Compared to the gloominess of Ron Meyer and Richard Gere, Hugo and Joseph's moods were clearly like the sunny beaches of Malibu in June. This was perhaps the best news since the Golden Raspberry Awards comparable even to the successful audition for Scent of a Woman because this was the first time in the past two months that the media had given Hugo such widespread positive coverage.
Even if these positive comments were all about his appearance, and even if most of them stemmed from Hugo and Uma's connection, it was still a positive signal. It meant that after the low point of the Golden Raspberry Awards, Hugo was now taking small, careful steps back on track and that was the most heartening part.
Originally, Joseph had only intended to increase Hugo's exposure, gradually mend the relationship with the media, and try to ensure that Hugo's positive image appeared in newspapers and magazines. Perhaps attending a premiere wouldn't yield direct financial gain, but in the long run, it would greatly benefit Hugo's public image. Not only would it improve his standing with major film producers, but when future works like Scent of a Woman were released, Joseph's public relations efforts would go much more smoothly.
But surprisingly, Hugo achieved what others could only dream of by simply attending one premiere. Not only did he completely outshine the real star of the event, Richard Gere, he also took a jab at the rival film Basic Instinct and dominated the entertainment headlines the next day. It was truly unexpected.
Hugo personally called Paul Junger Witt to express his gratitude. This time, Paul's help could absolutely be described as a timely rainstorm in a drought not only solving a major problem for Joseph but also unexpectedly bringing Hugo unprecedented positive feedback.
"So, what did I tell you? A stylish suit really is necessary," even the normally reserved Joseph couldn't hide his cheerfulness today his words carried a rare hint of laughter.
Hugo looked at Joseph's eyebrows lifted in delight and curled his lips. "That thing cost $4,500. If it hadn't worked, I'd have taken it back." His words immediately froze the smile on Joseph's face, leaving him speechless.
The impressive aftermath brought by Final Analysis clearly needed time to fully ferment. Hugo was still temporarily without work, and this once again left Hugo and Joseph with some free time. This time, Joseph wasn't in a rush to look for new jobs for Hugo. Considering Hugo's current situation, it was quality over quantity. With the red carpet appearance already setting the stage, Joseph's mindset gradually became more relaxed.
Taking advantage of this downtime, Joseph and Hugo went looking for a new place to live a move crucial for both of them. Two grown men crammed into one space was a hassle, not to mention the terrible conditions of their previous lodging. Even just the lack of private space for each was already troublesome.
Although Hugo had a bit of money now, given that his next job was still uncertain, it wasn't wise to splurge. So, instead of renting a single apartment for himself, Hugo asked Joseph to find a three-bedroom, two-living-room shared apartment and rented one room, sharing the rent with others. Such a large apartment usually came with better surroundings, more secure neighborhoods, and thanks to being a shared place, wouldn't cost too much either.
Joseph had originally thought convincing Hugo to co-rent would be a real challenge. After all, Hugo had been the male lead in three films despite spending nearly all his earnings. It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go the other way. What's more, for the "leading man" Hugo to share an apartment was a rather embarrassing thing. But unexpectedly, when Joseph finally brought it up with some difficulty, Hugo didn't hesitate much before nodding in agreement.
Once again, Hugo surprised Joseph.
For Hugo, sharing an apartment wasn't a big deal at all. Back when Death or Glory was at its lowest point, he had even slept on the streets and lived in a large basement room shared with twenty people. After experiencing all that, moving into a spacious, bright shared suite was no problem at all. Moreover, the apartment Joseph had found even if not luxurious was already quite nice.
The famous Sunset Boulevard was one of Los Angeles' iconic roads. As the name suggested, at dusk, when the golden sunlight lazily draped across the street, driving down it felt like heading toward paradise. Everything around seemed dipped in brilliant gold so beautiful it felt unreal. The Hollywood Boulevard home to landmarks like the Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame ran parallel to Sunset Boulevard. So, after a day exploring Hollywood, heading downhill along Hollywood Boulevard, turning through three intersections, one could reach Sunset Boulevard. Following it westward toward the beach, soon one would arrive at a charming, European-style plaza called Sunset Plaza.
