Self-denial

Hugo began to recall the character of the male protagonist in "Sleepless in Seattle". Tom Hanks endowed this character, Sam, with many qualities such as stability and tranquility. So, what kind of character is Sam in the story?

After Sam got married to his wife, he wholeheartedly devoted himself to his wife and took care of the family. After having a son, he became a kind father and considerate husband. He embodies the typical American ideal image of a parent. Even after his wife's death, Sam never forgets her. He is sorrowful but strong, lonely yet independent. He attentively takes care of his son but believes he will never find someone like his wife again. This image of being affectionate, caring, and humorous is immediately established.

So, what were the similarities and differences between Hugo and the character of Sam? There was no problem with Hugo's portrayal of Sam as a loving man and husband. However, the part about being a compassionate father created a gap for Hugo compared to Tom Hanks' portrayal. It was the weakest link when comparing Hugo and Tom Hanks.

However, Hugo's thoughts have already begun to unfold. He couldn't help but think that not all fathers would want to be like Sam, portrayed by Tom Hanks, being affectionate, stable, and warm. There are countless types of fatherly images in the world, and Tom Hanks represents just one type. There are other types as well. So, what image would he portray if he became a father?

Hugo's impression of a father figure was of someone who was introverted and serious, not good at expressing true emotions, and shoulders the responsibility of being a strong parent. This makes communication between father and child more challenging. If it were Hugo, he would not want to be that kind of father. He would communicate with his child and try even if it's not smooth. Even if he couldn't become friends with his child, he would still make an effort.

So, what would Sam, played by Hugo, be like? Being twenty-five years old with an eight-year-old child didn't fit the movie's setting. How about thirty years old? With the help of makeup, achieving the appearance of a thirty-year-old man was possible. Despite the challenges Hugo faced throughout his life, portraying a thirty-year-old man was not a big issue.

Therefore, Sam should have met his wife in high school, and after years of dating, they chose to get married after graduating from college. They had their son Jonah in the first year of marriage. The couple supported each other and led a simple yet happy life, although they had arguments and differences. Unfortunately, Sam couldn't hold his wife's hand until the end due to her passing.

Sam's longing for his wife caused him to invest all his emotions in his child. He centered his life around his child but couldn't hide his feelings of loss and loneliness. In front of Jonah, Sam tried his best to appear normal, taking on both the roles of father and mother. However, he still couldn't fill the void left by his wife. Perhaps Sam tried to start a new relationship, but he couldn't find a soulmate. For Sam, "no one can be as perfect as his wife", which intensified his yearning for her.

Hugo was capable of playing such a character. Why not? Although Hugo hadn't raised a child or become a father, the most important qualities for a father were a sense of responsibility, family values, maturity, and rationality, which Hugo did indeed possess. Hugo also had a deep understanding of the father-child relationship, especially after the recent argument with his father, Adam, during Christmas, which left him with many emotions.

If Hugo were to play the role in "Sleepless in Seattle", how would he differ from Tom Hanks' portrayal of Sam? Tom Hanks' maturity and stability were evident in both appearance and demeanor. Due to Hugo's "disadvantage" in terms of appearance, he would resemble a young father more. His passionate and youthful image would be more prominent, and his approach would be more dynamic. Perhaps, in addition to being introverted, he would also add a touch of romance.

Thinking about this, Hugo understood why Rob believed he was suitable for the role of the widower in "Sleepless in Seattle". In "A Few Good Men", Hugo demonstrated maturity, sensitivity, and a sense of trust that did not match his appearance. Moreover, Hugo's dedication, understanding of the character, and focus during the work process were truly convincing. Therefore, Rob believed that Hugo would bring even more charm to Sam, the widower, and be more persuasive in this fairy-tale-like story of "Sleepless in Seattle".

After organizing his thoughts, Hugo couldn't help but smile. If Rob and Joseph had confidence in him, then what reason did he have not to believe in himself? Of course, he had none.

Giving up before even trying, self-doubting before making an effort—this was not Hugo's style. The character of Sam in "Sleepless in Seattle" was challenging and had its gaps, that was a fact. But Hugo was more than capable of taking on the role. He could integrate his own interpretation of Sam into the character, creating a unique Sam and telling a slightly different version of "Sleepless in Seattle".

So, Hugo decided to give it a try! If, after his efforts, Nora still believed he wasn't suitable for the role, Hugo would accept that result. It would mean he wasn't yet prepared for further development. He would then persevere in his pursuit of becoming a better actor.

