own profile, but people like Joseph or Kal weren't always that fortunate. Last year, both Joseph and Kal attended alone. Although Hugo accompanied Joseph this time, he trailed behind Ron Meyer like a shadow, much to Joseph's irritation.
This year, Kal still attended alone, and Charlize was just starting her career, carrying little weight in such a setting. If this were an industry party, Kal might have brought Charlize to help her network; however, this was an internal company luncheon, where meeting others mainly meant interacting with rival agents or their artists—so the value of networking was limited.
Hugo's presence, however, caused quite a stir. Though ICM had a successful year, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, Eddie Murphy, Julia Roberts, and Paul McCartney all achieving impressive results, Hugo Lancaster had also secured a spot among the stars—especially with A Few Good Men, which still topped the North American weekend box office and was rapidly becoming a frontrunner for both the Golden Globes and the Oscars.
As Hugo appeared, numerous top agents approached to greet him. Whatever their motives, exchanging pleasantries and offering congratulations suited the festive mood. Hugo even had a pleasant chat with Julia Roberts and shared a half glass of whiskey with Arnold and Mel, though he couldn't join the men in smoking.
After seeing so many A-list celebrities this year, Hugo no longer got easily awed, though he was still surprised by Arnold's near-intimidating physique—but overall, he maintained his composure, a significant improvement.
Yet when Hugo spotted Paul McCartney, he couldn't hide his excitement. Why? Because it was Paul McCartney—because it was The Beatles—a true music legend. Although Hugo had not experienced The Beatles' peak fame firsthand, it did not lessen the impact of their music.
Among the four members of The Beatles, debates often swirled over whether John Lennon or Paul McCartney was the band's true soul, but there was no question that both were brilliant songwriters who propelled the band to rock history's highest heights.
For Hugo, seeing Paul up close—essentially a living relic of music history—was electrifying. Unfortunately, before he could approach, Paul was guided away by the company's co-president, Marvin Josephson, and Hugo's path was blocked by an unexpected figure.
Hugo tried to sidestep, but the person followed him, forcing Hugo to avert his gaze from Paul and focus on the obstacle in front of him.
"Hey, Hugo, long time no see."
The visitor was none other than Ron Meyer. Though a bit unexpected, it wasn't entirely surprising—Ron was one of the company's partners and a key figure at today's luncheon.
"Not that long, is it?" Hugo replied. He knew Ron must have prepared for this encounter, so he stopped walking and looked at him. As for Paul, there would be other opportunities later. Hugo's response carried subtle meaning—he was hinting that he had already seen Ron at the A Few Good Men premiere but deliberately didn't mention it outright, curious to see how Ron would respond.
After the premiere, Hugo had wanted to confront Ron about why he seemed to be working against him. But without evidence, it was pointless.
Later, after discussing with Joseph, Hugo realized that Ron's presence at the premiere had been to look for Sydney Pollack, meaning Ron likely had backup plans. Moreover, Ron was scheming something with Tracy behind the scenes. Whether or not it was aimed at Hugo, Ron held the hidden cards while Hugo was exposed. After careful consideration, Hugo decided to hold his ground.
Ron squinted slightly, studying Hugo's words for hidden meaning. Then, unexpectedly, he spoke openly:
"You mean at the A Few Good Men premiere? I'm sorry I didn't come over to greet you that day. Something urgent came up, so I had to leave early."
Hugo hadn't expected Ron to state it so plainly, which only confirmed Hugo's suspicion that Ron indeed had backup plans. He had to remain patient. But in front of this cunning old fox, even with ten years of social experience under his belt, Hugo—only twenty-five—still revealed a hint of inexperience. He inadvertently exposed part of his hand:
"It's fine. I only happened to mention it while chatting with Sydney. Work comes first, after all."
Hugo didn't realize he had inadvertently revealed his conversation with Sydney about The Firm. Ron's knowing smile quickly made him aware:
"I've heard about your collaboration with Sydney. I trust you'll deliver an excellent performance. In A Few Good Men, you're on par with Nicholson—absolutely no problem there."
Normally, Hugo wouldn't be so careless, but facing Ron—a calculating veteran—he momentarily exposed his lack of experience. Fortunately, Hugo quickly recovered, drawing on his years navigating society:
"Before the film is released, nothing is certain, right?"
This time, Hugo wisely refrained from revealing any details about the The Firm audition process. While such information could be uncovered if someone really tried, proactively telling Ron was different. Hugo still didn't know Ron's exact motives, so vigilance was necessary.
Instinctively, Hugo scanned the crowd for Joseph, who had gone to get fruit with Kal and hadn't returned yet; they weren't near the buffet either.
"I heard Brad Pitt's agent, Martin Baum, has been very active lately. Robert thinks Brad is perfect for The Firm, so I'm curious how Sydney will decide," Ron said, lowering his voice as if revealing a huge secret to Hugo.
Ron's expression made Hugo uncomfortable, as if Ron controlled the whole board while Hugo could only see one corner. Hugo realized that despite their rapid rise, he and Joseph were still inexperienced in this network-driven industry, often falling behind.
For example, if Rick Rosen hadn't reminded them about The Firm, they might have already been a step behind Brad. Since A River Runs through it, Robert Redford and Sydney Pollack had maintained a close relationship, and with Martin Baum's strong influence as Brad's agent, Brad naturally held an advantageous position.
Ron's words seemed to hint: Sydney hasn't approached you for auditions recently, and here's why.
Hugo understood the implication. He didn't feel happy or nervous—just alert, even more so than before. Courting someone unnecessarily could lead to trouble. His relationship with Ron Meyer had always been tense. Let's not forget: Allerge's matter was orchestrated by Ron. So why the sudden friendliness?
Where's Joseph? Damn Joseph!
...
Hi For access to additional chapters of
Director in Hollywood (40 chpaters)
Made In Hollywood (60 Chapters)
Pokemon:Bounty Hunter(30 Chapters)
Hollywood:From Razzie to Legend(40 Chapters)
The Great Ruler (30 Chapters)
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu