Alex was about five feet ten inches (1.78 meters) tall and had a slightly thin build. His features weren't the chiseled type, but his cute Babyface always wore a smile, making it very easy to take a liking to him."So you're saying that because of me, you fell in love with acting, quit your job at the bank, and came to Los Angeles to seek acting opportunities?" Hugo looked at the excited Alex in front of him, speaking with utter disbelief.Alex still couldn't suppress the excitement in his heart. He sat a full five paces away from Hugo, as if worried that getting too close would wake him from this beautiful dream. The joy overflowed from his brow, and his animated gestures were dizzying. "Yes. We always have to try something new, don't we? Life is so short; it would be too pitiful not to have a real dream."Hugo admired Alex. Although he had run away from home with his Band members and had been gone for ten years, they were just young and reckless kids back then, filled with nothing but passion. During his time struggling in society, it would be an absolute lie if Hugo said he had never regretted it. He had even wondered more than once if life would have been much easier if he had followed the path his family laid out for him.The Alex before him was different; he had given up a stable bank job and resolutely left his hometown to throw himself into the ethereal career of an Actor. This kind of courage isn't something everyone possesses. What was even more surprising was that Alex had actually been inspired by Hugo—Hugo, who could currently only be considered a B-list Actor in Hollywood; it was almost unbelievable.This was the first time Hugo felt curious about his predecessor. One could imagine how talented his predecessor was, carving out a space for himself in the acting world and poised to soar at any moment. He wasn't just a piece of eye candy; he also had infinite acting potential. Given enough time, he might have become an outstanding top-tier Actor. But the entanglements of life had cut off all possibilities."So, have you found a suitable job now?" Hugo looked at the sunny and sincere Alex. It was easy to like him; he was a very approachable young man whose smile easily made people lower their guard.Alex shrugged helplessly, but the smile remained on his face, showing no signs of dejection. "I haven't had a job for two months. I had some guest roles in TV shows before, like 'Hunter' and 'Wiseguy,' but nothing after that. Could it be that they weren't satisfied with my performance?"Seeing Alex's vivid expressions, Hugo was instantly amused. He had gone through this stage himself. However, supporting roles or extras hold little value for a production crew. Even if you performed this time, replacing you with another Actor next time wouldn't make any difference because it doesn't require much acting skill; anyone will do. Therefore, if one wants more opportunities, they must build good relationships with the crew—the producer, Screenwriter, stage managers, and so on. This is how future opportunities arise, and it's also a breeding ground for unspoken rules. Opportunities are too important for new Actors."Maybe your acting style is too avant-garde, and they didn't understand it," Hugo said solemnly. Alex actually began to ponder it seriously, while Joseph, standing nearby, was holding back laughter until his stomach hurt. "Oh, right, I'm staying in that room inside. Is that okay?""Of course, of course." Alex immediately jumped up like a spring and then skipped toward the inner hallway, shouting, "It's right across from the bathroom, but it's not damp, and the lighting is great." He did his best to recommend the inner room to Hugo.Hugo pursed his lower lip, nodding slightly as he thought seriously, then said to Joseph, "Should I be worried about him pouncing on me at night?"This serious question almost made Joseph lose his composure and burst out laughing. "You go ahead and pack your luggage here. I'll head upstairs; Carl Earl is coming soon." Joseph patted Hugo on the shoulder, gave him a "good luck" look, and then leisurely strolled away from the third floor."Hugo, do you need to add some furniture? I know there's a second-hand furniture market nearby with lots of stuff..." Alex came out of the room again and called out to Hugo from the hallway. But halfway through, his voice paused, and he asked somewhat hesitantly, "Or would you prefer to buy brand new furniture?"Alex had realized that what he liked didn't necessarily mean Hugo would like it. Perhaps even though Hugo was living in a shared apartment, he still wanted to maintain his leading-man status—for example, by choosing brand new, luxury furniture. In that case, Alex's kindness might become a burden to Hugo, which was why Alex hesitated.Hugo saw Alex's sincere and apprehensive expression and gave a big smile. "Second-hand furniture is an excellent choice. I have a lot of things to buy, so I might need to make several trips to that market. If