Perhaps, "Sleepless in Seattle" was an opportunity, a challenge unlike "The Firm". Continuing to play the lawyer role in "The Firm" might have been more certain for Hugo, but it wouldn't bring any breakthroughs. However, "Sleepless in Seattle" presented more possibilities for Hugo's acting career.

Of course, Hugo hadn't auditioned for either of these movies yet, so the outcomes were unknown. But Hugo had made his decision. He would give it his all, even at the young and passionate age of twenty-five, to portray a widower. It was an incredible and daunting challenge, but Hugo wouldn't easily give up.

From initially rejecting the proposal without much thought to now changing his mindset and deciding to embrace the challenge, Hugo's thoughts had undergone a magnificent transformation. It was also the first time Hugo had seriously pondered such a profound question: What kind of actor did he truly want to become?

"Joseph, I've decided to give it a try," Hugo said, opening his mouth. "Not only because it's an opportunity introduced by Rob, but also because I want to challenge myself."

"But, is this role really suitable for you?" Now it was Joseph who was uncertain. He worried not only about that but also about the script itself. "Is this story really suitable for you? Will it hinder your acting career? You've never appeared in a romantic movie before... After playing this role, you might end up being a mere pretty face, my God!"

Chick flicks were a unique genre in the film industry. Throughout Hollywood's long history, countless female actors gained recognition through chick flicks, but the same couldn't be said for male actors. One reason was that male roles in chick flicks didn't carry enough weight, and the other reason was that once male actors became "pretty faces", it was challenging for them to turn the situation around. While female "pretty faces" had a large male audience to support them, the male equivalent had to wait until the second decade of the 21st century for their target audience to be developed and for female viewers to receive attention.

So, Joseph's worries were not unfounded. Hugo had always had a good appearance, making it easy for people to label him as a pretty face. It was a hard-won achievement for Hugo to establish himself through "A Few Good Men" and "Scent of a Woman". What if all his efforts were ruined because of a chick flick? What would he do then?

Joseph was genuinely concerned.

Hugo became somewhat hesitant after Joseph's words because he also didn't know what kind of actor he would become in the future. It was a distant matter, but then he thought about it and reaffirmed his thoughts. "Joseph, I don't know what kind of actor I want to become now, and I don't know what kind of actor I will become in the future. It's too vast a proposition; no one can see the future." Even someone who had traveled through time couldn't see their own future.

"But right now, I want to become an actor who dares to challenge himself. So, I want to give it a try, even if Nora doesn't believe in me. I want to make an effort. Perhaps, in the process of continuous attempts and failures, we will find a direction for the future," Hugo firmly stated. This gradually reassured Joseph, although he still looked at Hugo with uncertainty.

Hugo continued, "The script for "Sleepless in Seattle" is not just a simple romantic movie. The male character holds an important leading role in it. Moreover, the male protagonist is not just a pretty face; he is a widower, a man with a family, children, depth, and a past. This role is not simple; on the contrary, it is quite challenging."

At this point, Hugo paused, and Joseph finally emerged from the pessimistic swamp. His gaze gradually regained clarity. "Nora doesn't think I'm suitable, and honestly, I didn't think so at first either. But without trying, how can we draw conclusions? As you just said, perhaps this is an opportunity, an opportunity to break through ourselves. If I continue to play a lawyer, it won't be difficult, but to make the leap from a student to a lawyer and then to a widower is a tremendous leap. If I can succeed, it will be a tremendous opportunity..."

"But what if you fail?" There was still a faint worry between Joseph's brows. In fact, it was mainly because he didn't have a profound understanding of his role as a manager, so he had to feel his way through. Hugo had finally achieved something remarkable in 1992, and Joseph didn't want to ruin it all.

Upon hearing this, Hugo laughed. "So what? We'll just get another Razzie Award, and then we'll try again."

Joseph was amused by Hugo's cheerful response. Deep down, Joseph knew that if Hugo were to win another Razzie Award, it wouldn't necessarily be lucky for him to rise again. But at this moment, Joseph didn't voice his concerns because he knew that, as Hugo had said, Hugo's acting career was just beginning now. If he hesitated and worried, Hugo might stay at the same level his whole life.

Although Hugo didn't know what kind of actor he wanted to become or what kind of actor he would become, Joseph was certain that it wouldn't be limited to this.

"Alright, then we'll try again when the time comes!" Unexplainably, Joseph developed unprecedented confidence in Hugo.