Sunset Plaza was sprinkled with open-air bars, coffee stands, and ice cream shops, along with a number of brand-name stores. Even just sitting here for a lazy afternoon, enjoying the sea breeze, basking in the sunlight, and admiring the handsome men and beautiful women was an incredibly blissful experience an ideal way to unwind. Just two miles farther ahead lay the world-famous Beverly Hills.
Stopping at Sunset Plaza and heading up a narrow road behind the plaza onto the hillside, one could see holly bushes taller than a person scattered along both sides. Residential buildings of various shapes and sizes were nestled among the greenery. Breathing in the air, which carried a mix of sea salt and earthy scents, easily lightened one's mood.
This hillside hosted many cost-effective apartment suites, though most were older buildings and thus reasonably priced. A three-bedroom, two-living-room unit typically cost between $1,200 and $1,800, depending on whether it was furnished, the view, the quality of renovations, and other factors.
With the help of Joseph's colleague Rick Lawson, they found a new apartment for Hugo. Located halfway up the hill, its tawny exterior didn't stand out, but the surrounding environment had clearly improved a lot. There were no more homeless people wandering around, and hardly any trash littered the streets. While not spotless, the area was clean and pleasant.
Climbing the somewhat dimly lit staircase to the third floor and opening the door, the first thing that came into view was a garage-style living room. The dark blue cement walls were unadorned, simply painted with a basic coat when the building was first constructed. Opposite the door was a full wall of windows, letting in unfiltered sunlight and offering a clear view of the scenery outside lush trees and bustling streets below, and in the distance, the deep blue ocean and pristine white beach strikingly beautiful to the eye.
On the left-hand side sits a simple low wooden cabinet with nothing on it but a lone remote control yet no sign of a television is to be found. Opposite the cabinet is a set of maroon-colored sofas, but the cracked and worn surface clearly shows their age.
Compared to the crude setup on the left, the center and right side of the hall show little improvement. In the middle stands an enormous carpenter's workbench, still bearing fine burrs completely unfinished, with no varnish applied. Behind the workbench is a piano its severely battered appearance making one question whether it could even function properly.
To the right is a partitioned space that is obviously the kitchen. Just one glance confirms this, but aside from a frying pan on the stove, there's nothing else. Outside the partition is naturally the dining area, but all it holds is a massive, heavy slab of irregular marble resting on a solid wooden frame. Above it, a single wobbly lightbulb hangs alone. Finally, an appliance appears a refrigerator meant for two people, standing in the kitchen-adjacent corner. However, the peeling surface and the grease-covered power cord snaking along the floor cast doubt on whether the fridge is even operational.
In the far corner of the dining area, away from the main door, is a red wooden door. Opening it reveals a single room, but there's nothing inside except a bare mattress. On the left side of the hall between the low cabinet and the main door is a hallway that stretches deeper in. Walking in, you'll see two bedrooms on the right, and on the left, one slightly larger room that is the bathroom, and a smaller one that serves as a storage room.
Pushing open the doors to these two bedrooms, the one closer to the hall is clearly lived-in, with a bed, desk, and wardrobe inside. A large pile of messy clothes rests atop the bed, still unpacked, and papers are scattered chaotically across the desk. Near the door, on the floor, a pair of boxing shorts printed with a red gorilla suggests the occupant is male.
The other bedroom, deeper in, is much like the room on the right side of the hall only an old, worn-out mattress lies inside. This room's door, however, is natural wood color, not painted red. Stepping inside, the wall facing Sunset Plaza is covered in a large stretch of glass windows, offering the same sweeping view seen from the hall.
Though the furnishings are virtually non-existent and every detail inside screams of age and disrepair, the nearly 3,000 square feet (about 280 square meters) of spaciousness and the breathtaking sea view are utterly captivating not to mention the environment is far cleaner and safer than the previous residence.
And so, after inspecting the space, Hugo didn't hesitate for a moment. He accepted Joseph's proposal and decided to move in!
...
Hi For access to additional chapters of
Director in Hollywood (40 chpaters)
Made In Hollywood (60 Chapters)
Pokemon:Bounty Hunter(30 Chapters)
Douluo Dalu: Reincarnated as Yan(40 Chapters)
Hollywood:From Razzie to Legend(40 Chapters)
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu