The Hilton Hotel, located directly across from Universal Studios, was one of the busiest hotels in Los Angeles. Thanks to the presence of famous attractions such as Universal Studios and Hollywood Hills, this branch of Hilton Hotels welcomed visitors from all over the world throughout the year, with a constant flow of people coming and going.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association chose the Hilton branch located at Universal Studios in Los Angeles as the venue for the annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony, undoubtedly due to its excellent location.
Hugo sat nervously in the luxury car he had rented. Despite having experienced many grand occasions in the past year, this was his first awards ceremony. As the cheers outside the car gradually grew louder, Hugo couldn't help but imagine the scene of the Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony. He felt that Los Angeles in 1992 had not been very friendly to him as a way of welcoming him to this new environment and world.
Sensing Hugo's nervousness, Joseph had to let go of his own slightly tense mood. Today, he wouldn't accompany Hugo on the red carpet. This was an awards ceremony, not a premiere. As a manager, he would join other fellow managers and assistants in the guest lounge to watch the live broadcast of the awards ceremony. This also allowed Joseph to relax a little.
"Have you figured out how to answer the journalists' questions about Oprah?" Joseph spoke up, his words carrying a faint smile. It could be felt that he was in a good mood. "Troy just told me. Have you seen the media's comments, albeit a bit late?" Joseph paused briefly at this point, catching a glimpse of Uma sitting next to him. At this moment, Uma was also extremely nervous, as this was her first red carpet appearance as an actress. Joseph quickly shifted his gaze back. "But the journalists have been waiting for this day, and they have accumulated a lot of power."
Upon hearing Joseph's words, Hugo couldn't help but recall the comments he had just read in newspapers and magazines. He could also anticipate that the issue of "Sunburn" would definitely be one of the highlights on the red carpet today. This eased Hugo's nervousness to some extent, and a more natural smile appeared on his face. "Phew... I hope Oprah's spontaneous request won't be brought up again today."
Hugo's response made Joseph lower his head, revealing a smile at the corner of his mouth. Hugo's casual humor might not make people burst into laughter, but it did bring a smile to their faces.
Once Hugo calmed down, he also noticed that Uma, sitting on his left, was extremely nervous. The skin on Uma's right arm was completely taut, and even though there was a fist's distance between them, Hugo could feel the tension in her body. This version of Uma seemed unfamiliar to him because the Uma he knew was always decisive, bold, and assertive. Today, witnessing Uma's nervousness on the Golden Globe Awards red carpet, he also saw a vulnerable side of her that she rarely showed. Hugo instinctively placed his left hand on Uma's left shoulder, wanting to pull her into his embrace.
However, the tense Uma was startled when she felt it and instinctively turned her head to look. When she saw that it was Hugo, she instantly relaxed and leaned slightly against his embrace, letting out a long breath. Hugo chuckled softly, "Don't worry, we'll walk the red carpet together. There's nothing to be nervous about."
Uma took a few deep breaths in succession, nodded, but remained silent. Yet, her inner nervousness could still be felt.
Soon, the car came to a slow stop. Hugo looked out of the window on his right and saw a crowd spreading before his eyes. The fiery red carpet extended from right under his eyelids all the way to where his eyes couldn't see. The red carpet was right in front of him.
Hugo couldn't help but widen his eyes and took a deep breath. When he raised his head, he saw Joseph with a smiling face and a thumbs-up. "Charlize and Alex told me they're looking forward to seeing you win." This statement made Hugo burst into laughter, and in that instant, all his nervousness disappeared.
"I haven't prepared a winning speech. If I actually win, I hope their names won't be forgotten," Hugo's unconventional interpretation made Joseph laugh as well. Uma, who was sitting next to them, seemed to relax a lot, and a smile appeared in her eyes.
The car door was opened by the security outside. Hugo didn't hesitate any longer. First, he stepped out with his right foot, then his left foot, leaving the car. He stood on the red carpet, feeling its softness beneath his feet. He then bent down and walked to the side of the car, extending his right hand, ready to welcome Uma.
As soon as Hugo appeared on the red carpet, the journalists and fans at the front only caught a glimpse of his figure and didn't have time to scrutinize his outfit. But just because Hugo appeared, screams erupted uncontrollably, like a volcanic eruption, instantly assaulting everyone's eardrums.
Uma was also shocked by the commotion when she got out of the car. Her instinct was to cover her ears to shield herself from the sensory assault of the sound waves. But she immediately realized that it was a public occasion, and she couldn't make any actions that would tarnish her image. So she quickly calmed down, placing her right hand on Hugo's palm and pretending to fix her hair with her left hand. As she brushed past her ear, she lightly pressed her cochlea, easing the sharp sensation in her ears.
Then, Uma stood on Hugo's left side, and the two stood shoulder to shoulder, adjusting their posture slightly. They took a step forward toward the red carpet.
In that instant, the red carpet seemed to be aware of Hugo's arrival. The screams exploded with fervor, igniting the dazzling red color, releasing the first wave of excitement since the beginning of the red carpet. Brad Pitt, who was being interviewed on the red carpet, couldn't help but turn his head and look. However, when he saw Hugo and Uma appearing on the red carpet, his eyes narrowed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and continued with the interview.
Clearly, Hugo's cheers were much louder than when Brad made his entrance, which bothered Brad a lot. But that was the reality at the moment. "Scent of a Woman" and "A Few Good Men" had taken Hugo to a new height in his acting career over the past decade, while the cheers for Brad's film "A River Runs Through It" were limited. The film itself didn't receive as much attention as Hugo's two works, and the majority of the praise was directed towards the director, Robert Redford, rather than Brad.
Nevertheless, the overwhelming cheers in front of him were still too cruel, making Brad unable to ignore them. In his wicked thoughts, he hoped that Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman would be the next to appear, so Hugo would definitely have to step aside.
Unfortunately, Brad's wish was bound to go unfulfilled. Hugo and Uma stood on the red carpet, with no other actors appearing behind them. The flashes of the cameras cascaded down like a silver waterfall, enveloping the two of them entirely.
Hugo couldn't even take a step forward. This was grander than any public appearance he had made in the past year. The overwhelming flashlights caused his eyes to lose focus in an instant, leaving only darkness and countless spots of light shining. The sudden blindness made Hugo hesitant to move.
Hugo finally understood why many actors, when appearing on the red carpet, didn't take a step forward but stayed in place. It was not for the photographers, as this was not the designated photo area. It was because their vision was temporarily impaired due to the flashlights. However, closing their eyes was absolutely not an option at this moment. They had to endure, wide-eyed and motionless, until their eyes adjusted after a few rapid blinks before they could continue walking.
Therefore, Hugo and Uma stood still, maintaining their composed smiles, and accepting the baptism of the silver waterfall.
Uma chose a floor-length royal blue gown for the occasion. The dress had no unnecessary embellishments and was made entirely from a piece of blue fabric. The upper body hugged her figure, accentuating her beautiful curves. The design of long sleeves and a flat collar had a strong vintage and sensual appeal. It only revealed her collarbone, yet exuded a unique sexiness. The lower part of the dress remained fitted around her thighs and hips, resembling a tightly wrapped bandage, but from the thighs downward, it gradually loosened and expanded, creating a voluminous trailing fishtail. The whole outfit exuded a fifteenth-century European prohibitionist style with its bold and minimalist cut, making Uma stand out.
It must be said that Uma's attire was a great success. The meticulously styled updo and the decoration of two diamond earrings provided by Givenchy left no room for any other accessories, making her look perfect.
However, Uma's excellence needed Hugo's complement.
Hugo chose a navy blue black plaid suit, a design that immediately revealed its classic Burberry touch, but with a rich fifteenth-century characteristic.
The white shirt was buttoned up with pearl buttons, and the small and compact pointed collar was paired with a black bow tie, wrapping Hugo tightly. The rigorous shoulder line and the tailored back design made Hugo's neck appear slender and clean. The deep green ten-button copper buckle vest added an extra touch of force, accentuating the tightness of the shirt and the cut of the suit. Finally, the navy blue black plaid suit with only the middle button fastened, with a small silver chain hanging from the top button, served as the only embellishment for the entire outfit. The matching suit pants extended down to the Baroque-style light brown leather shoes, and faintly visible were the long red plaid socks. These details were not ostentatious but far from ordinary, instantly illuminating the entire ensemble.
When Hugo appeared on the red carpet, he looked like a nobleman stepping out of a painting, capturing everyone's gaze, rendering it impossible to look away. His dark golden hair was neatly combed in a side part, falling smoothly against his forehead, resembling a Romanian vampire from legend. His deadly charm was enough to stop hearts and take away breaths.
Although everyone knew that Hugo was handsome and Uma was beautiful, captivating countless people when they first appeared together at the premiere of "A Few Good Men", their joint appearance today once again surprised everyone greatly. Apart from pressing the flashlights and screaming their hearts out, there was no other way to convey the intense emotions in their chests.
As a result, the scene descended into madness.