When the strings of Hugo's guitar came to a stop, he finally noticed that quite a few people had gathered around. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Hugo, filled with curiosity and interest. Hugo couldn't help but laugh, "Did I disturb everyone's meal?"
"Oh, no, Hugo, we're all just enjoying our high school prom." The speaker was the assistant director of the crew, Frank Capra. A bright smile lit up his face, and he even winked at Hugo. "It's just a pity the moment was so short. Isn't there a follow-up song?"
Being teased like this, Hugo couldn't help but chuckle, "Are parents attending today's prom?" Hugo's words clearly had a lot of deeper meaning. He was implying that the onlookers around were like parents supervising their kids more bluntly, saying, "You light bulbs can leave now."
It wasn't hard to grasp what Hugo meant, and the crew burst into laughter, not giving Hugo any face at all. Clearly, after adjusting their attitude toward Hugo, the staff now interacted with him much more casually. Not only did they gather around to watch, but they also eyed Hugo with curious and teasing gazes. After his joke, they didn't hesitate to start jeering. This harmonious and pleasant atmosphere was absolutely impossible to see just two weeks ago.
"Hugo! Encore! Encore!" A few crew members who were on good terms with Hugo even started chanting mischievously.
Hugo didn't say anything but lifted his right hand and rubbed his thumb against his index and middle finger in the air a gesture meaning: this isn't a concert. If you want an encore, cough up the money.
Seeing Hugo's gesture, someone immediately shouted, "Fifty cents!" But before the laughter could erupt, Hugo raised his voice and shot back, "A thousand coins?" Instantly shutting down all the teasing. Frank took the opportunity to say, "Everyone, go get ready. Filming is about to begin." The crowd quickly dispersed. Frank winked at Hugo again before briskly walking away.
After this brief moment of joy, Hugo turned his gaze back to Uma, who was sitting opposite him. "So, how was this return gift? Satisfied?"
Though Uma still had a smile on her face, she restrained it, raised her brows, and pursed her lips in an expression of feigned disdain. "Uh, it was alright, I guess." But after she said that, a genuine smile bloomed across her face, lighting it up entirely. "Of course I'm satisfied. Do I even need to say it? God, you're an amazing guitar player. That song just now almost brought me to tears." Uma's exaggerated tone made Hugo laugh out loud.
"Did you write that song yourself?" Uma looked at Hugo with genuine curiosity in her eyes.
Hugo quickly raised both hands. "Little Parker would be mad if he heard that."
Uma immediately understood. Her brightly colored eyes narrowed with mischief, and in an instant, her clear, charming gaze turned flirtatious. "Then I'm relieved. I was worried you wrote it just for me that would've been awkward." At this moment, Uma was completely relaxed, resting her right hand on the makeup table as she leaned her head against it. Her ponytail hung down, adding a touch of feminine charm to her youthful energy.
Hugo looked at the reflection of himself in Uma's eyes and couldn't help but smile. "That depends on whether you've got a guilty conscience." This ambiguous tease made the smile on Uma's lips burst out brightly, and the flirtation in her expression made Hugo suddenly recall that passionate night. With such a blatant hint, how could Hugo not understand?
But then, Uma suddenly pulled her gaze away as if nothing had just happened. "Then let's look forward to next time and see what it brings." The song Hugo just played was called "Next Time You See Me," so Uma naturally followed the theme, adding extra layers of meaning.
After speaking, Uma sat up straight. "Looks like the crew is about to start working. Let's wrap things up for today." She stood up, her eyes still locked on Hugo, watching him slowly rise to his feet. From looking down to looking up, she gazed at the tall, slender man in front of her, her smile both mysterious and deep. "Today was very pleasant, and I had an unexpected surprise. I think… I'm already looking forward to next time."
Hugo thought for a moment and extended his right hand. "Today was a wonderful experience for me too. At least I found a beautiful listener." Though Hugo didn't say it out loud, Uma was the first friend to visit him on set. This experience would undoubtedly become a special memory in his acting career.
Uma took Hugo's right hand but didn't shake it. Instead, she pulled hard, seemingly trying to pull Hugo into her arms. But with Hugo's big frame, there was no way Uma could move him. Instead, she stumbled forward, landing right in his arms. Uma didn't mind at all and used the opportunity to give Hugo a hug. "A handshake is too gentlemanly, too ladylike. I don't think it suits us."