you have time, you can take me once. Once I know the way, I can go by myself."Sharing a rental meant having to deal with roommate relationships. While roommates don't necessarily have to become best friends, one shouldn't be entirely self-centered. Living in the same space inevitably leads to differences in lifestyle habits. If one doesn't know how to compromise and adapt, sharing a rental will only be a disaster.Alex's friendliness and enthusiasm—though a bit excessive—didn't repel Hugo. He was also very willing to show his own friendliness.Sure enough, hearing Hugo's affirmative answer, the smile on Alex's face immediately blossomed. "Don't worry, however many times you need to go, I can go with you. I can even help you carry heavy objects." Alex's worry from a moment ago was only fleeting, and he quickly returned to his usual sunny and cheerful personality. "Come, come, see what you need for the room. Oh, right, and the hall and kitchen. There's really too little furniture here now. We can make a list and then go to the market together to shop."Just as Hugo was thinking about what furniture he should buy to fill up the place, Joseph's shout came from the door again, "Hugo, Hugo!""In here, in the room!" Hugo called back, his gaze still lingering on his empty room. Aside from the mattress, there was no furniture at all. Several large moving boxes were placed in the middle, still unopened. The problem was, even if Hugo opened them now, there was no place to put anything, so it was better to leave them as they were.Hearing the sound of Joseph's footsteps coming in, Hugo said, "Alex says there's a second-hand furniture market nearby. Do you think we should go today to see what furniture they have? Otherwise, there's no place to put my things when I take them out.""We'll talk about that in a bit." Joseph's breathing was a bit erratic, which made Hugo turn his head in surprise. He saw Joseph panting; it seemed he had run all the way down from the fourth floor. "I... I just got a call from Bo." He was referring to Bo Goldman, the Screenwriter of scent of a woman."Are there scenes that need reshooting for the film's post-production?" This was Hugo's first reaction. Otherwise, since the film had finished shooting less than half a month ago, post-production definitely wouldn't be finished so quickly. "Or has Universal Pictures confirmed the release date?"Joseph shook his head. He didn't keep him in suspense any longer and said directly, "Bo introduced a job to you. More accurately, an audition opportunity."Hugo's interest was instantly piqued. Could it be that his luck was finally starting to turn? He had originally thought he would be unemployed for a while after scent of a woman, but now, first the premiere of the last analysis had achieved unexpected results, and then an audition came knocking. The lingering effects of the Golden Raspberry Awards seemed to have finally passed, and Hugo's acting career was gradually showing a promising turn for the better."It's like this: Bo, Martin, and the others were full of praise for your performance on the set of scent of a woman. Later, Bo mentioned it to Jack Nicholson." Bo Goldman had once collaborated with Jack Nicholson on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and the two were very good friends. "Jack also asked Al, and Al seems to have said a lot of good things about you to him. Now Jack is preparing a new work that's about to start filming, but the lead Actor hasn't been determined yet.""Isn't Jack playing the lead?" Hugo couldn't help but interrupt Joseph to ask. Jack Nicholson was still one of the best actors in America, and there would be no problem with him playing the lead. So what kind of work could actually have Jack playing a supporting role?"He thinks supporting roles have more room for performance, and his age is also more suitable for supporting roles. Anyway, the lead Actor hasn't been completely finalized yet," Joseph said simply and quickly. "Currently, the production team is in talks with Tom Cruise, but the contract hasn't been finalized yet. So Jack recommended you to the crew, thinking you might be very suitable for the lead.""Tom Cruise?" Hearing this name, Hugo realized how rare this opportunity was, but also how difficult it would be.The current Tom Cruise was at the height of his fame. Ever since he starred in top gun in 1986, he had become an American idol. Subsequent films like rain man and Born on the Fourth of July were all huge successes. Among them, Born on the Fourth of July even earned him an Oscar nomination for best actor. He could be said to be in the golden age of his acting career."What, you don't have confidence?" Joseph heard the doubt in Hugo's voice and thought Hugo lacked enough confidence for this competition.But Hugo shook his head and gave a bright smile. "Before the producers make a decision, everyone has a chance, and that naturally includes me, doesn't it? Look, the opportunity has come knocking."