Uma's bold and direct comment made Hugo laugh. "As long as you don't mind…"
After Hugo escorted Uma out of the set, a few staff members who were close to him immediately gathered around gossiping. "Hugo, are you really dating Uma?" The premiere of Final Analysis wasn't long ago, and the explosive kiss between Hugo and Uma had fueled rumors that people hadn't forgotten.
The flood of chatter made Hugo helplessly amused, but thankfully, Robert appeared just in time to rescue him. "Go get ready. Filming is about to begin!" The crowd instantly scattered. Watching everyone leave, Robert walked up to Hugo with a broad smile and walked alongside him. "What was the name of that song you just performed?"
"Little Parker's 'Next Time You See Me.'" Hugo answered casually without much thought. "Just singing for fun."
"I didn't expect you to have such outstanding vocal talent. You've charmed quite a few of our female staff," Robert paused, "and male ones too." This made Hugo laugh again. "Just singing for fun, and yet your performance was that impressive it's more surprising than your acting."
Hugo quickly waved his hands. "Robert, that song's jazz. I played it on the guitar, but it didn't capture the essence of the original. You really should listen to Little Parker's version." Actually, Hugo wasn't being modest it was more about his lack of confidence. Back in Death Or Glory, he was only the guitarist, not the lead singer. So while he was confident in his playing, he still lacked a bit of assurance in his singing.
Robert didn't know the backstory and thought Hugo was just being humble. "Heh, Hugo, I don't need to hear the original. What I need is your version. Youthful, vibrant, touching, emotional that's enough." Robert's words left Hugo unsure how to respond. He sensed that Robert wasn't just making small talk.
"Robert, you've got me confused." Hugo spoke up directly, his brows slightly furrowed with puzzlement. "Are you complimenting my performance just now, or is there something else?"
Robert looked at Hugo and stopped beating around the bush. "Here's the thing. A few days ago, our film's composer, Marc Shaiman, wrapped up the score for Sister Act. He's now seen two-thirds of our finished footage and has started the early scoring process. But he's been struggling with inspiration for the theme song that's been a headache."
Film score? Hugo really hadn't expected Robert to bring that up.
"When I heard your singing just now, that retro jazz vibe mixed with a youthful energy—that's something truly rare. It got me thinking, would you be willing to rearrange and perform this song in your own style, and hand it over to Mac? Let him see if it might work as the theme song for the movie." Robert didn't sugarcoat it he just laid it out plainly.
Hugo gave it some thought. "But, first of all, I'm not a professional. I'm not sure if I even have the ability. Second, the song's style doesn't really match our movie, right? I thought you'd want something more powerful and stirring for the theme song. And the lyrics… don't really align with the theme either."
Robert chuckled. "That's exactly why I said, you do your version, I'll hand it to Mac, and we'll see if it fits. If it doesn't, then it doesn't. But if it works out, maybe it'll open a whole new door for you." Seeing the thoughtful look on Hugo's face, Robert went on, "I plan to use the theme song at the end of the movie. After the intense and stirring music, I want to leave the audience with a lingering mood something meaningful. The lyrics of your song, they actually fit that tone. And the style? I really liked it."
As far as Hugo was concerned, this opportunity dropping out of nowhere was a total surprise and a welcome one. Until now, he had never rushed into the music world. After all, he hadn't even achieved success as an actor yet. Even though his acting had recently shown improvement, until the film actually came out and did well, everything was still up in the air. In that situation, jumping into music would have been unrealistic.
But today, out of the blue, a chance appeared and in a way Hugo hadn't anticipated at all. It truly felt like a gift.
Hugo's passion for music had never changed. So how could he be willing to let such a chance slip by? As Robert said, they wouldn't know if it worked until they tried it.
Giving up before even trying? That wasn't Hugo's style. So, he quickly gave his answer. "Why not? I'd love to give it a shot. But I have to be clear I wouldn't get your hopes up. I can't guarantee the final product's quality."
"As long as it's something you can stand by," Robert fired back cleverly, which caught Hugo off guard then made him burst out laughing.
.....
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